Gladys is from Holland and has been living in the UK for 13 years. She has a background in Fine Art and environmental education for children. She completed a Permaculture Design Course in Brighton in 2003, and is currently in her fourth year of undertaking the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design. She is a mother of two. Before moving to Frome, Somerset in 2007, she worked for the riverOcean Foundation - an environmental education charity in Brighton.

She was also an active member and teacher of the Brighton Permaculture Trust, and jointly organised a 'Community Action on Climate Change' conference in 2005. She was artist for various environmental art projects with schools, and ran regular Art and the Environment workshops for teachers in partnership with the local Wildlife Trust. Together with a small group of people she is currently setting up Vallis Veg Boxes; a local and organic vegetable box scheme for Frome based on a small market garden on the outskirts of the town.