Nick Haan - In Memoriam

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our co-founder, Dr. Nicolas Haan. His vision, passion and readiness to help are a loss for us all.

The founders of Field Ready first coalesced at Singularity University (SU), in Mt. View, California, in the summer of 2012.

Field Ready’s founder, Dr. Eric James, recalls partnering with Nick in the earliest of days: “We bonded over our passion for improving the hardest places and our frustration with things not working better. We were looking not for incremental change but for something transformational. And we continue to believe that finding new ways to do things can make a world of difference."

The transformational ideas behind Field Ready were born at SU but the roots extended to the preceding decades. For Nick, this started as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya more than three decades ago. There he learned Kiswahili and developed deep contextual knowledge – based on cheerful service, positivity and a scientific approach – that would serve him throughout his career.

One of his most impactful efforts was the creation of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. This established the global standard of analysis for food insecurity. He also co-founded Kizo Africa to empower youth to embrace the digital era and chaired the Government of Zanzibar Digital Economy Advisory Council. 

Originally from California, Nick maintained a connection there through friends, family and SU for more than the past decade. While serving as the Managing Director of the Global Solutions Program he taught and worked on activities to solve global challenges. He also served as Vice President of Impact where he managed SU’s partnerships with the World Food Programme and UNICEF.

Dara Dotz, Field Ready’s other co-founder, said that “Nick was an inspiration and a role model in how to lead with both vision and compassion. He gave me confidence in my mission at a time when it mattered most. I know I’m only one of many people whose life trajectory he quietly influenced for the better. His kindness, insight, and belief in what we could build will always stay with me.”  

Nick’s intellectual grounding was first rate with a Ph.D. in Geography, two Master’s degrees in Development Economics and International Development and Geographic Information Science from Clark University. He attended the University of California, Berkeley where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics. A deeply refined person, he was also a talented musician.

All throughout, he also maintained a connection to East Africa and maintained a property on Zanzibar. Nick often hosted visitors including Field Ready’s Executive Director, Kat Sellers. To get a break from his social schedule, Nick loved watersports and carried out some epic journeys. Nick made history, along with his kayaking partner, as the first to paddle the entire length of both Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana.

Nick was naturally a devoted husband to his wife, Mariam, and a beloved brother to his sisters Mary Catherine and Annie.

We will always miss his smiles and positive outlook that have impacted so many lives.