Expert on The International Community in The Netherlands
Background
Project Manager for the move and reorganisation of >200 senior Corporate Centre positions from London & Houston to The Hague leading to the creation of a single Headquarters for the Shell Group (including schooling, housing, office space, internal & external communication, City council, Government agencies and external service providers)
Similar but smaller exercise for Fonterra into Amsterdam
Chair of ACCESS for 10 years, a non-profit foundation staffed by international volunteers whose mission is to provide information and support to the international community in The Netherlands, working closely with national government and city municipalities
Member of various Dutch/International Community Foundation (Stichting) Boards, including:
Vice-Chair The Hague International Spirit aimed at making local businessmen, women and entrepreneurs more aware of the international market in Greater The Hague and the business opportunities available upon improving their range and especially the standard of services (hospitality)
Board member Panorama Haaglanden: business networking supported by The Hague Chamber of Commerce
Board member Backershagen: provision of Dutch-language education outside of the Netherlands, including running of schools/streams in schools in UK, Oman, Dubai, Davos
Member of Club of The Hague, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration Foundation: membership and advice on the role of business within migration & refugees
Initiator of the Foundation The International Community Platform: a grouping of International Organisations, UN and European Organisations in the public sector, Ambassadors and Municipalities and large commercial companies in the private sector who employ internationals, aimed at improving the working and living standards of their international employees in the Netherlands
Fluent in Dutch & English, intermediate knowledge of Russian
Previous examples
Advice to local government on improvement to services to become truly international (through both ACCESS Chair role and business role moving internationals into the Netherlands)
Counselling & advice to local business people on launching of services & products to the international community
Facilitation of the inaugural and later yearly International Community Platform (ICP) ‘Captains Conferences’ at Royal Dutch Shell, The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Designed & presented THIS Masterclass on Hospitality and how different cultural expectations can be managed for Dutch businessmen, women & entrepreneurs
Presented launch of ‘Great Expatations’ film and discussion in the Koninklijke Schouwburg Den Haag
Advised Kazakhstan on opening its first expat centre in Nur-Sultan
Offering
Consultancy & advice to businesses & business entrepreneurs about the international market
Consultancy & advice to local & national Governmental institutions & service providers on the international market
Cultural training on differences & expectations of internationals compared with the Dutch
Chair, facilitator, interviewer & master of ceremonies for meetings, presentations, workshops & conferences where the international and local Dutch communities & interests come together
