Strategic communications advisor

I work on issues where interests intersect and where communication often involves more than simply conveying a message.

I began my career in communications and journalism in Suriname and worked for various conservation organisations in the Amazon region. That was a world where communication was often closely connected to visibility, positioning and generating support.

In recent years, I have worked for ministries, government programmes and organisations in the Netherlands, including the COA, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). In those environments, communication increasingly became about legitimacy, transparency and navigating administrative and societal sensitivities.

My interest lies particularly in corporate communication: the strategic management of reputation, positioning and trust in complex organisations and societal contexts. I believe communication is more than a means; in practice, it is often part of the solution itself.

What characterises me is a calm and analytical way of working, with a strong awareness of what lies beneath the surface. I move easily between administration, policy, implementation and society and help organisations maintain direction and cohesion, even in complex situations.

I work from my home in The Hague — the international city of peace and justice. Close to the sea, my other passion. As a watersports enthusiast, I enjoy spending time on or around the water whenever I am not working.

Behind every issue lies a dynamic of interests, culture, expectations, power and collaboration. In both the public and societal domains, communication rarely revolves solely around visibility or messaging. In complex situations, communication often helps to create direction and connection. It supports leadership, contributes to trust and helps organisations navigate societal and political realities.

I see communication not as a separate discipline, but as part of broader societal and organisational issues. Communication in complex contexts increasingly requires a combination of substantive insight, strategic sensitivity and the ability to create support and connection.

Complex societal issues require more than communication capacity alone. They require someone who understands how public organisations function, how decision-making works and how societal dynamics influence one another.