Speakers⁴⁹

Aniek was 19 when she first became aware of sustainability and the consequences of climate change. At home at the kitchen table, it was never discussed, nor was it part of the curriculum at school. Bizarre, she now thinks in retrospect.

“The climate crisis is the biggest challenge humanity has ever seen. Every reason for an ‘all hands on deck’ mentality.”

With a completed Bachelor degree ‘Societal Transitions’ at Erasmus University in her pocket, she does not rule out that her ambition will eventually lead her towards politics. She specializes in intergenerational justice, long-term decision-making, future design and Broad Prosperity.

In the lectures Aniek gives, she also argues for systemic change. Not making logical what is illogical and curbing things that are harmful to people, animals and the living environment. Not only climate change, but also themes such as social equality and diversity are on her agenda.

Aniek’s lectures confront, abrade and activate, because as she herself says:

“I don’t believe in hope, but in courage and commitment. Hope is passive, sitting back and thinking things will work themselves out won’t change anything.”

Read more about Aniek >>

We communicate largely online and almost everything is at our fingertips with just a swipe. But how good is this for the earth, for our social lives and mental health? He says we suffer quite a bit from the influence of technology. Although, according to Aaron Mirck, it is not as black and white as “online bad and offline good”.

“We don’t have much patience anymore; we are less creative and sometimes don’t know how to make real connections. We live in an age where we numb ourselves with digital distractions.”

According to Aaron, we must remain critical of technology and whether it still serves society. As such, his mission is to make sure we become “smart users”.

In his lectures, he broaches complex and fraught topics, such as digital ethics, etiquette, AI and consciously dealing with technology.

Full of humor, self-mockery and (sometimes painfully) recognizable situations for the audience, he explains, among other things, how algorithms influence our lives, what that does to you and what a social media diet delivers. A social media diet can offer more attention, focus, peace, time, creativity, productivity, and space to shape your life the way you want it.

Read more about Aaron Mirck >>

Michael Wilde believes that food is one of the big factors that everyone in the world has a say in.  We all eat and can decide what we want on our plate. Michael is concerned and finds organic farming crucial. We can decide what we care about, every day.

“Organic food has a huge impact on your own health, animal welfare, the environment and therefore on society. As a result, the organic farmer generally experiences more meaning and social appreciation.”

Michaël Wilde was director of BIONEXT and worked for EOSTA for 12 years as sustainability and communications manager. He knows the motivations and objections of farmers and companies regarding organic food like no other. He speaks from the heart, with infectious enthusiasm. Michaël outlines a positive future perspective for everyone who wants to participate in the food transition.

“We can only feed the growing world population if we work together with nature.”

Read more about Michaël Wilde >>

Iris van Asselt is an interior designer, tiny house builder, world traveler, ambassador for sustainable living and mayor for climate. She talks about following your heart and dreams.

Iris made her own choices as a child and still does. She traveled around the world twice, crossing countries such as Pakistan, Mongolia, and Iran.  She traveled the second time to Tokyo in a camper which she converted with her partner and two young daughters.

Back in the Netherlands, they built a biobased house with a tiny footprint together, amid an eco-community of others who like to live sustainably, minimalistic and in nature.

Iris’ lectures bridge her travels, her passion for interior design and living in and around her double tiny house with her family. Living with no more than you need – only what you love; is a common thread throughout her stories. She draws richly on personal experiences.

“I just for it, I start to shine when I get to talk about our tiny house and the way we live here in our eco-community.”

Read more about Iris van Asselt >>

Joris’ view of the world is fundamentally different from that of his colleagues. Does it have something to do with his former martial arts career? The rules of the game are “if you want to win you must try harder”, but this doens’t seem to apply easily in business. Or does it have to do with how he grew up, with two mothers and an open-minded view of the world? The equality and diversity so common to him doesn’t seem so natural in the workplace.

Company politics, playing games, prejudice, winning by kicking down are incompatible with his own values. With Google he found an employer where he finally felt truly at home. In the 12 years he has worked here – much longer than he initially planned – what he had long avoided happend: he became a manager.

“I decided to become the manager I would have liked to have had myself one day. Not someone who is only concerned with his own career, but who invests in and cares for his team.”

His unique perspective on leadership and outstanding reviews by his team didn’t go unnoticed by Google. He also began training fellow managers according to the principle of leading from trust, rather than from fear and control.

Joris wrote a book about his leadership style, ‘Managing without power’. In 2023 he will establish his own training agency ‘Managing without power’. He also gives lectures, for every leader or manager who wants to take steps towards moral leadership.

Read more about Joris >>>

“News and opinions about climate are often charged and negative. I want to change this to bold and positive.”

During the corona pandemic, Maartje Bregman – then a physical therapy student – decides to write a book; “The Power of Giving Back. Among other things, she researches veganism and its effect on health, climate, and animal welfare. The book is published but all this freshly acquired knowledge becomes a dilemma …

The realization that the situation is untenable grabs her by the throat.
Lagging behind and being despondent is not what she wants, ignoring this is also not an option either…. So, what then?

She decides to use her talent and large network for good. She founded an online platform for positive climate news, ‘happytimesmagazine.nl’, a physical magazine and gives lectures on sustainability with contagious enthusiasm, refreshing among all the heated climate debates.

“I want people to leave the room with their heads held high, realizing that they are part of the solution. I share the sincere concerns of my generation, but don’t point fingers. I show how things can be done differently in a fun way. With that positive approach, I get people on board.”

Read more about Maartje >>

If you ask Niek, we as a society are a collective burnout in the making. Climate change and high work pressure, these are the big issues of our time. How do we deal with them? How do we change and adapt? Last but not least; how do we become and stay happy? One word: Resilience.

If there is one person whose resilience has been put to the test, it is Niek van den Adel. His statements are anything but empty words, as he experienced firsthand that through resilience you can find a good portion of happiness, even in the deepest of valleys.

At age twenty-eight, he ended up in a wheelchair after a fatal incident. Although he could never have imagined this shortly after the accident, he works hard to see this event as a gift.

“Happiness is not in your legs but between your ears.”

Niek van den Adel is the resilience speaker of the moment. Book him for your event. Curious about Niek’s complete story? View his profile.

For say, it is rather turbulent in the world. It feels like we are stumbling from crisis to crisis. That’s because our systems and institutions are dated and no longer doing what they were designed to do. There has never been a better time in our history to redesign and reshape our future.

Where are the opportunities that we don’t see now, let alone take advantage of? How should we connect with the emerging future and what role and responsibility is there for governments and for the business community? Not to mention for ourselves? How do we create together the world everyone longs for?

Make your event an unforgettable experience and go with Ruud on an exiting expedition to the unleashed future. Maximum impact with lots of interaction and examples of best practices.

Rumbling in the margins

Once Harm saw Princess Irene speaking in front of a group of people about sustainability. An 88-year-old man in the audience exclaimed, “I’m doing it all for my grandchildren“. Irene – then also in her 80s – replied somewhat piqued “if you don’t think life is worth doing it for yourself, then it won’t be anything!”

“That’s the way I see it. If you only do it for your children or grandchildren, you don’t really feel it. You also have to want it for yourself, for nature, for everything on earth.”

And it’s desperately needed too. Ecosystems are on the verge of collapse, deforestation, freshwater and resource shortages, plastic soup. Or in Harm’s words, “It’s drama! The Earth Overshoot Day is at the end of July, which means 5 months of living at the expense of the future, every year.” His lectures are a plea to stop messing around on the margins, and get two feet in the new economy.

“Companies need to stop lying to us, young people need to demand a better future from those currently in power, and we need to dream and act bigger and more radically.“

Mirjam from Brabant was also called ‘Mother Nature’ as a child. The fire to contribute to sustainability – especially the circular economy – was only kindled in her when she started working on circularity after studying mechanical engineering at Philips.

She now inspires and activates companies and organizations to sustainability and creates real impact together with their employees. She does this by planting seeds and helping companies with their sustainability strategy. She makes extra impact as a speaker herself!

“I bring a lot of energy, bad jokes and an honest story, even if it rubs someone the wrong way.”

Her directness creates instant action, partly due to her disarming cheerfulness, energy and unmistakable Brabant accent. This makes Mirjam the choice keynote speaker if you really want to get your organization moving. Her lectures and workshops are packed with interactive methods that will always keep you on the edge of your seat.

Read more about Mirjam van Laarhoven >>

In his career, Henk Jan Kamsteeg has interviewed numerous leadership visionaries, such as Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey, and discusses a new book on leadership in a weekly blog.

Now an expert on leadership himself, he has eight books to his name, including ‘Servant Leadership’, ‘The Power of Compliment’ and ‘Pure Profit’. He also trains and coaches executives based on his vision: authentic, servant and inclusive leadership.

“Servant leadership is not a trick, it is a heart thing. People sense the difference
flawlessly.”

Henk Jan is also a storyteller for International Justice Mission (IJM), a foundation that fights against violence and slavery worldwide. Injustice that continues to touch him. He wrote the book ‘A plague of violence’ on this subject.

His lectures are about servant leadership, inclusive leadership and storytelling for leaders and organisations. All with the aim of making positive impact, or in Henk Jan’s own words:

“Instead of frustrating, we can create a world where we serve others and nature, instead of exploiting them to benefit ourselves. I believe we can do that.”

Read more about Henk Jan Kamsteeg >>

Dr. Morgaine Gaye is a visionary in the future of food. As a Food Futurologist, she examines not only what we eat but, more importantly, why and how food is connected to broader social, cultural, and economic trends. Her unique way of thinking has helped major brands like Unilever and Amazon to look ahead and prepare for what is to come. But for her, it’s not just about food. “Trend indicators are happening right under our noses but often go unnoticed,” she says. It is these shifts that Morgaine picks up effortlessly and converts into predictions for businesses, sectors, and societies.

“As a futurologist, I have no personal agenda. I simply try to show the possibilities of the future.”

With her sharp observations and philosophical approach, she inspires both businesses and the general public worldwide.

Read more about Dr. Morgaine Gaye >>

On a summer day in 2009, Merijn Everaarts is sitting on the sunny beach in Bloemendaal. At the end of the day, he notices how much plastic waste is left on the beach. Waste that is not cleaned up by people, but ends up in the sea. At that time, Merijn is still working in the events industry. He cannot deny that huge amounts of plastic are wasted there, too.

“We danced at festivals on carpets made of plastic.”

Surely that can be done differently? And it can, Merijn shows. In 2010, Dopper was “born. Since then, the colorful, three-piece bottle has become indispensable in our sports bags and backpacks. But according to Merijn, Dopper is not just ‘a fun brand that wants to improve the world’.

“We have become more combative and show our face where policy is made.”

Meanwhile, sustainability and serving Mother Earth has become Merijn’s life mission. Under the appropriate name, he is establishing plant-based restaurant ‘Mama Gaia’ as well as sustainable co-working space ‘Oceans’ in 2020, both located in the same building in Haarlem.

With his drive, experience and knowledge from founding several impact companies, he inspires as a speaker. He makes you aware of your potential impact. He speaks for a wide audience, from Greenpeace to Shell, because “to make the wave of change bigger we need everyone.” Merijn certainly does not shy away from this challenge.

Read more about Merijn Everaarts >>

In his own words, Thijs is a real ‘tech-nerd’ and has spoken quite often in his (20+ years) career in front of his peers. But his real passion turned out to be ‘tech-for-good projects’.

Since 2019, Thijs has been contributing his skills to projects for ‘Hack the Planet’. He also speaks about his experiences wanting to show people from all kinds of professions that you can choose what you use your talents for; if it was up to him ‘for good!’.

Thijs is the perfect person to give them a boost; with impressive examples, images and a story in which many will recognize themselves.

“I have discovered that it is possible to contribute to something good in the world with your work-skills in the most extraordinary places.”

If you are curious about what his thought-provoking keynotes “Corporate Altruism” and “Innovation for good – with Celine Dion”, check out Thijs’ profile.

Read more about Thijs Suijten >>

‘The sky is the limit’ is sometimes said, but as far as Ariane Roos is concerned, it could all be a bit less in our growth- and consumption-driven society.

“How bizarre is it that we find it normal to wear cheap jeans sewn together by Uighurs in ‘re-education camps’?”

Once a graduate in aerospace engineering, she founded a tech platform on the eve of the internet revolution and worked at a strategic level for major corporates such as KPN, Vodafone, Fokker, and Philips.

A tough time of chemo treatments only strengthened her vision. The vision that doing work that energizes you and gives meaning to your life not only strengthens your mindset but can also make the world a much more beautiful place.

Ariane speaks – full of powerful vulnerability – about ‘doing business for good’ and about how every company can become an impact organization.

Read more about Ariane Roos >>

Law and ethics form the foundation of everything Jan van de Venis undertakes in his life and career. After his early years in commercial law, he joined Greenpeace International as a lawyer; the beginning of a new direction, conservation and human rights.

“I became increasingly aware of the pressure on nature and the planet, and that our current law is not working to protect nature and future generations.”

A healthy environment is a human right and from this perspective he advised and supported – among others with his company JustLaw – citizens and NGOs in UN trajectories and lawsuits against companies and institutions violating human and children’s rights. The coalition of NGOs he is involved with also won the UN Human Rights Prize in 2023.

Jan is additionally a great ambassador of seventh generation thinking. He is concerned with the question, “what choices should we make now to ensure a good future for future generations?”. In his lectures he challenges his audience to think about this with him.

Read more about Jan van de Venis >>

The way and what children learn not only has a major impact on the inner world, but we also see it reflected in the outer world in the long term, for example, through the loss of biodiversity, toxic substances in food, air, soil and drinking water, and decline of animal species essential for children’s futures.

According to Juliëtte, we are not facing a climate crisis, but a generational crisis that we passed on created by culture and driven by endless economic growth. Because we have placed ourselves above nature, children grow up without connection to their inner and outer worlds.

Juliëtte says, “Education is still based on the principles from the industrial revolution. “Children are trained efficiently and standardized to become better consumers instead of better people. This is diametrically opposed to a holistic lifestyle, which has a focus on connecting with nature.”

This was the experience of Juliëtte, who has been contributing to a more beautiful world with creativity, entrepreneurship, and vision since childhood.

Juliëtte has founded several regenerative businesses with an impact mission, including NOWSCHOOL, a blueprint for holistic education worldwide. This initiative fosters a generation of holistic thinkers and doers by building a new ecosystem that increases impact and empowers each other. Not by kicking the system, but by rolling up our sleeves together and building a new ecosystem for the next 7 generations.

“What if happiness, health, freedom and collaboration were given a central role in education? What if we unlearned the self-imposed frameworks and formed a new model for the child and the future?”

Juliëtte talks about holistic education, holistic living and creating a holistic learning and living environment. She advocates a shift from a linear system to a learning ecosystem with a living curriculum, inspired by new science, ancient wisdom, and her own experiences.

Read more about Juliëtte >>

From a young age, Talita felt a strong connection to nature and all living things. Sustainability has always played a significant role in her life, but it reached a peak in 2013 due to an event that is still vividly etched in her memory: the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh.

The disaster not only made her reflect on her role as a consumer but also as a human being. It sparked a search for sustainable fashion and brought her closer to her own identity. She delved into her own heritage and cultural background. She discovered not only what sustainability essentially means to her but also the power of honest, transparent stories.

“The victims could have been my brothers and sisters.”

She launched her own platform, Soul Stores, where she shares inspiration about conscious purchasing and sustainable living while providing a valuable platform for mission-driven stores, manufacturers, and brands.

Drawing from her knowledge, experiences, and insights into copywriting, journalism, and sustainability, she developed Sustainable Storytelling as a methodology . She wrote a book about it – Sustainable Storytelling: From Pure Intention to a Credible Story with Impact – and speaks about it.

“It’s about being human from pure intentions and a deep intrinsic desire to do good for yourself, for others, and for the world around you.”

Read more about Talita Kalloe >>

After an unexpected revelation, Jorn realizes that he wears a mask all the time. Imposed by his ego that needs outside affirmation to feel if he is good enough.

“My ego wanted people to look up to me, to see me as someone who was successful. The reality was that I started seeing myself more and more as a loser. It was destructive and exhausting.”

He dives into the world of personal development, exploring various ‘tools’ – such as meditation ánd psychedelics – that bring him back to himself, piece by piece breaking down the ego and the wall that offered him (false) security. In his talks, he shares his experiences and insights.

His keynotes are positive, hopeful and give insight into your own behavior (and ego!). Because, says Jorn, we are all conditioned. We see the world through our own glasses; glasses colored by events, culture, successes and disappointments and upbringing. What if you could polish those glasses and see the world clearly? Act from the heart, from love instead of fear.

Read more about Jorn Vrijaldenhoven >>

Gert-Jan was an active member of the House of Representatives for the Christian Union for 10 years. Characteristic were his talent and drive to connect dissenters to the same mission – to eliminate injustice in any form. For example, he co-shaped the current climate policy and championed humane labor migration and bringing back the student basic grant.

In 2023, Gert-Jan left politics and continued his mission as an advisor for various NGOs and companies working from a social perspective. Among others, he works for the Salvation Army and International Justice Mission – an organization that seeks to eliminate modern-day slavery.

“All that injustice needs to win, is good people doing nothing.”

Gert-Jan Segers has also written several books, including his most recent, “Power and powerlessness: politician in a divided country. This is also one of his keynotes as a professional speaker.

Read more about Gert-Jan Segers >>

Kremena Yordanova is a visionary leader who places resilience and compassion at the center of her approach. As a mentor and fractional CMO, she inspires other leaders by leveraging self-development and creativity for positive change.

After a successful career with major brands such as Adidas and Reebok, she chose a freelance path in 2023 as a marketing consultant focused on companies with a positive impact.

Kremena uses her experience in the corporate world to guide leaders in balancing ambition and integrity. Her insights stem from a holistic approach, helping leaders to act authentically and conscientiously in a rapidly changing world.

“There is more than one way to build a career without compromising your integrity.”

Book Kremena for inspiring keynotes and workshops on authentic leadership and discover how you can grow and make a lasting impact.

Read more about Kremena >>

Growing up among farms in Brabant, Chantal developed a passion for good food and sustainability at an early age. Her career switched from large food companies to setting up initiatives like Too Good to Waste and Kromkommer  which marked the beginning of her fight against food waste and the established order in the food industry.

Now, she travels the country with her project Peas Of Me in her camper, staying at the farms of food changers, and sharing the inspiring stories of these ‘Peasmakers’.

“So much good is already happening; that’s what I want to focus on, not on doomsday scenarios.”

Let yourself be inspired by Chantal’s unique life story, nomadic existence, and her tireless commitment to a better world.

Read more about Chantal Engelen >>

Meet Wim Schepens, a quirky speaker and author who sees storytelling as his personal form of activism. Wim knows how to build bridges between different worlds, with his versatile background as an editor-in-chief and program maker at VPRO and his sharp societal view.

In his book “Leven met een trui aan” and through lectures, he shares his personal sustainability dilemmas and his fascination with nature, ecosystems, and the environment in a humorous and recognizable way. By doing so, he invites you to join him in thinking about the great challenges now and in the future.

“You can’t control nature; you can’t say this animal can, but that one cannot. Everything is connected through ecosystems and us humans depend on that as well.”

Discover how Wim connects the personal and societal and why he is such a relevant speaker on sustainability dilemmas for your audience right now. His lectures have a personal and critical touch while staying humorous  and hopeful.

Read more about Wim >>

A truly sustainable business model requires radical thinking, but it is possible, Ankie van Wersch knows. She is founder of Tika foundation, a foundation offering programmes for underprivileged children and young people in Nepal. She is also CEO of Powered by Enviu, an organisation that builds business models that create value for people and the environment.

Perhaps it is her grandfather’s words; ‘you must always do the right thing’, or perhaps it is her own experiences; ‘children are still dying of hunger’. Probably it is a combination of both that drive her to make the world a nicer place. And she successfully does so in various ways.

“We have reduced avocado waste by 95%, saved billions of litres of water, and prevented 25 million single-use plastics from ending up in the ocean. We also set up a pension fund in Ghana for people without formal jobs. They can now also build something for later.”

Although Ankie’s stories don’t leave you cold, a positive tone prevails in her lectures. She tells inspiringly that it can be done; as a company, making a positive impact on the environment and people’s lives. ‘Thinking big and starting small‘ is her motto.

Frank shows a new version of how the ‘the good life’ could look. Food is an important part of that, because this is where we can make a lot of impact together. Contributing to this is not just for vegetarians and vegans, says Frank:

“The idea still prevails to a large extent, that you are either convincingly carnivorous or vegan, otherwise you are a hypocrite. That is not true. There is room somewhere in between for everyone to make a better choice every day. In my book and lectures, I show people that the opportunity is there.”

In both his cookbook and lectures, he uses data to show which food choices have the most impact on our ecological footprint. And the great thing is, he makes even the biggest meat lover, sceptic or pessimist see that you don’t have to make a huge sacrifice to do so.

Frank’s mission against climate change began when, as a 15-year-old, he saw Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, which predicted the bleak future of his beloved glacier – the Aletsch Glacier. At the time, he was living in Switzerland with his parents, both pastors.  He could not have imagined then that he would later follow in their footsteps to some extent. But he now sees himself as a ‘sustainability preacher’, with an important message.

Read more about Frank Holleman >>

Ever since she saw An Inconvenient Truth as a child, two topics have set the course of Bodine’s life and career to date: her fascination with human behavior AND with sustainability.

Every day she tries to find deeper explanations for why people do as they do. Why they make choices that conflict with their deeper beliefs and where resistance to change comes from.

Bodine worked as a behavioral scientist and podcast creator and now an entrepreneur. In 2019, she founded her company SustainableSpot, helping sustainability managers build support for sustainability within their organizations.

“Only when you know what drives people and why something creates resistance can you map out a route to sustainable behavior. Change doesn’t happen ‘overnight.”

Knowledge and awareness alone do not guarantee behavioral change. In a clear manner and with striking examples she shows that nothing human is strange to us, but that change is really possible.

Read more about Bodine van Styrum>>

He is not a scientist, neuropsychologist or change manager. And yet these disciplines are deeply intertwined with everything he does and talks about. He was triggered by the statement “We say what we think and do what we feel. If that is not balanced, confidence is lost “

This reinforced his fascination with human behavior, and he wrote a book about it ‘360º trust’. He also owns a center of expertise ‘Grip on Trust’; where he helps leaders and managers shape their leadership based on trust.

Jan talks about the power of trust and how to make it understandable and concrete. He pleads for Gross National Trust and advocates for feminine leadership. He does this with contagious energy and enormous enthusiasm.

Read more about Jan van der Spoel >>

Frank Peters is founder and owner of VIRTUS Communications, a boutique consulting firm focused on building and protecting reputations. From his agency, Frank advises clients in business, nonprofit and government.

Frank works and speaks for leading companies and organizations in a variety of industries, including banks, insurers, and other financial service providers.  Frank is also a sought-after speaker in the agri/food sector, as well as in the world of healthcare and well-being, where Frank regularly speaks for executives and healthcare professionals at hospitals and related parties.

Furthermore, Frank is also associated as a guest lecturer at various universities and business schools, including Nyenrode, TIAS and Beeckestijn.

Frank is also a successful writer and bestselling author of several management books, including “Doing the Right Thing when No One Is Looking (2021)” and “From Profit to Value” (2022) and “Stop the Silence (2023).

Two of his former books made it to the shortlist (top 5) of ‘Nominated Management Book of the Year.

Read more about Frank >>

Miranda is author of the upcoming book “How to include and represent the brightest possible future,” a book with a seven-generation design. In her company “Our Kids Future,” she introduces organizations such as municipalities, businesses, and schools to seventh generation thinking.

In her lectures, Miranda also advocates “a place at the table” for future generations in companies and governments.  As far as she is concerned, the question everyone should ask themselves over and over again is? ‘How to become a good ancestor; would my (great) grandchild be proud of the decision I make today?’

Miranda created the character “M,” who not only symbolizes the future generation living in 2050, but who literally influences every decision she makes. He is her future great-grandchild.

“Overwhelming people with ‘rocket science’ doesn’t work.  Put yourself in ‘the shoes’ of your grand- and great-grandchildren. That makes the future, and the problems future generations have to deal with tangible and palpable.”

In her lectures, trainings and workshops, Miranda lets you experience this power and inspires you to ‘be a good ancestor’!

Read more about Miranda Willems >>

Frank has been analyzing nature and environmental problems for decades; it could just as easily have been other social problems, such as those in healthcare or the housing market. What he finds particularly repulsive is “trying to justify what is wrong”. As far as he is concerned, knowledge is an important key to change.

“I always found it most interesting to work from an underdog position, as the challenger. You must be three times better prepared than your ‘opponent’; the one who defends the status quo from his established position. “

For solutions that work, Frank Dietz says we need to recognize the complexity of nature and environmental issues. More solar panels on rooftops are great, but are the power lines ‘thick’ enough to get the generated power to users? And who benefits from that green power and who bears extra burdens as a result? And will companies still be able to make steel and plastics if the fossil sources currently needed to do so are phased out? And will airline holidays still be possible? All these consequences and potentially clashing interests must be kept in mind to avoid suboptimal solutions as much as possible.

Read more about Frank Dietz >>

From top sports to law school to a promising career at PostNL. Joris dutifully took every step forward that presented itself. He did what was expected of him, but felt it was not his passion. The price thereof was presented to him in the form of a panic attack, which contributed to drastically changing the course of his life. 

He cycled with his wife from Mongolia to India, making a huge journey not only physically, but also mentally. He searched within himself and there rediscovered a passion he has actually always had: speaking, connecting with people and inspiring them. Something he now does full-time, as a keynote speaker focusing on (change) strategy and leadership. 

Joris Mencke is not the classic motivational speaker. You won’t hear him say “Tjakka” anytime soon. Rather, he holds up a mirror and puts his finger on the sometimes fine and sometimes sore spot, an inevitable step in any transition. He doesn’t do this by being bitter, but with a good dose of humor, striking videos and his trademark big smile, he invariably gets away with it. More importantly: the message sticks and is often talked about for a long time.

His mission is crystal clear: 

“I want to turn the world of leadership upside down!” 

Read more about Joris Mencke >>

Melle has built a fine career in the vibrant hospitality life, in all kinds of special places around the world. But both the birth of his daughter (with accompanying existential emotions) and the realization that the hospitality industry is hugely polluting made him take a completely different path.

He finds it hard to stomach the fact that a million trees a day are cut down for the production of paper, including toilet paper that is flushed down the toilet carelessly. He decided to change the toilet paper industry for good and founded The Good Roll in 2018, with 50% of profits going to building toilet facilities in Africa.

“How cool is it that you can build a system where a toilet visit contributes to a better world in many ways?”

Melle also founded the NOA Collective in 2022, which helps organizations (including startups) to make a more positive impact, by supporting them on brand strategy and concept.

As a speaker, Melle shares his stories and lessons on creative and sustainable entrepreneurship with anyone willing to make a difference in the world.

Read more about Melle Schellekens >>

“Why do people do what they do?” A very important question that everyone in society and in organizations should study if you ask Mark. Because understanding our mind plays a big role in tackling major societal challenges and issues.

According to Mark, a better world starts by taking into account the different ways people function, work and change. Among other things, he draws inspiration from nature, cultural and healthcare organizations – pioneers who fulfill a social role and are people-oriented rather than commercial-oriented.

The traditional way of dealing with a problem – such as high workload – for example is to work faster, harder and more efficiently. But efficiency can actually make us ineffective if we put processes instead of people first, says Mark.

With his lectures, Mark wants to make a difference for people and organizations, by reminding them what their purpose is, showing them how their beliefs play a role and how they determine their behavior.

Nikki Trip wants to inspire you to discover, as she did herself, how to effectively use your talents-find your own impact niche-for a better world.

When Nikki discovered the power of big money (Dutch pension funds collectively invest some 1,500 billion euros) she couldn’t go back. There was still little representation of the broad prosperity perspective and few young people taking to the barricade. She seized that opportunity and made it her own.

“You have no use for good financial returns if there will soon be no livable world or social society left. That actually applies to everything we do. Broad prosperity is the only way forward.”

Nikki works as a sustainability specialist for AF Advisors, where she supports asset managers in their sustainability strategy, in addition she is active with several NGOs she founded. By connecting these two worlds, she aims to inspire companies to make future-proof choices

Read more about Nikki Trip>>

A grandfather who was a policeman in the resistance during World War II. That is Tom Kok’s personal inspiration. Because thanks to the choices his grandfather made back then, Tom is not only inspired. He lives!

Over 23 years ago, Tom Kok said goodbye to his corporate career and his chairmanship of D66. What for? He didn’t exactly know. He did have a list of everything he wanted to be: millionaire, celebrated statesman, captain of industry, inspirer, warm dad. That list quickly dwindled, with the last two options remaining. Tom decided he had to choose and finally realized he didn’t want to be someone who hadn’t really inspired anyone in his life. And so he chose inspiration. A line he has continued ever since, in everything he does. And that’s a lot.

Tom is a speaker and can be hired for small and large groups; from 1-on-1 coaching to small-scale workshops and lectures for 1,000 people. With his stories, which are based on his own experiences and combined with theory, he gets his audience thinking about leadership, Stephen Covey’s 8th trait, energy and fundamental questions such as ‘who am I?’.

Tom is a man of many words who also knows and appreciates the power of silence. After a meeting with Tom, you will have plenty of food for thought as a listener. To which Tom warns:

“You may come to the conclusion that you need to make big decisions in your personal or professional life.”

‘New Life is the movement that comes together and is passed on’ 

Get ready for an interactive and dynamic talk. From her experiences, she has developed a unique approach to getting people moving. Her playful and creative methods make even complex topics such as diversity, inclusion, collaboration surrounding a common goal, new leadership or behavioural change digestible and discussable.

“Feel free to play and play to feel free. To break free of what you are stuck in. To reinvent yourself over and over again. Even if the destination is unknown, on a journey to yourself, you can never get lost.”

Kathalijn inspires her audience to switch their heads off, their hearts on, and get moving together.

If you are wanting to learn how to recognize change, develop resilience and create movement in your life or organization through connection, then don’t miss out on the opportunities a keynote by Kathalijn has to offer. Join the inspiring and interactive shared journey, book Kathalijn as a speaker now!

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Gina Maffey grew up on a farm in Warwickshire, England, where she developed a deep connection with nature. She has an academic background and worked in various disciplines such as Astronomy, Anthropology and Ecology, which gives her a broad view of the natural world and our relationship to it.

She worked for years as a science communicator in the Scottish Highlands and, South America, among other places, before living outdoors in the Netherlands with her partner for a year. Their “Wild Year” is mentioned in several books, including Koen Arts’ book of the same name.

“Allowing a piece of ‘wildness’ into your life doesn’t have to be grand and compelling.”

Gina is also founder of Green Roots, through which she brings together science and nature experiences in a way that is both engaging and educational. As a speaker, her story resonates with a diverse audience. Among other things, she can tell policymakers about the importance of protecting “the night,” researchers how to give themselves and nature a voice through storytelling, and how we as humans can weave nature into our own lives.

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Founded by Anoek Neele and a collective of theater makers, The Climate Theater presents the climate crisis in a unique and humorous way on the workplace. With interactive performances, this diverse group makes difficult subjects discussable and inspires sustainable behavioral change.

Each character embodies one of the five behavioral stages of change. The dialogues between these characters tell the story of the character and highlights the pain points; from “climate denier” to “climate advocate”. Even Mother Earth has a role.

“A theatrical ‘slap in the face’ works better than spouting facts about climate.”

In the performance ‘A Warm Welcome’, laughter and tears are not uncommon, but the real impact is often only visible later. It creates space to express and share concerns and connect with people who have the same or different opinions and ideas. This has a lasting effect.

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Marga’s drive to have maximum impact to make business more sustainable is the common thread in all her roles. Initially as a CEO, then as the leader of networks ‘De Groene Zaak’ and ‘Het Groene Brein’, now as an international writer, speaker and Board Member. She is deeply convinced that entrepreneurs can and should help solve world problems. They can, because it offers a range of business opportunities, according to Marga. Therefore, there is no reason not to do it, so she wants to help companies see how they can do it. Ultimately, her wish is for sustainable business to become the norm, rather than the exception.

Purpose is therefore her keyword and she helps companies find that purpose, make it concrete and lead the company from that insight. This means that companies actually focus on world challenges and then consider how their business can contribute to them, while maintaining or even increasing profitability and growth. In doing so, she likes to use the Sustainable Development Goals, which also form the core of her gold-winning new book ‘The Trillion Dollar Shift’.

The care and well-being of people must and can be improved Egge van der Poel knows. That technology plays an important role in this, he believes, is beyond dispute. But despite insufficient hands at the bedside, he believes it is not the lack of technology that hinders progress.

“There is fear of change due to big-data and AI, among other things. Fear of losing jobs, of losing income, of losing privacy and control.”

Egge wants to overcome this fear by showing how we can harness the potential of people and data for good. He describes this in his book “Geheelmeesters – compromisloos radicaal betere zorg ontwerpen”, and he lectures on this and related topics.

Central to his personal and working life is ‘ubuntu’ – an African saying from his native Zambia. It freely translated means “I am because we are.

“Data can help expand our collective knowledge and wisdom, which in healthcare can mean the difference between life and death.”

In Egge’s lectures, the experiences from his “fragmented career” come in useful. Egge creates an unlikely bridge between the fields of physics, philosophy, data and communication he has studied, painting a rose-colored yet real picture of the future of healthcare.

Inge used to be a flight attendant and flew around the world.

Now she is a sustainability consultant and green influencer. At the time of the corona pandemic, she began to delve into the world of fashion and sustainability and the dark side of the fashion industry.

She was shocked by the effect it had on the planet and how people were treated in production chains, not just in fashion, but in other industries as well. One problem many companies experience is that the barrier is unnecessarily high due to complex language and legislation. Also, sustainability is often unnecessarily seen as expensive. This is something she wants to change.

“I want to show the business community that sustainability does not have to be expensive or complicated, despite complex regulations.”

In her talks and workshops, Inge convinces companies the value of developing a sustainable business strategy. She is well prepared for the topics and challenges that concern the audience.

By telling her story, she wants to make it clear that everyone, every individual, can make a difference; by moving in a more sustainable direction or by making an impact in the workplace.

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“We overconsume and buy products we don’t need to impress people we don’t even like.”

Minimalism is often explained as the opposite of materialism. But personally, Jelle perceives minimalism as a much broader concept. One that relates to all aspects of life. It’s not just the things you buy, but also the way you organize your life, fill in your time and spend your energy.

You may even call Jelle’s way of life essentialism. Back to the essence, nothing more and nothing less. This not only benefits our (mental) health, but also the planet, because “taking action against climate change is incredibly urgent”.

Jelle’s message moves people because his story is personal, vulnerable and positive. He tells the painful truth, without pointing the finger. He explains how we can all do better, by giving practical tips. His audience goes home full of enthusiasm and inspiration.

For over twenty years Karin Bosman has worked for several international advertising agencies. She felt confident with two feet in the ground in this man’s world. Sexually explicit jokes were part of the culture and meant little to her.

But during her last job, things went much further.  For two years, she was sexually harassed by her supervisor. She was dumbfounded, her self-confidence and self-esteem disappeared, and she no longer recognized herself.

It was difficult for her to verbalize what she had been through, so she decided to write her story  to process it and help those around her understand. As a result, she discovered a new strength and direction in her life. Her book “Spitting on Hans’ Sandwich” was published in 2016 and impressed readers worldwide.

She studies NAADAC in the US on Social Safety and Psychosocial Workload, collects data on a large scale and develops a platform for reporting inappropriate behavior.

Since 2015, Karin has been traveling the world advising companies on prevention policies and creating awareness among executives and HR professionals, among others, concerning a safe working environment. To this end she uses her unique mix of communication and legal knowledge and (personal) experience.

As a speaker she makes a deep impression, with the power of humor and the courage of vulnerability.

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Tosca van der Wouden wants to show that when we truly feel ourselves part of nature again, when we connect with our home planet, we can have a positive impact on our environment.

From love, radical hope and a good dose of humor, she is committed to a livable planet for people, animals, plants and fungi. As an independent from her own company ‘From The Woods’, she is involved in The Pollinators, where she organizes campaigns, coordinates events and works on the development of The Pollinators Academy.

Tosca also daily with her feet in the mud and hands in the clay herself; as she is currently transforming her own acres of land into a food forest with vegetable garden and shares her first-hand observations. In addition, Tosca teaches yoga classes and she shares her mission and insights as a speaker or workshop facilitator.

“My mission is to add more life to the world and leave it better than how I found it.”

Tosca’s admiration of and wonder for all that lives is contagious and inspiring. She shows you how we can transform into an age where humans live together with nature; from the anthropocene to the symbiocene.

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Marnix Kluiters was well on his way to a corporate career when two things changed in his life. One, he got an eye condition, which caused him to go almost completely blind within a short period of time. Two, he got an internship at the employer of his dreams and was bored to tears. Was this all? Will he do this for the rest of his life? Did he put everything aside and study hard for this for years?

He decided to take a radically different route. Touched by the friendly volunteers who made sure he could still go on winter sports vacation even with poor visibility – he had been an avid skier for years – and inspired by the documentary Return of Happiness, he started looking into sustainability. In 2019, started his own podcast Ecosophy, where ecology, economics and philosophy come together in conversations with sustainability experts from a variety of disciplines. He spoke with over a hundred leading politicians, entrepreneurs, and scientists, on the question: how do we strive for the good life within the ecological limits of the planet? He now has more than 15,000 listeners a month, with a new episode appearing every two weeks.

“By bringing different disciplines together, we can strive for an ecosophy, a system in which everyone has the opportunity to live a good life, now and in the future. In my podcast, I’m not looking for creative answers, but mainly ask if we’re asking the right questions.”

In his book Sustainable Ambition, Marnix describes how everyone can dedicate their careers to the transition to a sustainable world. If we leave that to the government and business, it will be far too slow. Together with Mark Siegenbeek van Heukelom, personal leadership coach, he explains how all of us, even if you are not a CEO or board member, can make a difference.

“It sometimes seems that people forget their sustainable ideas and views between nine and five. But we can change systems if we put our careers to work.”

If anyone knows how change works, both societal changes toward sustainability and profound changes in your personal life, it’s Marnix. For Speakers for Good, he lectures on giving meaning to your career, dignity as a solution to the climate crisis and making big changes happen.

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Daphne Laan is a creative impact entrepreneur; the common thread in her story is pioneering and impact. Daphne has over 20 years of experience at the nexus of business, technology, creativity, and impact. As Head of Technology & Ecosystems at Google, she took on the experiment: In business, what happens when you follow your heart and do only the things you love? Then doors open unexpectedly….

Her mission is to create space for freedom of thinking, doing & feeling. House of Wonder is her umbrella for creative collaborations and impactful entrepreneurship. In doing so, she stretches the boundaries to create new possibilities.

She is co-founder of The Board Whisperers, who help founders, boards and executive teams with transitions and turn vision or strategy into inspiring action, by also looking what is swept under the carpet.

Daphne fuels the fire of change in CEOs, founders and leaders of the future and helps them make more impact through collaboration.

She is active in connecting people and traversing bubbles. As an ecosystem orchestrator, she brings networks together, transcending the importance of individual bubbles and always looks at the big picture.

“I create space for possibilities in thinking, from positivity and show that pigeonholes we like to think in can be stretched, so that something new emerges.”

Daphne’s lectures are characterized by a light-hearted and upbeat tone on important topics such as technology, leadership, and transition issues. She brings energy, passion, lightness, fun and hope; as she herself tackles her challenges.

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“Take care of the place that takes care of you“, that’s really the essence. The reason biomimicry stayed on her mind when Saskia was introduced to it in 2009:

“We as humans want to take care of our children and grandchildren. But we can’t physically do that for our descendants seven generations from now. What we can do is create an environment that takes care of them.”

That realization touched her, as it did the many people she inspires with biomimicry. Audiences are sometimes moved to tears. So Saskia strives for a better, more beautiful, fairer and healthier world, and if you ask her, biomimicry plays a key role in her mission.

According to Saskia, the philosophy of biomimicry can be applied in all facets of our personal lives, but also in all areas within various organizations. It can provide new perspective and guidance for engineers and architects, economists, policy makers, educators and entrepreneurs, for example.

Saskia van den Muijsenberg therefore appeals to a broad audience with her lectures and workshops, which are interesting for anyone who wants practical tools and answers to the question: “How can I start making changes tomorrow in order to do better?”

Nice Leng’ete is an inspiring human rights activist who has saved tens of thousands of girls in Kenya from female genital mutilation and child marriages. In collaboration with AMREF Health Africa and through her own Nice Place Foundation, she provides safe shelter, education, and hope for a better future. In addition, she changes cultures from within by engaging with community leaders and men from diverse communities. She was the first woman in history to be handed the ‘Black Talking Stick’ which demonstrated her success in this endeavor.

“I do not bear this mission alone, but together with all the beautiful girls we are educating to become leaders for change.”

Her work has gained worldwide recognition, and with her unwavering commitment and effective strategies, Nice Leng’ete continues to be a powerful voice in the fight for equality and justice for girls and women. By booking Nice as an inspiring speaker, you also contribute to her ambitious mission: a promising future for every child.

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Speaker, scientist, professor and world champion soccer-playing robots; Maarten Steinbuch simply cannot be pigeonholed. A brief summary of his career: he studied Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft, where he later obtained his PhD in Measurement and Control Technology. He worked for 12 years as a mechanical engineer (Philips) and at the age of 39 started working as a professor at TU Eindhoven.

Maarten takes his audience on a journey to the future and tells them about the speed of technological developments and their impact on our lives. When he speaks people are on the edge of their seat; young, old, scientist, director or engineer. And if not him, his faithful companion will make sure of that; a small, robotic dinosaur that even impressed the Dalai Lama in 2018.