Learn About Our Speakers
Jessica de JongWe are pleased to present our first Key Note speaker: Jessica de Jong, an independent journalist, a Career & Gender expert, and an author of various books. Most recently she wrote the stories of five female leaders - 'Machtige Topvrouwen' (2016), where she unravels the secret of their success and discusses reality and the effect of unconscious discrimination when it comes to women's work positions and promotions in the Netherlands.
She has made a name for herself and influenced by writing for magazines such 'De Volkskrant' and 'Trouw'. She also has experience in conducting policy-research on diversity. Through her work, she attempts to find practical solutions to the issues revolving around gender inequality. For example, the functioning of internal quota in business companies. |
Sheila GeminSheila Gemin is a mother of 4, engineer and founder of a Dutch company that focuses on athletic development. She plays a dual role within Professional Women’s Network Global, an organisation consisting of 29 city networks that aim to accelerate gender-balanced leadership in business and society. She is Vice-President of Network Strategy for Professional Women Network Global and President of the Professional Women's network in Amsterdam.
In her early professional years, Gemin dealt with the reality of what is to be a (coloured) woman in a man's (IT) world and the struggles that come with it. In her opinion, gender equality in the workplace is something that cannot be separated from gender equality in society and religion. It is all connected. But we have to start somewhere to make the change. Sheila emphasises that a good place to start is to recognise one's own unconscious biases and the discrimination that occurs around you. Quotas can aid enormously but to make sustainable change one must start at the core beliefs regarding man and woman. |
Per HolmströmAmbassador to Sweden in the Netherlands, will be giving the workshop ”Parental Leave the Swedish Way: Dads Included!” on 22nd of November.
The Ambassador will provide insights to the parental leave system in Sweden: its benefits, but also the general assumptions about potential negative effects on the economy and career outlook. He will share his personal reflections on the benefits of shared parental leave, and the importance of “pappaledighet” – the opportunity for dads to be included in the upbringing and care of their children. Thomas BuserThomas Buser is an associate professor of Economics at the University of Amsterdam. In his research, Thomas uses lab and field experiments, as well as administrative and survey data, to examine the impact of individual differences in personality traits on career choices and career outcomes. A particular focus is given to gender differences in willingness to compete and in the reaction to losing in competitions. A large body of research shows that women are less attracted to competitive environments compared to men. In his research, Thomas investigates whether this can explain persistent differences in career choices between men and women.
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Anniek de RuijterAnniek de Ruijter is Assistant-Professor of European law at the University of Amsterdam. Her research concentrates on the intersection of European law, health law, and policy and therefore the academic interest lies on constitutional questions regarding the EU role in human health and risk regulation.
Anniek is also the Chair of Clara Wichmann, a strategic litigation for Women’s Rights, which seeks to improve the social and legal position of women in the Netherlands. The Clara Wichmann Fund seeks to ensure that the matters concerning jurisprudence dealing with fundamental issues that directly affect women's rights receive the public attention it deserves. Even though the implementation of the principle of equality has led to the elimination of some forms of direct discrimination against women, the social status of women can still be better in many areas. Anniek de Ruijter is part of the panel discussion focusing on 'glass ceiling' on 22nd of November starting at 11:30. |
Evelyn DoyleEvelyn Doyle is HR Director, EMEA, for Patagonia, based at the brand’s European HQ in Amsterdam. Originally from Ireland, Evelyn has lived and worked in Russia, Africa and Switzerland, holding leadership roles in the fields of human resource management, talent management and culture and organisation development initiatives for global organisations in with-profit, non-profit and social entrepreneurship sectors.
Having been responsible for numerous organisational culture change initiatives, Evelyn is passionate about positively transforming work environments and business models. She is an advocate for the need for gender equality for men and women in the workplace and, in 2017, played a leadership role in Patagonia’s global programme offering 12-weeks’ fully paid paternity leave to new fathers and adoptive parents working for the company. Outside of her work at Patagonia, Evelyn sits on the board of directors of Designathon Works in Amsterdam. She also enjoys music gigs and spending time with her five-year old son. |
Samira RafaelaSamira Rafaela, The Netherlands Police, commissioners staff, project manager for inclusion. Samira studied public administration and specializes in international security, radicalization and inclusion. Having roots both in Europe, South- America and Africa, Samira always looks for opportunities to build bridges between the three continents. As the former portfolio holder on Diversity and Participation within her political youth organization, the Young Democrats (D66) and diversity ambassador of D66, Samira stands for an inclusive world and society. She is an expert in the field of diversity. She organizes debates, events and seminars on diversity and participation, and serves as a discussion partner for government officials and other stakeholders. Samira also participated in several governmental expert meetings on the importance of inclusion. Her fields of expertise include women’s rights, safety and inclusion. In 2013 and 2014 Samira acted as trainer during seminars on women’s rights in Tunisia and Ghana and in 2015 she founded Team West- Africa of the Young Democrats. Recently, she founded the Young Diaspora Leaders in the Netherlands for diaspora social entrepreneurs. She was nominated for the category of fair trade, ASN worldbank price as a social entrepreneur in Ghana.
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Learn more about our Moderators
Erin WengerErin Wenger is an attorney from the United States. She is currently pursuing a Master of Laws degree in International and European Law at the University of Amsterdam. Throughout her years of work in various positions in the legal field, she has developed an interest in the impact that mentors and women in leadership roles can have on promoting gender equality in the workplace, especially in the legal field and in law firms.
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Somaye DehbanIt’s been more than 20 years since Somaye first moderated a debate on the provocative subject of premarital relations in the ultra-conservative high school she attended in Islamic Republic of Iran. Since then, she has expanded her interest in moderating and presenting. Somaye has concentrated her interest on issues related to her core values: equality, inclusion and diversity with a special attention to programs where transparency and sustainability are cross-cutting matters.
In October 2016, in her capacity as the Chair of University College Alumni Association, Somaye organized a conference titled “Peace, Women, Leadership” where Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi was the keynote speaker which was well-received at the Academiegebouw of Utrecht University. Currently, Somaye is the Fundraising Officer at Fair Wear Foundation, VP Network and Funding for PWN Amsterdam and the founder of Your Funding Network. She writes frequently and her latest publication about the late Amsterdam Mayor was turned into an item for Broadcast Amsterdam. |