Experience

Save the Children Nederland

• Netherlands
• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director of Advocacy

  • Jun 2022 - Present



Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

• Netherlands
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chair Palestinian Israeli Dutch Energy Working Group

  • Sep 2021 - Present

• Deputy Director

  • Apr 2021 - Jun 2022

  Managing a team of 55, I make sure we maintain excellent relations with the 110+ foreign missions and 40+ international organizations, courts and tribunals hosted in The Netherlands. This means working closely with municipalities, social and security services to guarantee a good working and living environment. We actively engage with a wide range of international organisations around the world through innovative hybrid and online events, such as the World Press Freedom Conference, the Climate Adaptation Summit and the Grand Bargain Event. Our ultimate goal is a growing and flourishing peace and justice community in The Hague and The Netherlands, where people meet and inspire each other for a better world.As chair of the Trilateral Energy Working Group, I am happy to continue working side by side with Palestinian and Israeli government representatives and the Office of the Quartet in Jerusalem, to develop renewable energy projects and climate action in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. Show less

• Regional Program Director

  • Jan 2016 - Mar 2021

  I connected refugees and vulnerable communities to water, food and livelihoods. In Jordan, Gaza, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq, I sought out new partners and products to jointly address climate change challenges. I worked on new partnerships, such as between Dutch development Bank FMO and the Islamic Development Bank to jointly invest in renewable energy in North Africa and the Middle East. In Egypt, I connected grass root human rights activists to social entrepreneurs. And I started Green MENA, an online platform for green entrepreneurs and activists. On innovation and business development, I established a 65 mln euro challenge fund for small female entrepreneurs and farmers in MENA and mobilized funding for a regional training center for water recycling in Jordan. Navigating complex environments, I lead negotiations with Palestinians and Israeli for multiple energy projects in Gaza. Managed a team of 12 across 5 embassies and in The Hague with a joint budget of 20 million euro to implement a wide range of projects and activities. Show less

• Head of Section / Deputy / Senior Advisor

  • Aug 2011 - Dec 2015

  Managed a team of 15, responsible for portfolio of renewable energy in developing countries (150 million euro). Mobilized 4 million euro funding for better natural resource management in Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Bolivia. Set up a broad network of experts from business, civil society and academia to execute this.

• Head of Section Political Affairs / First Secretary / Second Secretary

  • Mar 2006 - Aug 2011

  Formulated a new action-oriented human rights policy for Egypt, including support for refugees. Initiated and managed an innovative project portfolio of half a million euro. Built partnerships between government partners and civil society in support of human rights and to combat torture. Built an extensive network among human rights activists and journalists. Reported live from Tahrir Square on protests and subsequent events as head of the Embassy’s political department during the Egyptian revolution. Show less

• Policy Officer

  • Mar 2003 - Mar 2006

  Advised ministers on the OSCE and bilateral relations with Central Asia, Egypt and Jordan.



AVROTROS

• Netherlands
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Television Journalist

  • Sep 2002 - Oct 2002

  Made a feature about Afghanistan one year after the war against the Taliban. Directed and filmed myself, handling sound as well. I didn't eat for a week but the feature was aired on national television. Made a feature about Afghanistan one year after the war against the Taliban. Directed and filmed myself, handling sound as well. I didn't eat for a week but the feature was aired on national television.



Uitgeverij Prometheus

• Netherlands
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Author

  • Oct 2001 - Sep 2002

  Published a book about my experiences while working in Afghanistan, titled 'Tennis in Kabul' and received a good press. Appeared on television and radio to talk about it. To my surprise, my book got a new positive review last summer, when the Taliban took over Kabul - again. Sadly, the events in August felt like a deja vu. Published a book about my experiences while working in Afghanistan, titled 'Tennis in Kabul' and received a good press. Appeared on television and radio to talk about it. To my surprise, my book got a new positive review last summer, when the Taliban took over Kabul - again. Sadly, the events in August felt like a deja vu.



International Rescue Committee

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Program Manager

  • Feb 2000 - Sep 2001

  Under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, me and my team of 18 Afghan professionals worked on girls’ education, water & sanitation and jobs for Afghan repatriates. I managed projects with a budget of 2.2 mln USD, hired staff, set up a monitoring and evaluation system and developed the country strategy. I drank tea with Taliban officials and sat under trees with turbaned village elders. Working under these conservative conditions was strenuous but exciting. I wrote a book about it (see above). Under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, me and my team of 18 Afghan professionals worked on girls’ education, water & sanitation and jobs for Afghan repatriates. I managed projects with a budget of 2.2 mln USD, hired staff, set up a monitoring and evaluation system and developed the country strategy. I drank tea with Taliban officials and sat under trees with turbaned village elders. Working under these conservative conditions was strenuous but exciting. I wrote a book about it (see above).



ICCO (Part of Cordaid)

• Netherlands
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Financial Controller

  • Oct 1999 - Jan 2000

  Monitored budgets of ICCO’s EU financed programs; organized workshops to develop a new strategy for ICCO. Monitored budgets of ICCO’s EU financed programs; organized workshops to develop a new strategy for ICCO.



VPRO

• Netherlands
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Documentary Researcher

  • May 1997 - Jul 1999

  Research and production for documentary features on a range of topics for several TV programmes. Research and production for documentary features on a range of topics for several TV programmes.



SNV

• Netherlands
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Researcher

  • Jan 1996 - Aug 1996

  Research on family planning in the remote rural areas of northern Ethiopia. My first experience with development work and I loved it. Research on family planning in the remote rural areas of northern Ethiopia. My first experience with development work and I loved it.