Business of the Year Award 2009
This year’s the Business of the Year Award went to Mammoet Holding BV. The award, presented by David McNamara (Canadian Embassy) during the Annual Luncheon at Societeit De Witte was accepted on behalf of Mammoet by Herman Smit, (director Mammoet Canada Western Ltd.). Companies with offices in both Canada and the Netherlands are judged on their contribution to the Dutch-Canadian business development and national economies. More info: Business of the Year 2009.
Annual Luncheon 2009 + speakers on Pension Future in societeit De Witte
Fifty NCCC members and their guests attended the Annual Luncheon to hear two distinguished keynote speakers who shared their vision on the future of Pensions in the Netherlands and in Canada. Furthermore they all enjoyed an excellent lunch at Sociëteit De Witte in Den Haag.
Keynote speakers: Professor Theo E. Nijman (F.Van Lanschot Chair and Professor of Econometrics and Investment Theory at Tilburg University), and speaking on Canadian pension reform was Mr. Leo de Bever, CEO of Alberta Investment Management Corp. More information here.
Tennis Tournament
On June 19th, the NCCC organized its first tennis tournament. H.E. Ambassador Jim Wall generously offered the use of the two gravel courts on the grounds of the Official Residence in Wassenaar. To conclude this enjoyable event, drinks and snacks were served courtside during network time after the matches.
Canadian Brass
Extraordinairy musical performance and networking cocktail in the Kunstmin in Dordrecht
Some 55 guests and NCCC-members enjoyed this great evening including a to ‘meet and greet’ with the musicians of Canadian Brass. After a delicious networking diner we were treated by the virtuosi of Canadian Brass who have made the brass quintet an exciting vehicle for serious concert music. The quintet — having just celebrated its 35th season — has a long history of recording classical repertoire. The Canadian Brass have won many awards, including a Grammy. For additional information see Canadian Brass.
Annual General Meeting
Annual General Meeting held at the premises of RET in Rotterdam on May 13, 2009
To fill the vacancy left due to the resignation of Iris van den Berg of ABN-AMRO as Secretary of the Board, Lindsey Cruickshanks of Ernst & Young was appointed to this position. Lindsey, a member of the NCCC since 2007, will be a great asset as new Board Member. Rob Vellekoop of Vimac Consultancy had indicated his wish to step down as Chairman after a term of 3 years. Rob has been a Board Member already for 11 years and will stay on the Board until the end of his appointed term in 2011. Joost Hasperhoven of Air Canada Benelux was nominated and appointed as Rob’s successor. Joost has been a Board Member since 2003. For more info click here
Company visit at RET in Rotterdam
RET - Rotterdam local transport company - May 13, 2009
After closing of the AGM the RET offered an interesting afternoon program including a tram-ride in a new Bombardier train in Rotterdam. On a daily basis the RET, with its 3.000 employees, transports around 600.000 passengers. Presently they provide some 34 bus lines, 8 tram lines, 2 subway lines and the RandstadRail/Erasmusline from Rotterdam to the central railway station in The Hague. In order to guarantee a smooth operation they deploy 220 buses, 120 trams and 160 subway trains. Click here for more info on the company visit. For more information on the the company see: RET.
Seminar: From Diversity to Inclusion
Best Practices in Gender Diversity between Canada and the Netherlands
Some 60 NCCC members and their guests gathered at KPMG in Amstelveen on March 31 and greatly enjoyed hearing the distinguished panel of speakers who shared their vision and wisdom on gender balance, with the conclusion that much greater progress has been seen in Canada towards gender equity in organizations. The speakers were both frank and informative on the progress of professional women on both sides of the Atlantic. Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, CEO of www.20-first.com and publisher of www.women-omics.com. Avivah gave a very stimulating presentation on the pressing economic need to see gender equity in organisations, and for companies themselves to become gender bilingual. She spoke on her research and ongoing work with top
multinationals to address these issues. Ton Reijns, Partner with KPMG Financial Services and KPMG Diversity Ambassador in the Netherlands spoke next about his personal experience with gender diversity within KPMG, and his observation that gender balanced teams both performed better and were more collegial. He had conducted his own unofficial survey of senior women managers both in the Netherlands and Canada, and concluded the infrastructure in Canada (shopping hours, daycare, schools, etc.) was also more conducive to full-time work for both men and women. More info on Diversity seminar
Events 2009
Annual Luncheon
Business of the Year 2009
Canadian Brass
Annual General Meeting
RET - Company visit
From diversity to inclusion
Tennis tournament 2009