On the 28th of May, TopBrainstorm organized the event ‘Talent to the Top’. During this event a large number of employers from profit and not-for-profit sector and the Dutch Government signed the Charter Talent to the Top. These organisations commited voluntarily to actively undertake steps to stimulate more female talent in topmanagement. The event took place in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands and several members of the Dutch Government and Corporations a.o. the CEO's of Heineken and KPN.
TopBrainstorm was set up in May 2007 to stimulate government, corporate business and women themselves to introduce more female talent at the top. On the 30th of October 2007 TopBrainstorm presented, in the presence of the Prime Minister and other members of the government, a number of proposals to engage and nurture this female talent. The Charter Talent to the Top and supplementary plans should lead to the intended increase of the number of women in (the run-up to) top positions.
Considering the sharp rise in the aging population, the shortage in the labor market, and especially the need for The Netherlands to distinguish itself in the area of innovation, TopBrainstorm headed by former Secretary of State Sybilla Dekker strongly believes that the use of all talent is essential for the future of Netherlands Inc..
TopBrainstorm has asked leading business women and politicians in the Netherlands to serve as role models for any future female talent. I have been honored to be asked to serve as one of these role models. Other role models included Alexandra Cook-Schaapveld of Royal Bank of Scotland, Joanne Kellerman of De Nederlandsche Bank and Former Secretary of State Annemarie Jorritsma (former Secretary of State).
The website launched for this initiative - www.talentnaardetop.nl - provides more information on the Charter and TopBrainstorm but also on recent developments in the Netherlands and other European countries as well as contains various case studies of large global companies such as Shell, DSM, Akzo Nobel, ING etc on Diversity.
Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen
Managing Director/Head Broking Excellence
Aon EMEA
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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