As an employee at the SOM Academy, Christa considers it important that everything runs smoothly and that everyone receives the right information on time. That is why she works closely with our trainers and their schedules. In addition to her work at WesselinkVanZijst, Christa can regularly be found on the padel court, or out and about with her husband and twins.

Robin has a natural drive to resolve misunderstandings and bring harmony to conflict situations. As an advisor, trainer, and head of knowledge development, he advances SOM across all areas. He played a leading role in developing the SOM KOMPAS, was actively involved in embedding SOM and environment-oriented work within organizations, and as a process facilitator, he is familiar with the realities of project development and execution. In addition to his core tasks, he also plays an active role within the MGA Network and the CBI Global Network.

Mart makes complex interests understandable and prefers to look for creative solutions. As a senior advisor, and also the first employee at WesselinkVanZijst, he works both at a strategic level and with his feet in the clay. He fulfills various roles, from stakeholder engagement professional to project leader and discussion facilitator, and has experience in a wide range of sectors. Mart sees that the Netherlands faces many complex challenges in maintaining and improving quality of life, and has therefore been particularly active in the energy transition in recent years.

Marloes is convinced that connection is the driving force behind solving societal challenges. As a senior SSE consultant, she works on various assignments in rural areas, infrastructure, and water. Driven by a natural curiosity to understand others' stories, she is a strong link between the assignment and stakeholders. Additionally, she trains professionals in SSE at the SSE Academy and is active in the political arena.

Eric van Vliet has over 30 years of experience as a project and process manager in complex assignments where many interests converge. He most enjoys working on assignments where the pressure is high: he brings structure, creates progress, and knows how to connect parties who are seemingly at odds with each other. This is why Eric is often deployed to apply and integrate SSE in complex infrastructural projects, particularly in energy and mobility.

Numbers and people make Chantal happy. As a financial employee, she is responsible for the financial administration. She ensures that projects are well-prepared and tracked, supports trainers and consultants, and is an important source of information for management. In addition to her core tasks, she also works with the secretariat to create a pleasant office atmosphere, partly by organizing and planning exciting team outings.

Thijs is involved in societal issues that parties in the public sector and the business community cannot solve alone. He builds and guides collaborations in challenging situations. Thijs feels in his element when something is at stake and he can drive progress. With great commitment, he works to bridge differences and find solutions for the people and organizations that matter. He does this for initiatives in the fields of energy, spatial planning, industry, and education. In addition, he is active as a trainer and is always engaged in professional development.

Marc is a committed advisor. He grew up in the 80s, which laid the foundation for his social engagement. Marc is disturbed by the fact that a lot of social impact is lost due to unprofessional stakeholder management. In terms of money, but also in terms of time, quality, emotion, and missed opportunities for a better living environment. His ambition: to professionalize consensus-oriented stakeholder management in the Netherlands. That's why he has spent the past 20 years developing the SSE concept: Strategic Stakeholder Engagement.

As an employee of the SSE Academy, Linus supports the resolution of logistical and challenging puzzles. For example, he maintains the training schedule and contact with trainers, participants, and clients, but he also analyzes and automates the Academy's processes and workflows. In addition to his work at WesselinkVanZijst, Linus is pursuing a master's degree in Sustainable Development at Utrecht University and is a neighborhood mediator.

Janneke was the second employee to join the company and has now been working for WesselinkVanZijst for almost 14 years. As office manager, she handles the logistics at the office. She manages Marc Wesselink's calendar and supports him wherever possible. Additionally, she coordinates the organization of training activities, liaising with trainers, participants, and clients. Janneke enjoys arranging and organizing, and ensures that the training sessions are meticulously prepared.

As a consultant at WesselinkVanZijst, Jan-Pieter excels at translating (geo)politics, power dynamics, and multi-stakeholder processes into strategy and actionable solutions. His studies in Political Science and Business Administration have equipped him with a sharp analytical eye, enabling him to quickly interpret administrative relationships. He undertakes consulting assignments across diverse sectors – including industry, ports, and various government bodies – and has notably designed and guided strategy and change processes for clients such as the Port of Rotterdam and Groningen Seaports.

In every project she undertakes, Ingrid ensures that stakeholders feel truly heard. She began her career in hydrology and now works at WesselinkVanZijst as a consultant and trainer. Here, she focuses on diverse assignments in the energy sector, rural areas, the water world, and the social domain. She brings her experience and expertise in shaping and guiding environmental strategies and processes to her work as a trainer. There, she utilizes the wisdom of the group and, as a SSE Academy team member, contributes to shaping our training programs.

Ilay prefers to focus on conflict resolution in societal issues. He operates from the idea that conflict transformation leads to a better situation than before the conflict. Ilay has a legal background and regularly facilitates neighborhood mediations and mediation competitions. At WesselinkVanZijst, he fulfills various roles, from independent process facilitator to stakeholder engagement manager, in sectors such as energy, water, and defense, among others.

Fleur is driven by customer contact and, together with her colleagues, is the calling card of the SSE Academy. Here she supports the planning of training courses and maintains contact with trainers, participants, and clients. Outside of work, Fleur enjoys relaxing with her son and partner, as well as in the kitchen, where she enjoys baking for friends and family.

Jeroen prefers to work as an independent process facilitator, serving the process. As a strategic stakeholder engagement professional and MfN-mediator, he focuses on diverse issues. From area development and drinking water extraction to safety and defense. He uses this experience and expertise in implementing and using SSE weekly in his work as a trainer and coach. Jeroen is particularly specialized in Joint Fact Finding (JFF), co-author of the SSE Practical Guide, and regular co-host of the "Proef op de SOM" podcast.

Bas advises and assists organizations in solving complex, strategic issues with many different stakeholders. Based on genuine attention to all interests, he jointly investigates solutions that deliver value for all stakeholders. In his work, he combines his background as a business administration expert and his experience in various international sectors with a natural interest in a stakeholder oriented practice. Additionally, he is co-founder of the "Proef op de SOM" podcast, in which he and his colleague Jeroen Medema discuss a theme related to strategic stakeholder engagement in each episode.

Stefan's great passions are hiking and negotiation. He is a former diplomat and founder of the expertise network Negotiation & Public Service. Stefan's preferred focus is guiding complex negotiations. Through training, he helps others become better negotiators. And his children ensure that he continues to learn every day.

With extensive experience in strategic communication and training as a mediator, Esther gets stalled processes moving again. Over the past twenty years, she has worked in various roles for organizations in the non-profit sector, the energy sector, healthcare, education, and with governments on current societal issues. Within WesselinkVanZijst, Esther uses her experience as a senior advisor for Strategic Stakeholder Engagement. Her strength lies in connecting organizations and people, clarifying interests, and creating space for dialogue and mutual understanding.

Annelies is a conflict management expert, mediator, and former director of various social organizations. For the past 20 years, she has worked in conflict zones and in her home country, the Netherlands, developing creative and sustainable solutions for societal challenges. As a senior advisor and mediation lead, she is involved in change processes, partnerships, and disputes involving government, citizens, and businesses.

Hans is a co-founder of WesselinkVanZijst. He retired on June 30, 2024, but remains affiliated with our firm as a senior trainer. He is one of the most experienced strategic stakeholder engagement professionals in the Netherlands. He is particularly at home in the public sector. He combines substantive knowledge in the fields of environment, nature, water, energy, infrastructure, spatial planning, and sustainability with a results-oriented approach, administrative sensitivity, and strong oral and written skills.