Daan de Neef strengthens Issuemakers

The communications agency from Amstelveen, which employs specialists in the field of PR and public affairs, is looking forward to his arrival. Managing partner Sybrig van Keep: “De Neef brings a wealth of experience in the field of lobbying and media. We are convinced that he will help our current and new clients create social impact and good advice.”

De Neef was in politics in The Hague for almost 20 years. For example, he was a speechwriter and strategic advisor to Mark Rutte, press officer for the VVD House of Representatives faction, speechwriter for the ministers of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and worked for a while at the Council for Animal Affairs (RDA). During his time at the RDA, he became increasingly aware of the fact that animal welfare and protection often do not receive the attention they deserve.

De Neef: “Since my resignation, I have completed several assignments as a one-person employee and I am looking forward to joining a team of colleagues again. At Issuemakers we immediately clicked on several topics. It's nice to be working on topics that really matter to me. I want to be optimally effective for the animals and that is why I am happy that I can also work on this at Issuemakers for, for example, the Animal Coalition. And I also look forward to issues about genuine and smart sustainability. I am also looking forward to working with various bright and far-sighted minds to make the world a little better every day.”

Daan de Neef (45) is from Rotterdam, lives in The Hague and is dating Leonie Gerritsen (party councilor for the Animals). Together with Esther Ouwehand, Lisa Westerveld, Peter Kwint and Huub Bellemakers, he forms the Guitar Coalition with which he plays records at the Zwarte Cross. He currently writes about the Hague metal scene for the VPRO platform 3voor12 and is an advisor for the Grauzone festival.

At Issuemakers we believe that attention should be paid to social problems and that every organization has a role to play in solving these. We provide them with overview, strategy and impact in the areas of PR and public affairs.

For example, we get up early to inform companies such as Lidl and ministries about media publications. With Tony's Chocolonely we draw attention to modern slavery and inspire others to join them. We have made hundreds of thousands of primary school students media aware with the serious game MediaMasters. With the Start Foundation we stand up for the rights of undocumented young people. And we organized press conferences during important moments such as the presentation of the Children's Peace Prize to Malala Yousofzai.

You can meet us during our Issue Congress and don't forget to check if it happens to be The Day of the White Stick on our Issue Calendar.