The world around us is changing rapidly. This causes a lot of unrest and uncertainty, nothing is the same anymore. Companies, social organizations and governments struggle with the tension between legislation, the importance of innovation and the pressure from society. Let alone that they dare to communicate about it.

Society feels the need for optimism and leadership. For people and organisations who dare to take initiative, who want to work together to make and keep the Netherlands and Europe strong economically, politically and socially.

The Issue Congress 2025 is all about Leadership in times of transition and hopefully offers an inspiring, stimulating and sometimes abrasive program to remain agile in a dynamic world. Book your ticket now.

What can you expect?

During the Issue Congress, leading speakers from the business community, government and society share their experiences and best practices. How do you make strategic choices in complex and uncertain times? Which organizations emerged stronger from recent transitions, and what can we learn from them? These stories offer inspiration and practical tools for your organization.

Speakers

The line-up for the Issuecongres 2025 has been announced. Below they are briefly introduced.

Pieter Paul Verheggen (Motivaction)
Pieter Paul is CEO of Motivaction. The road to a more sustainable future often seems slow and bumpy, until a crucial moment accelerates everything. This social tipping point – where a long, silent build-up of changes suddenly causes a major shift – is a fascinating phenomenon. Pieter Paul talks about recent research by Motivaction commissioned by Triodos Bank, which makes it clear that transitions in the Netherlands may be closer to these social tipping points than many think.

Faiza Oulahsen (KPMG)
Faiza Oulahsen is Associate Director Climate and Sustainability at KPMG. She joined in September 2024 from Greenpeace, where she was Head of Climate and Energy. She rose to prominence through her advocacy for environmental issues, including a 2013 protest against oil drilling in the Arctic. She now uses her experience as an activist to help companies transition to sustainable business models. We will discuss strategies and examples of how to make an impact on and with your environment with Faiza Oulahsen.

Tom de Bruijn (diplomat)
Tom de Bruijn is an experienced diplomat and politician. He was temporarily Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Foreign Affairs in the Rutte III cabinet. He previously served as the Dutch Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels and was an alderman in The Hague. We will discuss the changing geopolitical situation in the world and its influence on Dutch organisations with Tom de Bruijn.

Marianne van Keep (Verstegen) & Harwil de Jonge (Heijmans)
Marianne van Keep is Chief Sustainability Officer at Verstegen Spices & Sauces, where she has worked for over 20 years. In 2021, she was elected CSR Manager of the Year. Harwil de Jonge has been Director of Real Estate at Heijmans since 2014. He studied Architecture at TU Delft and develops healthy living environments through nature-inclusive construction. With Marianne van Keep and Harwil de Jonge, we discuss how they lead their production chains through transitions, their vision on CSR policy in 2025 and the influence of new legislation, such as the European CSRD.

Daan Remarque (behavioral expert)
Daan Remarque is a psychologist and communications consultant, specialized in behavioral change and brand strategies. As a self-proclaimed climate optimist, he focuses on mobilizing people for climate action. He has published several articles and advises organizations on effective communication for impact and growth.

Highlights of the program:

• Inspiring performances from leaders who have proven to embrace change.
• The presentation of the Issue Award 2025, where we reward an initiative that has put an issue on the political and social agenda.
• Opportunity to networkn with professionals from different sectors.

We will announce the final line-up of speakers at the beginning of January, but one thing is certain: you will go home with new insights, energy and connections. 

Practical information

Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (admission starts at 1:30 PM, drinks afterwards)
Location: The Balie, Amsterdam
Ticket price: 15 euros

Want to be sure of a spot? Book your ticket directly below and make sure you're there. Join in, learn from the experiences of others and be inspired by other leaders in transition. See you on January 23 in De Balie!