Netherlands

Arjan Goudsblom, Programme Director Co-Creation, International Startup Ecosystem Specialist, has been appointed as Senator at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. Senator Goudsblom will represent Netherlands in the  Global Startup Committee of the Grand Assembly.

Arjan.Goudsblom@wbaforum.org
Name: Arjan Goudsblom
Country: The Netherlands Current
Role: Programme Director Co-Creation at Amsterdam Science Park
Education: Masters Degree in Economics and Business Administration, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam  Arjan Goudsblom is a passionate advocate for science-based innovation and entrepreneurship as powerful concepts to ignite social and economic transformation and secure a sustainable future.  
After being a corporate ‘intrapreneur’ at companies like Holland Casino in The Netherlands and IAG in Sydney he decided it was time to work with ‘real’ entrepreneurs, hence he took up the role of Head of Global Growth and Mentoring at Cicada Innovations. During his tenure this Sydney based incubator was voted ’Best incubator in the world’ by INBIA for the second time in 5 years.  Back in his home country of The Netherlands Arjan is now pursuing his ambitious agenda to connect scientific knowledge to business and social challenges on behalf of the University of Amsterdam and Amsterdam Science Park. As programme director Co-Creation his aim is to accelerate the application of new technologies into workable solutions that have impact.  In addition he assists start-up agencies, governments and universities in building thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems worldwide, most recently in Bahrain and Belarus on behalf of ACE Incubator. In Albania he assists local universities in developing their entrepreneurial education capability in order to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.  Arjan is a WBAF International Partner for the Netherlands.   

Netherlands

Carine de Meyere, Investor & Senior Strategy Advisor, Future Planet Capital, has been appointed as Senator at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. Senator Meyere will represent Netherlands in the Global Woman Leaders Committee of the Grand Assembly.

Carine.Meyere@wbaforum.org
Having been educated at an all women’s college (Wells College, Aurora New York) where upon graduation it was a realistic assumption that at least one of our graduating class would one day become the POTUS (President of the United States), I realized upon returning to the ‘real co-ed’ world of Education at Harvard University and subsequently in the business world that women were actually far from the equal opportunity to execute their natural leadership skills power and their influence. Thus I gradually professionally moved into the space of supporting women wherever I could!!   Business as usual is dead! In order for the world to be able to move forward we need to think in the power of creating global uncommon collaboration, sustainable partnerships and allowing an equal amount of women in all Leadership positions around the globe.  Because business has become the ultimate driver of social and environmental impact; charitable efforts and philanthropy which often used to be executed by women -  are no longer reserved for nights and weekends but are these days incorporated into a 9-to-5 strategy through a new way of finance called impact Investing - many women have moved into that space! Because it is investing with a heart!  As a global visionary humanitarian, impact investor and knowledge broker I have opened up a broader discussion about how business can (and should be) used to make the world sustainable, more just, verdant and peaceful. I therefore globally bring (female) impact investors and (female) Innovative impact entrepreneurs together through which I aim to add sustainable value to the world.   I see myself as a true global citizen with a mission. I was a member of the Clinton Foundation for 12 years - I am the Dutch ambassador for the UN's Women Entrepreneurship Day (WED) November 19th and I am the global knowledge broker for the Hub Culture Pavilion and the Female Quotient during the WEF in Davos.  I connect my international high level network to the clients whose missions I believe in. Specialties: Global Impact Investing, cause driven fundraising, new business development, connecting impact investors to social entrepreneurs, strategic thinking, communication, innovation.  My motto is! Change starts with oneself. Be The Change You Wish to See In The World.