Diversity & Inclusion
Our members determine which themes we act on. We work on organizations that are open to talent and where every employee, regardless of personal characteristics or background, feels valuable and welcome.
Diversity & Inclusion - page 4
People make organizations. People have different backgrounds, talents and motivations. In order to be able to supply the right products and services to a broad group of customers in rapidly developing, often global markets, it is important to develop and implement those products and services with a diverse group of employees. They can help you make the right choices and prevent blunders. In addition, in a labor market with great scarcity, it is even more important to appeal to the widest possible group of potential employees and to take good care of the people who already work for you. It is therefore necessary to pay attention to the diversity of your workforce and to pay attention to an open culture within the organization, so that everyone can feel welcome.
For this we do the following:
1. Share knowledge about the bias-free recruitment and selection process for employees. What knowledge, insights and experiences are there to remove prejudices from this process, so that you create the space to address and interest broader groups in your vacancy and attract the most suitable person to fill that vacancy. In doing so, we involve knowledge from science, the market and the experiences of other members.
2. Share experiences about the elements that are important to develop an inclusive culture in the workplace. How do you approach that, what works and when can it go completely off the rails? What do we actually know about each other and each other's backgrounds, passions and motives? How do we bring it up and take each other into account. How to become and remain an inclusive leader?
More diversity in terms of gender, age, background, but also, for example, how people think and learn (neurodiversity) is desperately needed. Those differences determine the path someone has traveled to get where they are now and that generally says something about the way someone views and deals with problems. In this way we make our organizations and companies richer, more effective. That is why, on behalf of CIO Platform Nederland, I am committed to more diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace – also in our field.
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April 2, 2026
Interview NextGen Tech Leaders | How emerging and established IT leaders strengthen each other
NextGen Tech Leaders (powered by CIO Platform Nederland) highlights how experienced and emerging leaders strengthen one another and are better equipped together to navigate technological acceleration. Hylke Sprangers and Pleuni van Rooij show that the IT leader of tomorrow grows through collaboration with the current generation.
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March 12, 2026
The speakers for Dream Festival 2026 have been announced!
Dream Festival 2026 is almost here! The key moment for everyone in the NextGen Tech Leaders community who wants to think bigger, lead smarter and shape the future of tech. With an inspiring speaker lineup and a focus on bold ideas and strategic vision, this is the place where future leaders grow. Bring another next‑gen talent with you and don’t miss out.
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February 9, 2026
Dream Festival: From Imagination to Strategy A blog conversation between Gabriëlle Lopes and Anneke
Do you know them — those meetings that feel a bit off?
Numbers, numbers, some operational points, and then even more numbers.
The right priorities are set, sure, but you quickly think: everything seems correct, and yet we’re not making any real progress.
We need more ambition; we need to do things differently instead of continuing down the same path everyone is already following.
We need to dream!
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December 12, 2025
Boost your team with highly skilled tech talent from a refugee background | An initiative by Essent
Arjen de Ruiter (Director of Software Engineering at Essent) is asking us, members of CIO Platform Nederland, to provide 15 positions for highly educated refugees. Refugee Talent Hub recruits the candidates, and Harvest trains them to become fully qualified engineers. Essent and ABN AMRO are already on board—who’s next? Sign up here for the information session on January 27, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Diversity & Inclusion events
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CEG Management Support | From Assistant to Impact Maker | Prinses Máxima Centrum | Utrecht UtrechtExpert Group Management Support – Inspiration, Insight, and Growth for the Assistant of Tomorrow is the premier network for management assistants of CIOs and CDOs. Twice a year, we share knowledge, experiences, and inspiration during interactive meetings, often with a behind-the-scenes look at one of our members' organizations. Digitalization is rapidly transforming the profession: how can assistants remain visible and future-proof? During our sessions, you'll receive practical tips, best practices, and insights from peers and experts.
29 Oct -
Female IT Leaders Network | Make her want to stay: lessons learned at Alliander | Alliander | Arnhem ArnhemA live meeting for and by female CIOs and IT executives. The purpose of this meeting is to strengthen and help each other and build a close network of female IT executives.
This time we are also inviting all our CIOs and IT Leaders: He/she/them!19 Nov