With a passion for international affairs, I am active member of the Malaysian business community and mentor young talent. I do executive coaching and as soon as the corona pandemic allows travel again, I will give business focused cultural trainings to expatriates settling in Malaysia, I am currently writing my third book.

Interweaving two decennia back and forth, building on my own cosmopolitan experiences, I identify trends which will directly impact me in the last quarter of my life. International relations, demographic changes, migration, technology developments and climatic disruptions will change our lifestyles and impact all of us in different ways. Throughout this accessible narrative, I explore the interrelationships of these themes and the impact these will have on my way of life in the next twenty years. Despite recent global crises and no doubt future events, which we do not know about yet, my view on the next two decades is positive and uplifting, building on my experience that people are resilient and will continue to improve the lives of ever more people on our earth. In my third book I outline my view on my own and no doubt your lifestyle in the next two decades.

In my career spanning 35 years during which I lived and worked in nine different countries on four different continents, Francien and I gained a close and personal behind-the-scenes view of diverse local communities, societies and workplaces. In my new book, ‘The World is getting Bigger’, I share these real-life experiences in a candid and insightful way, with personal reflections about living in different environments and among many and varied cultures. In particular, I ponder the inequalities I witnessed and the impact these might have on the future of globalization. There are some powerful messages here about stereotyping, migrants, religion, multiculturalism and human relationships.This book demonstrates that no matter how many places you experience, you never stop wondering and learning. It shows you that despite globalization, the world is not getting smaller, and it might make you think differently about internationalism and cultural perceptions.

A memoir describing 27 years of living as an expatriate in 8 different countries on 4 different continents

At the Sadara Chemical Company, in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, my key responsibilities were: • Manpower requirement analysis for manufacturing, engineering and supply chain• Strategy development for the transfer of technology expertise• Execution of global training and developed programs of 930 newly hired employees deployed in Europe, North America and Asia with a budget of US$ 200 million • Synchronization of recruitment (3000 new employees), placement, training and start-up schedules

At the grassroot JV between The Dow Chemical Company/Saudi Aramco (now known as Sadara), my key responsibilities were:• Development of strategies to create the future manufacturing, engineering and supply chain organizations (with 3000 employees)• Development and piloting of synchronized recruitment, training and start-up model• Development of manufacturing and engineering standards

As a member of the management team at the JV between PIC and The Dow Chemical Company my key responsibilities were: • Execution of organizational redesign for manufacturing, engineering and supply chain• Integration of major facility expansion

As a member of the integration team of this acquisition, my key responsibilities were: • Integrating the newly acquired operational organizations into the global The Dow Chemical corporate structures• Asset divestitures

Member of the acquisition team, responsible for the successful integration of the new organization in the global Dow Chemical business organizations

Responsible to implement best work practices in the newly acquired BSL manufacturing facilities