Partner at Protocol International, serving with a dynamic team of top-tier professionals who have been dedicated to the field of protocol for several decades, with different backgrounds and a strong diversity. We offer consultancy and interim solutions related to protocol, high-level event and conference management, and strategic stakeholder engagement, around the world. We ensure the smooth running of any foreign visit, ceremony, conference, summit or sports event by combining vision and policy, with performance and hospitality. We serve a broad clientele, ranging from Royal Courts, governments and international organisations, to companies, multilateral military alliances and international sports federations. We also deliver certified tailor-made training modules related to all aspects of international protocol, intercultural communication, inclusive leadership and strategic networking. Each module links theory to contemporary best practices. Countless politicians, diplomats, business leaders, policy advisers, sports authorities, hospitality and protocol officers, as well as students have followed our courses in the past 15 years. Since the foundation of Protocol International in 2007, Mark has been providing services in a.o. Abu Dhabi, Al Khobar, Amman, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Casablanca, Chicago, Dharamshala, Doha, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Granada, Johannesburg, Kathmandu, Lagos, Lima, Luxembourg, Madrid, Moscow, Munich, New York, Norfolk, Riyadh, Rome, San Antonio, San Diego, Stockholm, The Hague, Thimphu, and Washington, DC.www.protocol-int.com

This globally operating firm provides both the private and public sectors with (in-house or online) consultancy, interim assignments, training and lectures on international protocol, business etiquette, strategic stakeholder engagement, head of state and dignitary visits, high profile summits, diplomatic relations, royal occasions, military ceremonies, VVIP events, international sports tournaments, intercultural communication and negotiation techniques. Obviously, the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic related to all mentioned topics have been taken into thorough consideration.Consultancy and training services have taken place for high-profile clients around the world, also in close partnership with Protocol International, as well as while performing as subject matter expert in cooperation with renowned global consultancy firms. Interim assignments:- Chief of Protocol to the Mayor of Delft (March - September 2020)- Strategic Adviser on External Relations to the Mayor of Westland (September 2020 - November 2021)- Director of Protocol for the Invictus Games The Hague in April 2022 (June 2021 - May 2022)- International Protocol Director for the Invictus Games Düsseldorf in September 2023 (February - September 2023)- Strategic Adviser on Protocol and External Relations to the City Administration of Almere (December 2023 - June 2024)

The team of Holland Dance connects people worldwide through dance for over 35 years already. Its most important product is the world renowned Holland Dance Festival. During three weeks around 50 performances of internationally distinguished dance companies are presented. Variety, uniqueness and quality are guiding principles in the programming.www.holland-dance.com

Nederland Maakt Impact is a Dutch foundation that connects, inspires, activates and develops young future-bearers (between 18 and 30 years old) so that they work together towards a brighter future. The annual main activity is to organise a multi-day summit that brings together at least 500 participants from all over the country. Speeches, panel discussions, workshops and networking moments take place during the conference. Participants as well as speakers of national stature take the stage to make their stories heard. The themes at the conference are topical, innovative and focused on the big issues in our society.www.nederlandmaaktimpact.nl

The National Committee for 4 and 5 May helps determine how meaning is given to commemorating and celebrating and to how the memory of the Second World War is kept alive. It organises the national observance of Remembrance Day on 4 May and the national celebration of Liberation Day on 5 May. In addition, it provides advice and support to the organisers of commemoration ceremonies held elsewhere in the country, and it organises public information programmes and campaigns. The National Committee also initiates educational programmes and carries out applied research on the commemoration of victims of war and the celebration of liberation and freedom. Through the National Fund for 4 and 5 May, it also encourages the Dutch private sector to contribute to our collective memory and freedom in all kinds of ways. In 2019 and 2020, the Netherlands celebrated 75 years of freedom with a wide range of (high-level) activities on local, regional, national and international levels, including many virtual and hybrid events due to the Covid-19 measures. In 2021, the National Committee for 4 and 5 May also supported the Dutch Auschwitz Committee with organising the unveiling ceremony of the National Holocaust Names Memorial in Amsterdam. On 4 and 5 May, 2022, all restrictive measures due to the pandemic were lifted by the national government, so all activities could take place again without healthcare restrictions. But certainly while keeping into consideration as well that at this very moment a devastating war in Ukraine was going on, amidst an unprecedented geopolitical situation.www.4en5mei.nl/english

•Strengthening the image of the City of Peace and Justice by being responsible for a wide variety of engagements of the city executive with the diplomatic community, royal household, parliament, and cultural, educational and corporate sectors,•representing the city executive on a wide range of (international) occasions; from attending national day receptions to bestowing decorations on citizens,•organising major events, a.o. related to the centennial congress of the Association of Dutch Municipalities, Royal Inauguration, Nuclear Security Summit, Volvo Ocean Race, World Expo in Milan, One Young World Summits in Ottawa and Bogotá and city diplomacy visits to New York, London, Prague, Valladolid and Brussels, •leading some very sensitive and political matters related to embassies, monuments, festivals and network organisations, •supervising seven protocol officers and managing the representation budget.www.denhaag.nl/en.htm

The Institute of Strategic Relationship Management trains students and course participants to become professionals in relationship management. The courses combine an understanding of strategic networking with applied diplomacy, contemporary protocol management and modern organisational methods. Participants are diplomats, event organisers, protocol officers and external relations managers.

•Composing of standard operating procedures related to the execution of events and international visits in order to be able to work in a more effective manner, •organising a wide range of public appearances of King Abdullah II, such as during the pilgrimage of Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Land, the World Economic Forum on the Middle East at the Dead Sea, a business forum in São Paulo, as well as a political speech at Princeton University and meetings with President Bush at the White House and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Having been involved at The Royal Household in the general coordination and execution of:•incoming state visits from Russia, Jordan, Luxembourg, Ukraine and Germany, •official visits to Australia and New Zealand,•two royal weddings and the christening of two Princesses,•several major events at Noordeinde Palace.

•Responsible for organising many events on behalf of multinationals, national government, international organisations, NGOs and the royal household,•supervising the co-hosts of the Protocol Office (ranging from 1 up to 35),•developing and providing a six-week on-line course ‘International Protocol Management’ for "The Leading Hotels of the World".