Deborah E. Valentine Email & Phone Number

Netherlands

Chair of an organisation I have been a member of since 2007. Delighted to work with fellow female entrepreneurs, as we sustain an organisation committed to ensuring female solopreneurs can flourish among fellow business women. Learning and growing together.

Online

Working together with the Board and Members of FIGT to develop the annual conference theme, and event. Open to ideas from the global community, on topics which may be relevant to families and people crossing boarders, cultures, homes and locations - for work, studies and/or pleasure. Not travel related, but relocation related.

The Hague Area, Netherlands

As Executive Director of ACCESS I provide leadership, management and guidance to a non-profit, volunteer managed organisation which has been supporting the successful relocation of internationals to the Netherlands for more than 30 years. Responsible for team building, financing and representing the organisation nationally - in public and private sector environments.From humble beginnings, ACCESS has grown to become a leading source of personalised information in the English language for the Expatriate International Community in the Netherlands. At the core of what it does is ensuring that those far from home can find the support and community they need to establish a home, even if temporarily, elsewhere. ACCESS is staffed by an enthusiastic team of more than 120 volunteers, from around 30 countries who have experienced the expat relocation process and are able to provide comprehensive information, advice and support, as well as empathising with the experience of individuals on all aspects of living and working in the Netherlands.ACCESS is a non-profit organisation and relies on the contributions of the public and private sector to fund its activities. See more at: www.access-nl.org

The Hague Area, Netherlands

ICAP, the International Community Advisory Panel is an initiative put together by four long-standing members of the international community to act as an independent bridge between the international community itself and government and civic organisations in the Netherlands.In particular, we aim to establish an independent forum which represents and reflects the views of the international community on issues which have an impact on the country's attractiveness as a place to live in and do business. The Netherland's regularly scores very highly in international comparisons – facts which officials are keen to promote whenever possible. However, these glowing reports do not always reflect the reality on the ground. And there lacks a broad framework for communicating with and receiving input/feedback from the international community and assessing its diverse needs and concerns. ICAP aims to change this.

The Hague Area, Netherlands

This a small business I have established which has undertaken Projects for, with and in the international community of The Hague. I was Project Manager for the "Feel at Home in The Hague - The International Community Fair" in 2007 and 2008 as well Editor of the Fair Magazine in 2008. Other projects include: co-writing a book with Zyllian Strategies; editing, translation and marketing advice for SNAPS; organising events for former Director of Roche in the Netherlands and setting up the back office and protocols for Katherine Fortier's practice. A constant feature of my activities has been contributing articles to TheHagueOnLine.com; Xpat Journal and the Benoordenhout Wijkbald among others.

The Hague Area, Netherlands

In charge of sourcing and managing a team of volunteers to support the Rise&Lead Women Summit. https://www.riseandleadwomen.com/

Global

As Membership Chair am responsible for attracting, liaising and supporting members of this non-profit organisation, which for 20 years has been supporting individuals and families as they cross-borders world-wide.Families in Global Transition is a welcoming forum for globally mobile individuals, families, and those working with them. We promote cross-sector connections for sharing research and developing best practices that support the growth, success and well-being of people crossing cultures around the world.

One of the regular writers contributing to the Xpat Journal - - The Premier Magazine for Expatriates in the Netherlands since 1998 - since 2016 contribute the ACCESS column on 'expat living'.

The Hague

This is a very niche business whereby I manage a select number of pied-à-terres in and around The Hague and make them available for short term, fully furnished, rentals. There is no website for this business which is solely reliant on my network and word of mouth. People with such properties or individuals interested in a short term rental need to contact me directly.

The Hague Area, Netherlands

As the interim in-house Editor of the European Association for the Self Adhesive Tape Industry (Afera), I provide editorial and copy writing assistance to the Secretary-General in the preparation of committee minutes, press releases and the bi-annual newsletter.

Co-founder of an informal network group for internationals (expats as well as repats) living in Benoordenhout and who want to get to know neighbours who have a similar 'life' experience - of having lived overseas. Other co-founder is fellow Benoordenhout International, Tina Evans of Blue Lynx. For information about this group and when we meet contact ahandinthehague@gmail.com.

The Hague Area, Netherlands

Supporting the team working on national policy for youths at risk in the Netherlands, in particular will be contact person for the Antillean community networks. This policy area is within the Ministry's Housing portfolio, under Wijk en Wonen, in which issues of 'integratie en inburgering' are covered.

Katherine's business, reluctant as she is to refer to it as such, was growing exponentially, and the administrative, business end of things accumulating. She hired me to get things organised, design protocols and ensure she had the time, and energy, to dedicate to the children and families she supports. My job is done and I am in the process of training my replacement. It was a rewarding challenge.

CONNECTing Women is a network for professional and internationally aware women based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Assisting Project Manager in the coordination and planning of an international conference (Make Markets Work for Climate) to take place in October of current year. Expected participation will be between 600-800 participants from relevant public and private sector. Responsible for ensuring that all parties within Ministry and all external parties co-organising the conference (Shell/ABN AMRO and World Bank among others) work together efficiently towards this goal.

Club provided a meeting point for Canadians working in Colombia, as well as providing continued support (35 years and counting) to a school in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in Bogota Colombia. As President, and before that VP and Newsletter Editor played central role in ensuring Club attended to concerns of Canadians arriving in Colombia; assisted and oversaw planning of numerous fundraising acitvities for school mentioned above and in last year led process for Club to attain legal status in Colombia. This was a volunteer position.

Worked in External Relations, Communications and Child Rights section of office. Duties included developing/planning strategy for corporate sector financial support in South Africa; providing technical advice and inputs to support the overall programme; liaison with counterparts in international community and senior levels of Government and Corporate sector; establishing office systems to ensure timely amd informed responses to requests for information; planning external advocacy tools; designing, drafting and disseminating first Newsletter; editing first Situation Analysis of Children in South Africa.

Assistant to Country Representative: specific area of attention, areas related to programme and office management and fundraising. Duties included: preparation and presentation of funding proposals and programme summaries to senior UNICEF personnel; planning development of external communication advocacy tools, supervisory responsability for monitoring programme financing; facilitating and conducting in-house training on programme management, including financial aspects; establishment of internal and regional information systems and facilitating and management of international media visits.

Worked directly with Country Representative in development of long-term planning programme for Ecuador. Duties included inputs into the development of a social policy programme with Senior Government officials; inputs into design and implementation of a 5-year programme on Women and Development together with Government, non-government and multi-lateral institutions; coordination of Integrated Rural Basic Services Programme; developing new approaches to management of external relations and developing and surpervising the establishment of a programme monitoring and information retrieval system.

Ma, Social Development, Human Rights, International Affairs

Honours Ba, History And Political Science

Activities and Societies: President Victoria University Student Council (VUSAC); Social Services Commissioner VUSAC