BSc: Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology

MSc: Culture, Organisation and Management

The core of my academic and professional journey has centered around my interest in people, organizations, and societal change. I look back at my bachelors at CADS as the perfect starting point for that. During my bachelors I conducted research into Frisian heritage for Fieldwork NL, and broadened my scope through a minor in Global Affairs in The Hague. I graduated Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's masters "Culture, Organisation and Management" almost two years ago, where I conducted qualitative research on topics close to my heart and learned a great deal about organisational culture and ethical research practices. The interdisciplinary approach of this master was very appealing to me, and I enjoyed the mix of familiar and new course topics.

I currently work as a trainee within the Leiden‑Delft‑Erasmus Universities alliance. In my current position at TU Delft I contribute to Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, helping build an inclusive academic community and engaging with a wide network of staff and students. My particular focus is on LGBTQIA+ students and staff, and I enjoy using my anthropological lens to engage with members of the community to make sure the policy changes are what they are truly looking for. My motto is: "nothing about us, without us"! The traineeship offers a unique opportunity to explore different universities and teams while developing policy, analytical, and strategic skills.

At the Career Event, I look forward to talking about the ways your anthropological skillset is a great tool in many different working environments. My own path shows how this study can lead to roles in policy, strategy and organizational development. I hope to share insights on navigating choices between different directions and developing relevant skills during your studies. I am also happy to talk about my student experiences joining committees and doing a board year at Itiwana and WDO respectively.

BSc: CADS
MSc: Human Rights Studies

I currently work for labour union CNV where I fight for young workers' rights as a part of the youth section of the union. During the career event, I will tell you more about how I ended up here: from finishing my bachelor's amidst the covid-19 pandemic, to doing a master's in Sweden and interning at the UN. Since finishing my bachelor's, I have always looked for jobs and experiences in which I can make a positive impact on society. There are a lot of different options to do so, and I am still exploring in which way I want to make my contribution. At first, I focused on international experiences: I completed a master's degree in human rights in Sweden, and interned at the UN women's rights committee, for instance. The master's was interdisciplinary and my anthropology background came in very useful. I even had the opportunity to do ethnographic research at the UN. Right now, I work in the Netherlands to promote workers' rights at a national level. One of the topics I work on is a political campaign to ban unpaid internships. If you want to know more about working, interning or volunteering in gender equality, labour unions, human rights or the UN: I'd love to tell you more!

BSc: CADS

MSc: Cultural Geography

I always knew that I wanted to work with water in some way, even if I had no idea how I would get there... Most water‑related degree programs were quite technical, and I knew that a highly technical study would not suit me. So, I started looking for something that matched my other interests, and that’s how I ended up choosing the (then Dutch‑language) bachelor Cultural Anthropology. Throughout my studies I kept a strong focus on water, and I loved exploring the social side of the water domain. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I enrolled in the master Cultural Geography at the University of Groningen. When I graduated, I joined the Nationaal Watertraineeship (a traineeship focused on the water sector), during which I worked at the water authority in Amsterdam on a program on climate adaptation.

Once I finished the traineeship, I was looking for a position where I could focus more strongly on the social dimensions of the work. That search led me to the field of stakeholder engagement management. For almost two years now, I have been working at Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland (the Delfland water authority) as a stakeholder engagement manager. I work on projects involving the wastewater pipelines, wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. In this role, I translate technical information into clear context for our stakeholders, and I bring their perspectives back to the project team. I engage with a wide range of both external stakeholders (residents, farmers, nature organisations, governmental bodies) and internal stakeholders within my organisation (permit officers, legal advisors, communication specialists, colleagues responsible for operations and maintenance). The combination of technical content and social interaction makes this work the perfect fit for me!

BSc: International Studies (BAIS) North America & Middle East

Pre-Master: Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)

MSc: CADS, Visual Ethnography

During my studies I started working for Radio 1, a Dutch radio channel that has a focus on politics and news in general. It was a tip that was given to me by my study advisor during my Bachelors. The CADS pre master and master’s programme provided me with the theoretical foundation that pushed me further into documentary and visual storytelling, with a strong academical base. This broadened my scope within the media. I started working as a freelance director, researcher for documentaries and television shows. After that, I started working as a picture editor for the political newsroom of NRC. This position had a strong focus on fact checking and verification which allowed me to move further towards to foreign desk. After two years I was moved to the investigative journalism department with a focus on OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) research. Our research of the use of White Phosphorus above Gaza City in 2023 was longlisted for a Dutch and Belgian journalism prize. After a few more years I returned to the photo desk within my current role as Picture Editor-in-Chief.