Celebrating 15 years The Hague International Centre

Posted on by Renee

The Hague International Centre marked its 15th anniversary with a celebratory gathering at Greens Restaurant and Garden in The Hague on 25 September 2025. The afternoon brought together partners, stakeholders and community members to highlight THIC's long-standing role in supporting internationals and strengthening the city’s international community. As I was teaching that day, I was … Continue reading Celebrating 15 years The Hague International Centre

2025 Unknown Community Celebration The Hague

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On 11th September 2025, I attended the Unknown Community Celebration at Titaan in The Hague. This event brought together founders, students, and changemakers to reflect on achievements from the past year and look ahead to future impact. The afternoon focused on connection, inspiration, and strengthening the ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs. Like the 2024 Unknown Campus … Continue reading 2025 Unknown Community Celebration The Hague

Female Ventures Founders Table and Dinner The Hague (04 June 2025)

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I will be attending this event on behalf of The Hague Online: Join an evening of experience-sharing and networking at the Women Founders’ Table & Dinner, hosted by Female Ventures Delft/The Hague in collaboration with Women in Tech Netherlands and Dirkjan Hupkes, host of Women Disrupting Tech, Hotel voco The Hague as well as the Ireland Netherlands Business Association (INBA) and Embassy of Ireland. … Continue reading Female Ventures Founders Table and Dinner The Hague (04 June 2025)

2024 Society 5.0 Festival Amsterdam

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9 & 10 October | The Social Hub Amsterdam City Amidst rapid technologisation, polarisation, the climate crisis, and burnout, it can be easy to sink into apathy and despair. But now is the time to gather and find agency, to do something: We need to transform society's social fabric. How? By listening, nurturing, and repairing our … Continue reading 2024 Society 5.0 Festival Amsterdam

West African Cooking Workshop – A Taste of Community in The Hague

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On Saturday 28th September, I had a fabulous experience of attending this West African Cooking Workshop. Organised by Ebere, who I know via Rise & Lead, this was fully booked and a great success. Held at the recently opened KiCo in The Hague. Below is the promotional text which I shared on TheHagueOnLine: Feeling isolated … Continue reading West African Cooking Workshop – A Taste of Community in The Hague

Why do networks fail and what can we do to reverse this process? Dr Liliya Terzieva lecture.

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As part of the International Week for the BFM students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, we recently had the wonderful opportunity to listen in to a series of lectures. On 30 January 2024, Dr Liliya Terzieva gave a really interesting lecture about Why do networks fail and what can we do to reverse … Continue reading Why do networks fail and what can we do to reverse this process? Dr Liliya Terzieva lecture.

Volunteer The Hague Mix & Match Fair

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Volunteer The Hague offer a great opportunity a couple of times a year for those looking for opportunities to volunteer with not for profit organisations in The Hague, in English. At this edition on Saturday 18 November, 2023, I was one of the keynote speakers, and gave a half hour presentation on "LinkedIn" Top tips … Continue reading Volunteer The Hague Mix & Match Fair

Stepping down as Chairperson of Delft MaMa: some highlights and leadership lessons learned

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I've had the pleasure of leading the fabulous team of volunteers at Delft MaMa over the last 18 months. Since I was pregnant in 2007 with my first child, Delft MaMa has been a huge support to me and my family. Back then, I was briefly one of the original board members of this not … Continue reading Stepping down as Chairperson of Delft MaMa: some highlights and leadership lessons learned

2019 OMHE Online Media in Higher Education

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On Tuesday 21 May 2019, I attended my second OMHE (Online Media in Higher Education) event, hosted by Erasmus University Rotterdam. OMHE is a collaboration between the universities of Leiden, Delft and Rotterdam but all are welcome. I went on behalf of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. For the opening keynote, Jonathan Tinnacher from … Continue reading 2019 OMHE Online Media in Higher Education

Welcome to the Zestee Blog

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Welcome to the Zestee blog - this is portfolio of my work as well as a a treasure trove of more than 15 years of my favourite topics, articles, resources, book reviews, summaries of events I've been to and more.  You can navigate by scrolling, or via the category and archive dropdowns in the sidebar … Continue reading Welcome to the Zestee Blog

Facebook Community Leadership Circles Amsterdam #1

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On Saturday 9 February 2019, I attended the first Facebook Community Leadership Circle in Amsterdam. Held at the beautiful and super cool Impact Hub Amsterdam, it was an inspiring and interesting event. Of the 16 community leaders that attended, we calculated that our communities together total almost two million members! This event provided us with … Continue reading Facebook Community Leadership Circles Amsterdam #1

Facebook Community Leadership Circles

Posted on by Renee

For more than a decade, countless community groups around the world have used Facebook to connect with each other, plan events and share ideas and information. Until now, community admins have needed to learn how to do this online, often on their own. Recently Facebook have created a programme to recognise and support the important … Continue reading Facebook Community Leadership Circles

New Toastmasters communication and leadership group – HUT (The) Hague University Toastmasters

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In the past, I've been a member of Toastmasters and found it to be a fantastic way to improve my speaking and leadership skills and confidence.  I started as a member of the Young Achievers Toastmasters group in Brisbane, way back in the late 90's, and still have some friends today from that club.  One, … Continue reading New Toastmasters communication and leadership group – HUT (The) Hague University Toastmasters

Abbey Medieval Festival 2011: Kids Medieval Fun Day

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Though the official name is the Kids Medieval Fun Day, I think I had just as much fun as my four year old today. There was a huge range of great things to see and do - from princess hat making to belly dancing, puppet shows to sword fighting and much much more. But even more imporantly, all the things I usually dread at large scale family events - parking, toilets and buying food - were a breeze. What a wonderfully orchestrated and entertaining event.