Date: April 23, 2025
Time: 16:00 – 19:00
Venue: Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Edge Olympic, Fred. Roeskestraat 115
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with our esteemed Patron member Validata, cordially invites you to an exclusive networking event on The Ins and Outs of Employment Background Screening in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Europe.
Join us as Harm Voogt, Managing Director of Validata Group, shares insights into the company’s journey, its expansion into Sweden, and strategies for navigating an undeveloped market. He will also discuss key industry trends shaping the future of employment screening. Following this, we will explore the latest developments, challenges, and best practices in employment background screening across Europe, providing valuable insights for businesses and professionals alike.
Key Topics of Discussion:
- The Rise of Employment Screening Across Sectors– Understanding why background screening is becoming a standard practice in various industries.
- Top Challenges in Implementing Screening Processes– Exploring common obstacles and how to overcome them effectively.
- Differences in Screening Approaches Between the Netherlands and Sweden– A comparative look at regulations, market maturity, and best practices.
- Global Trends and AI’s Role in the Future of Screening– How technology is shaping the evolution of employment background screening worldwide.
Program
16:00 – Welcome and Registration
16:30 – Presentation and Interactive Discussions
18:00 – Networking Drinks
19:00 – End of Event
Harm Voogt,
Managing Director, Validata Group
Harm is a leading figure in the international screening industry. In 2009, Harm co-founded Validata Group in Amsterdam, driven by the insight that the process of verifying (potential) employees’ data was fraught with inefficiencies. Over the past 15 years, alongside Job van der Weijden and Bart Bijkerk, Validata Group transformed into a European leader for employment screening, addressing the complex challenges of data privacy and accessibility in verifying personal information across multiple international sources. At the start of 2024, Validata Group was acquired by DISA Global Solutions, a US leader in drug & alcohol testing and employment screening solutions. Harm now focuses on spearheading international expansion efforts, leveraging DISA’s global reach to offer comprehensive screening solutions worldwide.
We look forward to welcoming you to this engaging and informative event. Sign up before April 17, 2025, and join the conversation!
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On April 15, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce welcomed members and invited guests to the Executive Sustainability Breakfast at the Swedish Ambassador’s Residence in The Hague. This exclusive gathering served as a platform for exchange between business leaders, policymakers, and experts from Sweden and the Netherlands on the pressing topics of sustainable development and environmental innovation.
The Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Johannes Oljelund opened the morning with a warm welcome and expressed his appreciation to the Swedish Chamber and the Embassy team for their preparation.
We were happy to welcome Lorenzo can Haelst, Managing Director at Tetra Pak France and Benelux, and keynote speaker Eija Hietavuo, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Tetra Pak, whose presentation marked the company’s 70th anniversary in the Netherlands. Moderated by Anne Korthals Altes, Manager Sustainability at Vattenfall and member of the Chamber’s Sustainability Committee, the session highlighted Tetra Pak’s heritage and ongoing role in shaping the future of food systems.
Keynote speaker Eija Hietavuo, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Tetra Pak, shared how the company continues to be guided by its Swedish roots and founding purpose: to make food safe and available, everywhere. She highlighted the often-overlooked “hidden middle” of agrifood systems—processing, packaging, and distribution—as critical levers for reducing environmental impact and improving food resilience.
Eija presented Tetra Pak’s Sustainability Agenda, structured around Food, People, and Planet, and outlined four focus areas: decarbonising dairy, innovating for new food sources, reducing food waste, and scaling access to safe nutrition. She also announced a new recycling facility launching in 2025 in Limburg, developed in partnership with Yellow Dreams, as part of Tetra Pak’s commitment to circularity.
The session closed with an engaged Q&A and concluding remarks by both the Ambassador and Kerstin Gerlagh, General Manager of the Swedish Chamber, who extended thanks to all contributors and participants.
Lastly, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands was proud to present the first-ever Swedish Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Scholarship – Powered by Saab to Lotte Nijhof, a Master student at TU Delft and Leiden University, currently pursuing a degree in Industrial Ecology.
The scholarship award of €4,000 will support Lotte’s upcoming research visit to Sweden, where she will conduct fieldwork over the course of two to three months—further strengthening the bridge between Sweden and the Netherlands in the field of sustainable innovation.
We extend our sincere thanks to H.E. Mr. Johannes Oljelund for graciously hosting this occasion, to Eija Hietavuo for her inspiring keynote, to Anne Korthals Altes for moderating the session with clarity and insight, to Jovana Mitrovic, Head of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Tetra Pak, for her support and engagement, to Ashkan Danei, Sales Director at Tetra Pak and Chairperson of the Chamber’s Sustainability Committee, for his continued leadership—and most importantly, to all attendees for their presence, thoughtful contributions, and dedication to driving sustainability forward together.
Photo Credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
The event is a collaboration between:
Date: April 8, 2025
Time: 11.00 (CET)
Venue: Digital
Join us for SCI’s “European Leaders Talk”. A new series of webinars featuring top business leaders discussing key economic, leadership and geopolitical trends.
Our first guest, Fredrik Persson, President of Business Europe, will share his visions on the future of Europe’s competitiveness, insights on BusinessEurope’s key priorities and initiatives, and, of course, his view on the impact of the U.S. new administration on European businesses and industries.
Previously, Fredrik was President of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (2017–2022), and currently chairs Ellevio AB, JM AB, and ICC Sweden, while serving on boards such as Holmen and ICA Group. He has extensive experience from Axel Johnson Group, ABB Financial Services, and Aros Securities.
The talk will be moderated by Daniella Waldfogel, President, Swedish Chambers International and CEO, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, with expertise in public affairs and policy advocacy from roles at JKL, the European Parliament, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Registration link: https://my.weezevent.com/european-leaders-talk-fredrik-persson
The link to the webinar will be sent one day before the event.
About SCI
SCI is an umbrella organisation for Swedish Chambers of Commerce abroad. We are a platform dedicated to promoting Swedish chambers of commerce internationally and connecting businesses from all over the world—putting the world at your fingertips. SCI consists of over 30 Swedish Chambers worldwide, spanning hundreds of companies across five continents.
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We See the World Differently, and Therefore We See More of It Together
On March 26, 2025, we hosted a thought-provoking morning on neuro-inclusion in the workplace. The session sparked meaningful discussions and offered invaluable insights into how we can cultivate a more inclusive work environment. Our sincere thanks to Yves for moderating with such expertise, to Ellis-Jan van den Hout for generously hosting the event, and to Liesbeth van Overhagen for her flawless organisation.
A special thank you to Tristan Lavender for his insightful keynote, which not only educated but also empowered the audience, providing us with actionable tools to unlock the potential in every individual. Your words left us all inspired, with new perspectives on leading with vulnerability.
We also extend our gratitude to everyone who attended, particularly those who shared their personal stories, contributing to the warm and open atmosphere of the event. We are proud of our network, where such meaningful connections thrive.
Here are four key takeaways on neuro-inclusive leadership shared by Tristian during our session:
1. Look beyond the label
I use this phrase a lot because there’s so much heterogeneity in autism, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence that we risk perpetuating stereotypes by suggesting there are one-size-fits-all solutions. The point isn’t to hand leaders a cookie-cutter approach. It’s about cultivating curiosity and understanding the unique needs, strengths, and challenges of each individual. To be clear, that doesn’t mean diminishing the value of diagnoses. It means seeing the person in front of you for who they are in all their uniqueness.
2. Ask, don’t assume
Understanding starts with asking questions instead of making assumptions based on labels. One autistic person may prefer working in a dimly lit corner to avoid sensory overwhelm, while another might prefer natural daylight. One dyslexic person may process information better visually, while another might benefit from text-to-speech technology. No two brains are the same. The key is to ask and listen, not to assume.
3. Offer options
Team members have different ways of contributing to discussions. Some are comfortable speaking up on the spot, while others express themselves more easily in writing – when they don’t feel social pressure. For example, before and after a brainstorm session, you could give people the opportunity to share ideas in writing – rather than expecting everyone to speak up during the meeting (or worse, telling quiet colleagues they should ‘be more visible’).
4. Lead with vulnerability
A wonderful thing happened during our session: when one neurodivergent participant shared their personal story, others followed. That’s the beauty of leading with vulnerability: it doesn’t require a formal leadership role. Anyone can take that first step. But when leaders actively demonstrate vulnerability, their words carry extra weight, granting others the psychological permission to do the same.
Keynote Speaker: Tristan Lavender
Founder & Chair of the Philips Neurodiversity Network
Tristan Lavender is the founder and chair of the Philips Neurodiversity Network, a global Employee Resource Group (ERG) with over 1,100 members that aims to raise awareness and foster understanding of neurodiversity at Philips. The ERG is open to everyone at Philips, promoting inclusion and belonging for all. Tristan has a background in psychology and two decades of experience working in professional communications.
Hosted by
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“Mastering Leadership for the Future – Kick-off”
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming this year’s ten mentorship pairs as they embarked on their journey of growth, guidance, and connection.
The evening began with an inspiring introduction by Mentorship Coach Hendrik Jan Guitink, followed by interactive breakout sessions led by former mentee Dmytro Shytikov. Here, mentees and mentors mapped out their goals and expectations before the highly anticipated mentor-mentee reveal. With the first one-on-one conversations underway, the program is officially in motion.
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to open our mentorship keynote lectures to our mentorship alumni. These sessions offer exclusive insights from expert speakers:
- April 24 – Sustainable Leadership with Gabriele Hamm Adler
- May 15 – Personal and Professional Branding (speaker to be announced)
- September 18 – Mindfulness and Work-Life Balance with Cole Groom
About the Swedish Chamber Mentorship Programme
The Mentorship Program was launched in October 2012. Since then, more than 100 Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber have followed the program and benefited from their future personal and professional growth. The many Mentors have benefited from meeting the new generation leaders of the future and learning more about their insights and values. The Mentorship Program is made possible by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with AIMS International Netherlands B.V., a member of AIMS International. Read more here
This event is only open for participants in the Mentorship Program 2025
Date: March 6, 2025
Time: 12.00 – 14.00 (guests are welcome from 11.30)
Venue: Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX Amsterdam
‘’The French Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands is pleased to invite the Members of the Swedish Chamber to the 18th edition of its (Wo)men’s Day Lunch.
Keynote Speaker: Angela Maas – Cardiologist & Women’s Heart Health Pioneer
Angela Maas, MD, PhD, has been a clinical cardiologist for more than 35 years and has developed a main interest in heart disease in women over the past decades.
She established the first outpatient clinic for women in the Netherlands in 2003 and was appointed as a professor in Cardiology for women at the Radboud University, Nijmegen in 2012.
Throughout her career, she has received many awards, such as from the Dutch Society of Female Physicians (2010), the Radboud University (2014), and was knighted by the King in 2017.
She has been one of the most influential female doctors in Dutch healthcare and was the 2020/21 Women’s representative of the Dutch Government to the United Nations.
In 2014, Angela Maas founded Hart voor Vrouwen, a foundation dedicated to advancing multidisciplinary research on cardiovascular diseases in women. This mission is of paramount importance, as cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Through innovative research, the foundation aims to enhance care and outcomes for women globally.
Member Fee
Thanks to generous collaboration with the French Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, Swedish Chamber members are offered an exclusive member price.
Members €95
Non-members €115
Cancellation before February 20: 100% refunded
Cancellation after February 20: no refund possible
Registration
Register for the event by emailing n.abraini@cfci.nl at the French Chamber. Kindly mention “Swedish Chamber” as your company affiliation in the email. You will receive your invoice and confirmation directly from the French Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands.
This event is a collaboration between
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On February 13, the Swedish Chamber in the Netherlands, in collaboration with BDO, Eversheds Sutherland, Söderberg & Partners, and the Dutch Chamber in Sweden, hosted an informative session for companies with subsidiaries in Sweden. The event provided essential insights into company registration, taxation, employment, and pensions.
Key Takeaways from Our Experts
BDO – Erik Hedlund & Fredrik Nilsson
BDO guided attendees through the Swedish company registration process, explaining the differences between subsidiaries, branches, and cases where no registration is required. The session covered permanent vs. non-permanent establishment and featured an interactive discussion with insightful comparisons between Swedish and Dutch registrations.
Eversheds Sutherland – Torbjörn Lindmark
Eversheds Sutherland provided an overview of the Swedish labour market, offering key insights into what companies should consider when employing staff in Sweden.
Söderberg & Partners – Karolina Conrad
With 13 consecutive years of Sweden’s happiest customers, Söderberg & Partners shared their expertise on the Northern European approach to employee benefits and pensions. The session also covered the Swedish pension system and how to avoid excessive taxation.
Supporting Companies Expanding into Sweden
The event addressed crucial topics, including subsidiary and branch registration, tax registration, employment, payroll, insurance, benefits, and pension systems. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions, gaining valuable knowledge to support their business operations in Sweden.
A sincere thank you to our expert speakers and all participants for making this session insightful and engaging.
On January 16, 2025, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands was very pleased to welcome our members and relations to the traditional New Year’s reception hosted by H.E. Ambassador of Sweden Mr, Johannes Oljelund, at his beautiful residences in the Hague.
The New Year’s Reception is one of the Chambers’ wonderful traditions, offering a fantastic start to the upcoming Chamber year and the opportunity to meet great fellow members and relations in a fantastic ambience. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the New Year’s Reception and for making it to a warm event fostering friendship and fellowship.
A special thank you to H.E. Ambassador Johannes Oljelund and Mrs Hanna Oljelund for hosting the New Year’s reception and for your warm hospitality and support.
