Veronique Swinkels

Owner & CEO at BBK/Door Vriendschap Sterker

My experience and deep interests:

• Branding & Communication

• Campaigning & Advocacy

• Community & Ecosystem Building

• Entrepreneurship

• Journalism & PR

I am a communication professional, entrepreneur and activist with over 25 years of experience in finding the right words, symbols and communication channels to strengthen organizations who want to improve society and change people’s behavior for the better.

Born and raised in the city of Maastricht –– close to both the German and Belgium borders –– gave me a European perspective on life, politics and business. Eager to leave home, I first lived in Paris, studied in Amsterdam (Communications Sciences and Psychology) and London (Communications Policy) and finally settled down in Amsterdam. I am now married to an entrepreneur and am a proud mother of 4.

The past 25 years I worked in advertising and became the owner of media- and advertising-agency BBK/Door Vriendschap Sterker (powered by friendschip), a Benefit Corporation (BCorp) since 2015. The agency is specialised in branding, marketing and communication strategies for NGOs, governments and sustainable brands. Last year, I co-founded the Global Goals Accelerator, an initiative to raise awareness for the Sustainable Development Goals.

I am passionate about the power of communication as a force for good. I see ignorance as a major threat and democracy and freedom of press/speech as the essence of independence. In 2008/2009 I was part of a group that founded a European Party and participated in the EU elections; Newropeans. Our aim was to change European governance and reinforce European democracy. I hold advisory functions in several foundations, among which Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and Laboratoir Europeen d’Anticipation Politique) LEAP.

Yoga, meditation and walking in Switzerland help me to stay sane. My kids (and partner) help me to keep my eyes on things that really matter and the interests of future generations.  My endeavor is about my next steps in or outside my company. These steps will be centered around sustainability and communication as a force for good.