Keynote speaker Wendy Kwaks has more than twenty years of experience in the public sector, particularly within the Dutch Ministry of Defense. She gained first-hand experience of operational work in the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee before moving to the Ministry to work in a policy directorate. She advised successive Ministers of Defense on international policy matters and was promoted to Head of the Minister’s Cabinet in 2014. She subsequently advanced to a director-level position within the staff of the Chief of Defense, where she focused on organizational change and transformation.
For six years, Wendy led the transformation of the Dutch Armed Forces, discovering her passion for inspiring and motivating people to contribute to change. She opened up the armed forces to external collaboration, bringing defense personnel together with change-makers from other organizations. These partnerships increased the participating organizations’ social impact and attracted wider attention. In recognition of her innovative social innovation projects in the security sector, she was named Civil Servant of the Year in 2021.
TINK Consultancy
In 2023, Wendy decided to follow her heart and continue her personal transformation journey beyond government. She founded TINK Consultancy, which advises organizations on transformation capabilities and social innovation. Alongside her consultancy work, she pursues another passion: writing. Her work explores personal leadership and personal transformation.
Her first book, Groeipijn (Growing Pains), commissioned by television personality Ray Klaassens, became a bestseller. Her own book, Voluit Leven (Living Life to the Fullest), is expected to be published later this year.
Through her podcast, Transformatiekracht (The Power of Transformation), Wendy aims to inspire others by exploring what drives change pioneers and which leadership approaches help them thrive. She continues to investigate how people can be motivated to take action and make a meaningful difference, sharing the insights she gains along the way.
