Chandra Verstappen .

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More about Chandra

Who are you, and how is your work related to ENIEC’s topics?

My name is Chandra. I am from the Netherlands, and I live in Utrecht. I am a self-employed professional. I work in diversity and inclusion as a change expert. That means that I help organisations to become more inclusive and create a safe environment for everybody. I like doing this at all levels (strategic and operational, management teams or executive teams) and try and use principles of organisational anthropology in the way I work: before acting, first observe. I try and find out patterns in what I see and notice. I try to be non-judgmental, which is quite hard, we all have values and fixed ways of working. I try not to judge and postpone my opinion.

I work preferrable in healthcare, education, and the public sector. To me, it is very important that the people professionals do their job for (patients, clients, citizens, staff) should be actively involved from the start of every plan of innovation. Their voice and experience are priceless. Including people who have to live with complex issues, such as language barriers, poverty, and stress, is crucial in developing innovations (policy, products, ways of working) that make sense and will be supported and used. Health literacy and digital fitness are subjects that are important for everyone. I also think it is very, very important that people with a migrant background are more included in scientific research. Only in recent years become clear that there are different diseases and differences in symptoms or visibility of diseases among people with different skin colour. A lot of people with a migration background need more and specific attention to make sure they get the same quality of care as other people. As a person, I think I'm a curious and kind of optimistic person. Without being naïve! Personal details: we have two adult children. I love cooking, reading, playing the baritone saxophone in a Salsa band, traveling, and Spanish. And I love my work.

How did you become an ENIEC member?

I have already known ENIEC for about ten years, I think. I used to work in the HR department of an organisation for elderly care. I met Anne-Rose Abendanon there. And later on, I worked at Pharos and was responsible for the program aimed at improving the healthcare and wellbeing of elderly migrants, with Jennifer, through research, education, and developing practical tools. Later on, I regularly traveled around the globe with Jan Booij. I met a lot of Finnish ENIEC members on a study trip organised by Jan a couple of years ago. So, I‘m a new member, but ENIEC is already quite familiar to me.

I remember you from that study trip and was very delighted when I noticed that you had joined ENIEC. So, what are your first impressions after being at the Annual Meeting for these couple of days?

ENIEC is a nice and warm group of people. I love everybody’s curiosity to ask and learn more about each other: work-wise and personally. Including my urge to ask “how”, “why”, and “what”. I like to do that kind of sharing of experience. And everybody is very willing to share expertise. The workshops and field trips were really nice. It was difficult to make a choice, and I’m still very curious about the workshops and places I could not join.

My experiences

I have broad experience in innovation and change. Over the past years, I have led various complex programmes and projects and have worked on strategy and policy at an executive level. I am at my best as a change leader when inclusion and equal opportunities are at the heart of the work.

I prefer to apply my expertise within organisations that have a socially relevant mission, such as in healthcare, education, the cultural sector or public administration. I enjoy learning from people and their diverse perspectives, and with that same motivation I also contribute – in an unpaid governance role – to organisations that add value to our society.

In my work, I focus on leadership, interim management, and the development of strategy and (diversity) policy within social and public sector organisations.