Successful first edition of the UCAA Sustainability event
At the end of 2017, UCU alumna Lena Hartog got an idea, and with the help of a couple of fellow alumni, she succeeded in turning that idea into reality. On January 25th, the Impact Hub in Amsterdam opened their doors to welcome about 40 guests to the first . The main aim of the event was to create a platform for alumni and students interested or working in the field of sustainability, and to enable them to enhance their network and share knowledge and experiences.
Three alumni were invited to share their story on how sustainability is rooted in their jobs. The evening started off with Selma Seddik (class of ’09), who talked about her start-up Instock, a restaurant that uses food that would otherwise go to waste. Selma explained how she only needed a small idea and a lot of stubbornness to get where she is now - opening up a fourth restaurant.
Bas Heerma van Voss (class of ’12), currently advisor to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate, introduced five different maps of the Netherlands, demonstrating the importance of perspective: sometimes you can make a larger difference by doing something small in the right place, than by doing something big in another.
The last speaker was Paulette van Ommen (class of ’07), global climate lead at DSM, who brought in a corporate perspective to the evening. During her talk Paulette illustrated her journey from her activist and political past to her corporate contribution now. Her main message was to look at your best qualities, and decide from there where you can make an impact, whether that is as an activist, in the political atmosphere, in the start-up scene, or in a more corporate environment.
The evening continued in smaller groups where participants shared experiences, discussing current challenges in different areas of the sustainability field. During the social drinks afterwards,guest were able to expand their sustainable network and catch up with old friends.
In the coming months, the organisers hope to strengthen the UCU Sustainability Network by organising follow up events, as well as exploring the possibilities to expand to other sectors. If you are willing to contribute in any way feel free to .
The UCAA Sustainability Event was co-financed by the UCU Alumni Office. Are you thinking about organising an activity that brings UCU students and alumni together? Why not check if the event is eligible for a co-financing grant?