What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?   

If I had to pick one, it would be Project Halo. We are an international institutional real estate investor with thousands of tenants across Europe. We noticed that there was a lack of innovation in the tenant/real estate industry, and we believed something should be done about it. We began creating an IT infrastructure that facilitates tenants throughout their entire living experience. Our goal is to create a full-service tenant experience, where tenants are happy and want to stay with us throughout their lifecycle (hence Project Halo, named after the holy circle of light). We enable tenants to access a range of convenient ancillary services, such as cleaning, shared mobility, utilities, parcel collection, etc. For tenants, everything becomes easier, cheaper, and more convenient, increasing satisfaction. Furthermore, the data we gather through this IT infrastructure helps us optimise our real estate and improve our overall services. It is amazing to see the energy, passion, and innovation that come with such a project, and the people working on it. It’s fascinating to learn about all these new innovative solutions, and of course, it is satisfying to contribute from a legal and compliance perspective.

How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?   

There are many young people working for our company, and I have noticed that for them, ESG is already a very relevant subject they are often passionate about. For those who have been with the company longer, I’ve noticed that it’s sometimes a bit harder to integrate ESG factors into business decisions. I think the key here is to help colleagues understand why it is so relevant and how it benefits us in the long run, including from a financial perspective. For example, last year we classified one of our investment funds as an Article 8 fund (meaning it promotes ESG goals) under the SFDR. Not only will this help make our assets more sustainable, increasing their value over time, but it also helps secure more favourable interest rates when we need to refinance the portfolio. With ESG, it is sometimes a bit like playing golf: you play the hole you are on. In other words, it is important to be aware of your audience and adjust your message accordingly. Overall, I’m proud that the company I work for believes ESG is important.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?    

I am passionate about politics, partly because I think it’s related to professional deformation. However, from a young age, I’ve always found politics interesting. Our constitutional and political system in the Netherlands, along with the legislative process, has always fascinated me. The increasing impact of European regulation also brings an interesting (semi) new dynamic. If there is a new piece of legislation in the making that I find interesting, for example, about real estate, I will follow the entire process closely and sometimes even watch parliamentary debates in the evening on the couch, like a movie. I also find international politics fascinating, especially with all the recent developments. It does sometimes worry me how much influence social media has gained over politics lately. When I was still in law school, traditional media was sometimes referred to as Montesquieu’s fourth power. I think nowadays that role is increasingly shifting towards social media companies. This brings a whole new dynamic to politics. I believe we have recently seen this in the US elections and the communication after the presidential changeover. All in all, very fascinating!