Youth are vital agents of change to drive social progress

“I feel a deep sense of urgency to tackle the climate crisis and global poverty together and in an integrated manner. My mother always told me: “work hard at work worth doing”. This job is a lot of hard work, but it is also very rewarding to work with so many talented and passionate colleagues on issues that are so relevant for millions of people across the globe and generations to come. It is important to talk about the work that we do and the impact and results we make, so they can inspire others. None of us can tackle the challenges we face alone.”

Following a degree in economics, Kitty van der Heijden worked  in varying positions for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, including as Director of the Climate, Environment, Energy and Water Department. She also has experience working for the UN as Resident Coordinator in Vietnam and for the World Resource Institute (WRI) as Vice President and Director for Africa and Europe. In August 2019 Kitty was appointed Director General for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Twitter: @KittyvdHeijden