Bert Bakker


Senior Consultant

 


Bert became a valuable addition to the Meines & Partners team as Senior Consultant on January 1st, 2008. Mr Bakker was a Member of Parliament (D66) for 12 years. During this time, he was spokesman for various issues, ranging from media affairs to defence, and from economic affairs to government finance.

He built a reputation as a skilled parliamentarian and debater. He succeeded countless times in creating a majority for the ideas of his relatively minor party.

He gained national recognition and respect through his chairmanship of the Parliamentary Committee which researched the deployment of the Dutch military on peace missions. He was also Chair of the Srebrenica Enquiry Commission.

Prior to becoming an MP, Mr Bakker was a correspondent for the University Press, and then Head of Administration and Information at the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER). Bert Bakker is currently also Chairman of the Association of International Employment Agencies (VIA); Chairman of the M.E.E.R Platform (an organisation for business people in the mental health -care sector), a member of the Advisory Council of the Dutch Electronic Highway Platform, a columnist for the Dutch World Broadcasting Service, and ambassador for the children’s charity Pax Kinderhulp.

Bert: "Government and business are all too often strangers to one another. Two different worlds, but often with parallel interests. This only becomes clear when the two parties start to communicate with one another. Politicians and civil servants are sometimes a little hesitant but not unwilling. Once the thresholds have been lowered, businesses, civil servants and politicians can usually get on the same wavelength. Clear communication on both sides regarding facts, perceptions and interests can remove many misconceptions, which is of mutual benefit. I see enabling this communication for clients as a challenging task at Meines & Partners."

bertbakker@meinespartners.nl