Onze Sprekers

A few years ago, those who warned us about the risks of technological unemployment were labelled as luddites, crazy, or techno-pessimists. Now some of the greatest economists agree that automation poses a serious threat to the economy, with jobs disappearing and inequality on the rise. Today, those proposing radically new ideas to deal with this problem are being called crazy and idealistic. Old ideologies are outdated in the face of exponential change; we need to embrace a more holistic and adaptive system. I believe experiments with unconditional basic income, coupled with the utilization of crypto currencies and blockchain-based technologies, will help us find the answers.’

Arita Baaijens is an explorer, biologist, author, photographer, and fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Explorers Club, the Long Riders Guild, and WINGS Worldquest, who recently selected her for one of their distinguished awards. The Dutch adventurer has already completed over 25 desert expeditions on camel throughout Egypt and Sudan. She is the first woman to have crossed the Western Desert of Egypt solo on camel and the first Western woman to have travelled the Forty Days Road on camel twice. In Mauritania she photographed the last surviving female caravaneers. Currently Arita Baaijens travels and works in Siberia and Central Eurasia, to research sacred landscapes and traditional cultures. In 2013 she was the first to circumambulate the Altai Golden Mountains in the heart of Eurasia: 4 countries, 101 days, 1500 km on horseback. March 2015 the Spanisch Geographical Society honored Arita Baaijens as Traveler of the year.

Femke received her LL.M. in International Law from the Free University (Amsterdam) in 2003. After graduating she worked at the University of Amsterdam for 4 years, doing research in the fields of International Law and Constitutional Law, which included a research visit to the Freie Universitat Berlin in 2006. Between 2008-2013 she worked at The American Book Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam FM radio, organising lectures, book signings and a monthly book club. She interviewed national and international authors on her weekly radio show “Samen”, a platform for positive news.

What if we have cultural organisations focus on process instead of results, or what if the process is so fascinating that no one would bother with the results anymore? And what if the audience could participate in the process and become truly involved? This seems inconceivable.

At Knowmads we teach students to ask questions, instead of pushing them through a fixed programme or ‘chicken factory assembly line’ designed programme. We look for answers to questions, like What is important to me? In what world do I live, and in what world do I want to live? How do I create projects and businesses that matter to me? And How do I manifest that in the world? Pieter Spinder studied Marketing & Small Business Management. After graduation he worked in various roles in corporate organisations. As he grew up in an entrepreneurial family he followed his passion and decided to start his own business. Over the last 20 years he was involved in businesses in Sales, Online and Marketing & Advertising. After working as a lecturer of Marketing at the University of Applied Sciences of Amsterdam (HvA) Pieter felt confronted with the rigid and structured world of education and decided to change the system for the benefit of the students. In 2007 Pieter joined the start-up KaosPilots – the Netherlands as a Teamleader. In 2009 he founded the Knowmads Business School – Amsterdam. It is not only a school, but more so a life-changing experience and platform for people who make a positive difference in this world.

I believe we are living in a decadent, lazy society where people are tired. We will remain in this lethargic state until something changes. We are gradually starting to realise that we need to change our environment, do something with sustainability. If you look at the crisis in the Middle East and Ukraine, what does that tell us about our collective resilience?

Banks are like a heart, pumping money through the economy. The problem is that the money doesn’t actually go into the economy. It's time for new plumbing! The hangover of the financial crisis is being washed away with a lot of booze. But little has changed. Where have the trillions gone that were used to bail out the banks and the economy? Are we heading for a new crash?

The sheer scale and complexity of the challenges facing 21st century society are forcing a shift in understanding about how change happens at all. Global challenges such as climate change, an ageing population, community cohesion, demographic shifts and deep inequality all demand creative solutions and render single, simple interventions ineffective. Natalie Nicholles is the Director RSA Global – the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce – a 260 year old organisation committed to finding innovative, creative and practical solutions to today’s social challenges. Natalie has a breadth of experience in working with, and for the private sector, national NGOs and local charities.