While the global corporate world celebrates neurodiversity for its performance benefits, a crucial piece of the puzzle is missing: addressing the stigma. We talk about the ‘superpowers’, but we often ignore the fear of judgment that keeps talent in the shadows. True inclusion cannot exist without psychological safety.
Inclusion is not about fixing the individual: it’s about fixing the environment.
As a psychologist with lived experience, I bridge the gap between policy and the human reality. I focus on stigma in mental health systems, human rights, and international policy (WHO/EU), bridging lived experience with systemic change to impact global mental health standards.
My mission is to move beyond the hype and tackle the structural and social barriers that prevent neurodivergent individuals from thriving. Whether advising at a national level or speaking on international stages like the EU, I provide leaders with the tools to dismantle prejudice and foster authentic, stigma-free environments.
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD)
I advocate for a world where neurodiversity in the global workforce is embraced at the policy level. Inclusion is not about fixing the individual: it’s about fixing the environment. Our world is designed for the non-disabled. Guided by the UN CRPD, I advocate for a society redesigned so that everyone can participate.This aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) to create a more inclusive society where no one is left behind, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status.
Booking Information
Global Speaking & Keynotes
Are you looking for a speaker who brings both scientific depth and lived experience to your international stage? My keynotes on stigma reduction and the reality of neuro-inclusion are designed to inspire systemic change within global organizations and health institutions.
Exclusive Representation
To ensure a professional and seamless booking process, I am exclusively represented by Quality Bookings. They handle all logistics, contracting, and international inquiries, allowing us to focus entirely on the impact of the event.
Inquiries: For availability, and customized proposals for international events (WHO, EU, or global corporate summits), please contact my agent directly.
Investment: International keynotes start at € 2.450,- (excluding VAT and travel expenses). Special arrangements for international NGOs and global health missions can be discussed upon request.
Feel free to contact Quality Bookings to check availability and receive a custom quote without any obligation.
Watch my keynote in the European Parliament in Brussels
It was a privilege to share my vision as a keynote speaker at the ”Claim The Future” conference on December 6, 2022. Hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels, this event was a collaborative effort by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Commission, and the European Parliament to build a brighter future together.
Previous Global Assignments
Below is an overview of my assignments as an international keynote speaker, international trainer, and advisor with lived experience
2023
February 20, 2023, Brussels. How do you discuss your mental wellbeing? With only 600 traineeships available for graduates across Europe, the competition is intense and the academic pressure is high. An international traineeship at the European Commission is an exciting milestone, but it can also be deeply challenging. How do you open up about mental health in such a high-stakes, competitive environment? To address these challenges, I hosted a workshop for Blue Book trainees on how to navigate stigma and the disclosure dilemma in the workplace.
2020
January 16, 2020, European Parliament, Brussels ‘’Towards Inclusion’’. European Expert Group on the transition from institutional to community-based care.
2018
May 15-18, 2018, Chișinău, Moldova Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) training. I trained Moldovan people with lived experience to become Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) facilitators I worked on behalf of Trimbos International. Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction.
July 6, 2018, Chișinău, Moldova. Summer School, follow-up Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) training. I worked on behalf of Trimbos International. Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction.
October 9 & 10, 2018, Bucureşti, Romania “Mental health in the workplace”. A conference organized with support from Mental Health Europe, Commission on Human Rights from the Senate of Romania, Cults and Minorities and Penumbra Association. A conference organised by Estuar Foundation in partnership with. General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection District 6, Bucharest
2017
October 11, 2017, Brussels. Mental health promotion in the workplace. A multi stakeholder dialogue. European Mental Health (EUMH) Conference.
A Journey of Resilience: Moving beyond the Clinical Gaze
My commitment to system change is deeply personal. In 1995, as a young psychology student, I got hospitalized due to a psychosis. My psychiatrist told me: “You will never recover. You should live in a sheltered facility and rely on welfare.” I refused to accept that verdict. Against all odds, I graduated as a psychologist and built a successful international career. My experience—including surviving the isolation of psychiatric wards—fuels my unique capability to hold a mirror to the healthcare sector, advocating for a world where “the doctor can be vulnerable too,” and where professional expertise and lived experience are seen as equally invaluable assets.
Trusted by Global Leaders
I have had the honor of discussing inclusion and mental health advocacy with high-level officials, including the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and current NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, who highlighted my vision as an inspirational example of how global leaders should address mental health and employment affairs.
A powerful conversation on Inclusion: Watch my unique TV Interview with Mark Rutte, former Prime Minister of The Netherlands and the current NATO Secretary General, where we discuss the vital importance of reducing stigma in the global workforce.