Meet the team
Meet the small but mighty troupe behind Make it in the North, with 10 people and 6 nationalities (7 if you count Frysian as a nationality :D).
You can find us at international-friendly events in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe to give you information about local opportunities, job hunt advice, and tips and tricks on how to hire internationals.
The rest of the time, we work hard to find AND create more English-language job opportunities, and all the "how to" content you need to Make it in the North!
Marjolein Wiersma
Project lead
Hi there! I'm lucky and very happy to work on making the Northern Netherlands a more diverse and inclusive place together with this wonderful team. As project lead, I create and oversee our (multi-year) strategy and budget, do fundraising, initiate new collaborations with external partners and keep our stakeholders and partners up to date with the project’s results. I’m always looking for ways in which companies from Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe can reach English-speaking jobseekers more successfully, and vice versa. Hopefully I'll meet you at one of our events!
Monica Scholte
Team & event coordinator
Hello, I’m Monica Scholte, the Team & Event Coordinator for the lovely team at Make it in the North. In short, that means I keep things running smoothly by ensuring everyone knows what to do and when, so we can achieve our goals! I love working in a diverse, multicultural environment and always aim to foster both efficiency and a positive team spirit. I was born and raised in the North, and am very excited to contribute to this unique and wonderful region. See you soon!
Maartje de Jonge
Business advisor
Hi, my name is Maartje de Jonge I am the Business Advisor for Make it in the North. I have the privilege to visit companies and help them in different fields within their organisation. One of the areas is attraction and retention of employees.
Make It in the North is the platform where companies can showcase what they have to offer, which will attract the right talent to grow their business even more. And for talent to see what great companies are based in the area, which opens up a pool of opportunities.
Being born and raised in the Northern part of the Netherlands and having travelled and lived all over the world, I can honestly say that Northern Netherlands is the best place to live.
Aukje Van Der Veen
Account manager
Hi there, nice to meet you! My name is Aukje, and I’m thrilled to be working as an account manager at Make it in the North. As someone born and raised here, I am passionate about making this region a thriving and welcoming place for everyone. I am dedicated to collaborating with companies to help them grow, succeed, and connect with international talent. I look forward to discussing how we can work together to achieve your ambitions!
Christoph Schwaiger
Senior journalist
Hi I'm Christoph from Malta! As Make it in the North's journalist I get to meet and interview many interesting people working at companies that are thriving in the Netherlands.
I also love being able to help newcomers make the North their new home, either by answering their job-related questions or by giving them some words of motivation whenever they might need them.
Daindra W. Utami
Communications officer
Hi! My name is Daindra and I am from Indonesia. As a Communications Officer, I am responsible for external communications, our online presence, and branding.
You can contact me (daindra@makeitinthenorth.nl) if your company would like to give testimonials, or if you’d like to create career-related content together!
Lucia Hrnciarova
Social media coordinator
Hello there, my name is Lucia and I hail from Slovakia. I got to spend some time in New Zealand before moving to Groningen. As an academic spouse, I know the struggle of relocating and job hunting in a new country quite well! In Make It in the North, I am taking care of our social media presence, so please follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Not only it will make my day, you will also receive a regular dose of job search tips, learn about interesting, international-friendly companies in the North of Netherlands and stay updated about upcoming career events in the region!
Julia Dumchenko
Videographer and photographer
Hey! My name is Julia and I'm originally from Russia. My main job in the project is filming and editing the interviews with the companies and the internationals in the North for our socials and YouTube channel. I'm fascinated to see how many innovative companies and talented professionals are there in the Northern Netherlands, and I'm happy to help them to be seen and to inspire others. Another part of my job involves helping coordinate different events and giving presentations about building a career in the Northern Netherlands.
Liana Prodorutti
Content creator
Hey, my name is Liana. After living and working in New York City, I moved to the Northern Netherlands to continue my studies. My journey here was driven by the search for a more balanced lifestyle, which I found in this relaxed yet dynamic part of the country. In my role with Make it in the North, I make sure our job listings meet platform standards, assist with onboarding companies and seek out new opportunities to promote on our platform. I also provide support with other tasks such as website management and event coordination. Hopefully I can help others discover the unique opportunities and laid-back way of living this region offers!
Conley Austin
Content creator
Hey! My name is Conley, and I am from the United States. I do a wide variety of tasks at Make it in the North, from keeping the website up and running, to helping plan and coordinate events that MIITN is involved with. Having completed my Master’s here in Groningen, I can safely say that the Northern Netherlands is a great place for internationals and Dutch people alike to pursue a career while also living a fulfilling life outside of work!
Minke de Vries
Project assistant
Hi! My name is Minke and I’m very happy to be involved in Make it in the North. As someone born and raised in the North, I am enthusiastic about making it a welcoming place for everyone. In my role as a project assistant, I have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, from organizing events and networking to developing new policies. I look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events!
