Avance team

Edith Kroese

Founder & Director

From good intentions to impact
Edith believes it is important for organisations to think about the impact they make and (re)shape their culture and structure to achieve maximum results. She is convinced that to truly make a difference, organisations must measure their impact and make it visible. This was her reason for setting up Avance in 2009. As director, Edith is always thinking about Avance’s direction and makes the company’s strategic decisions. She advises organisations such as DOEN Foundation, which allocates the funds raised from Dutch lotteries, children’s charity Plan International Nederland and Amsterdam City Council.

Sharing her knowledge
Edith started her career as an organisational adviser for the Dutch engineering firm DHV, working in many countries throughout Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. She has been an impact consultant for development organisations, government agencies and companies for over 15 years. In 2014 she obtained a master’s degree in change management. Edith launched Avance’s Impact Management education programme. As its lead trainer, she loves sharing her knowledge with students and colleagues.

Fanatic footballer
Edith is happy with her life in Amsterdam-Noord where she enjoys hearing the birds chirping. In her spare time she loves to play football (fanatically!).

Mail: edith@avance-impact.nl

Jacoline Plomp

Managing Director

Making impact visible
Jacoline is senior impact consultant for companies and several NGOS. She has a wealth of experience in advising funds, charities and governments to measure and optimise their impact. For example, she works with the provincial government of Brabant, Regiobank (local Dutch banking network), Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands and the Oranje Fonds (the Netherlands’ largest fund for social projects) to make their impact concrete and visible. To do this, Jacoline developed impact monitoring systems and other impact tools that help make the right investment decisions to maximise positive impact. She is a great facilitator and loves to teach others about impact. She also helps Edith with defining Avance’s direction and vision.

A worldly view
Jacoline is a sociologist and has worked for multinationals as well as NGOs. She is convinced that these two worlds can learn from each other and that working together leads to a more sustainable world. For more than 15 years, Jacoline travelled the world on various assignments. She lived in Kenya from 2009 to 2012 where she was involved in the implementation of coffee and tea programmes. She also developed a horticulture programme in Kenya with local companies. Jacoline was co-founder of the regional office Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa Expertise Center (SECAEC). Solidaridad is a global network that works towards sustainable production.

Sailing
Jacoline loves to go sailing on her boat and enjoys long evenings with friends and a good glass of wine.

Mail: jacoline@avance-impact.nl

Dani Bender

Impact Specialist

Change the system
Dani believes the system must change if we are to achieve a fairer and more sustainable world. An increasing number of organisations focus on this goal but need strategic advice to better understand the impact they can make. As an impact specialist Dani helps organisations to optimise their added value and move towards actually changing the system. He specializes in helping NGOs evaluate their impact and carries out impact assessments for social enterprises – such as SOS Children’s Villages, Unicef, children’s charity Plan International Nederland, Kansfonds (which helps vulnerable groups in society), DOEN Foundation (which allocates the funds raised from Dutch lotteries) and the Rabo Bank Foundation.

Monitoring systems
Dani has a bachelor degree in cultural anthropology and a master’s in international development studies. After graduation he focused on planning, monitoring and evaluation (PME), specialising in qualitative and quantitative research. Dani is an expert in helping organisations translate ambitious plans into clear interventions and impact goals. Using his monitoring systems, organisations learn how to manage their impact and make it visible.

News addict
Dani is an enthusiastic cook and juggler. Within Avance he’s known for having something of a news addiction.

Mail: dani@avance-impact.nl

Simone de Wit

Impact Specialist

Social inclusion is the goal
A world where everyone is equal, people feel connected and where sustainability is the norm – that is Simone’s dream. As an Impact Specialist Simone helps social enterprises and funds committed to optimising social inclusion and participation. For example, she helped create The Impact Path, a tool that helps social enterprises grow and measure their impact. She also helps organisations such as Vluchtelingenwerk NL (Dutch Council for Refugees), the GameChangers Academy (which develops the talents of the Dutch Moroccan community in the Netherlands), environment-friendly transporter Rederij Kees and SIDN (which registers the .nl domain name and supports initiatives to improve the internet) to follow the Impact Path.

In recent years, Simone has spent a lot of her time helping the Oranje Fonds (the Netherlands’ largest fund for social projects) with professional impact management.

Practical and pro-active
Simone is a social psychologist. Her master’s thesis was about evolutionary psychological mechanisms that motivate sustainable behaviour. She is a practical researcher and very proactive. Besides doing research, she loves to facilitate workshops and training programs about impact measurement and –management and to think about good impact strategies for funds and social organisations.

Outside Avance
Simone volunteers at Stichting SOB where she teaches Dutch to new citizens. In her free time, she loves to wind down with a good book, go on a nice long walk or hang-out with friends.

Robert Zwiers

Impact Specialist

Making impact measurement accessible
To create the New Economy it is essential for organisations to know what their impact is. That is why Robert wants to make impact measurement accessible. Robert helped with the development of the Impact Path, a tool that makes it easier for entrepreneurs to start measuring their impact. He helps organisations to make their impact visible, evaluates their results and advises on how to make an ever bigger positive impact.

Strategic advice
Robert is a skilled strategic impact advisor. After completing his master’s in business studies with a focus on sustainability, he worked for five years as a strategic advisor in the field of management, social entrepreneurship and communication. Now he is also a certificated impact manager. With his analytical eye, Robert helps many organisations such as Regiobank (local Dutch banking network), Oranje Fonds (the Netherlands’ largest fund for social projects), Fonds Nuts Ohra (which supports and finances vulnerable members of society such as young adults with health challenges) to prove, increase and communicate their impact.

Outside Avance
Robert is an ambitious cook, is always hunting for his next (rare) vinyl record and loves to travel (far).

Tim de Wilde

Impact Specialist

Long-term solutions
What is your impact? How do you increase impact? How do you do this in a sustainable way? These are questions Tim helps organisations with. He believes that sustainability is not limited to keeping the environment in mind, but also about long-term solutions. Tim helps organisations to optimise their social-cultural value, today and in the future.

Sparring partner
Tim has a PhD and is an organisational psychologist with a wide focus and in-depth knowledge of behavioural change and decision-making processes. He has worked for the Dutch government as a researcher on socio-cultural problems with a focus on sustainability. Complex research methods and analysing techniques don’t scare Tim. He’s a great sparring partner and thrives on making complex goals accessible, clear and measurable.

Outside Avance
Tim’s thirst for knowledge really helps him with pub quizzes which he (mostly) wins. Before taking part in a quiz, he loves to cook extensively for friends.

Marianne van Diggele

Impact Specialist

Laura van Olst

Communications Manager

Adding value to the world
Laura’s goal is to make the world a better and more sustainable place. Before she started working at Avance she spent a year travelling through Australia and Indonesia. She then realised she wanted to work for a company with the sort of mission that Avance has. At Avance she can be creative and communicate to the outside world the impact Avance itself makes. She also helps colleagues with designing documents and organising workshops and events.

Content creator
Laura has a bachelor’s degree in media studies and a master’s degree in art and culture. After completing her studies she wanted to learn more practical skills, so she did a traineeship in digital content creation. That is when she started creating cross media content: from text to video.

Outside Avance
Laura loves to cook and spoils her friends with delicious food. During the weekend she enjoys visiting Amsterdam’s coffee hotspots and second-hand shops or planning her next trip.

Denise Zonneveld

Office Manager

Joanne Pieterse

Impact specialist

Fighting poverty
Fighting poverty – in the broad sense of the word – by evaluating what works and how to improve. That is Joanne’s motivation for working at Avance. Joanne specialises in the design of PMEL (Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) tools and qualitative and quantitative research, especially in the area of international development. For example, by supporting 25 European partners to implement monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools in a programme to combat human trafficking. Or by designing M&E systems for IDH’s (The Sustainable Trade Initiative) landscape and sustainability programmes.

Hands-on and action-oriented
Joanne studied international business economics at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. She researched value chain financing in Ethiopia and the impact of a vocational training centre in Mozambique. Joanne joined Avance after working for a few years for an international flower company in the private sector. In her approach, Joanne is action-oriented and hands-on, straight-forward, and communicative.

Outside Avance
Joanne loves to spend time in her kitchen garden and tries to teach her cats not to catch butterflies and bees (unfortunately with low impact).

Veerle Lambert

Impact Specialist

Dedicated to making an impact
Make an impact. That is what Veerle wants to accomplish with everything she does. She wants the world to be a better place. As an Impact Consultant she contributes to this goal by doing successful impact research.

Skilled researcher
Veerle is a social psychologist and followed a minor in international development studies. She is a skilled researcher with knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Veerle has developed a tool to measure impact based on themes such as social cohesion, loneliness, social inclusion, self-sustainability and self-confidence. She always presents the outcome of her research in a clear impact report which organisations can use to maximise their impact.

Outside Avance
As a student Veerle did volunteer work for Unicef and a community centre in Cambodia. If she wants to relax, she loves to go to the beach to swim, surf or just to wind down.

Linda Dominguez Alvarez

Impact Specialist

Opportunities for all
Making the world a better place with equal opportunities for everyone. That is what Linda is passionate about and what she uses her knowledge and expertise for. Linda translates organisations’ social goals into measurable results and supports them with strategic advice to get a bit closer to the inclusive world she dreams of.

Multidisciplinary background
Linda has a multidisciplinary background in social sciences. She specialised in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and has extensive experience in conducting (in-depth) interviews, focus groups and survey research. As an Impact Specialist she uses her skills to support and advise social initiatives, social entrepreneurs, impact financiers and government agencies in optimising their positive impact.

Outside Avance
After work Linda loves to wind down with a good workout or yoga session. She also enjoys travelling so that she can explore our beautiful world and learn about new cultures.

Giovanni Giaquinto

Impact Researcher

Sanne Handgraaf

Impact Specialist

Anne de Vries

Impact Researcher

Hatice Nurlu

Impact Researcher

Valérie Jans

Co-trainer Impact Management Course

Amis Boersma

Associate

At Avance:
Process manager and trainer at impact-projects and evaluations. Likes to make procedures that seem complicated at first simple and comprehensible. Is interested in projects where connectivity and innovation are key. Wants to contribute to making impact measurement be regarded less as a chore and more as an integral and meaningful part of everyday work.

Background:
Studied Indonesian and worked in development cooperation for over ten years, at organizations such as an Indonesian human rights organization, Freevoice and Hivos. Developed herself as a personal leader and in group dynamics, because she believes that a better world starts with yourself. Has worked in various contexts and is an experienced builder of bridges. Apart from Dutch she also speaks English, Spanish, French, German and Indonesian.

Outside Avance:
Is the founder of Meer Lieve Brieven (More Kind Letters), a collective that writes and spreads kind letter anonymously. Enjoys singing and loves Manneken Pis liquorice.

Donatien de Graaff

Associate

Anouk Rutten

Associate

At Avance:
Senior impact-consultant specialized in consultancy and training projects for NGO’s and impact-minded companies.

Background:
Studied Human Geography and subsequently a post-doc development studies. In 2015 she also graduated from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam for Corporate social Responsibility. Published an article about her research on finding the balance between financial sustainability and social impact on The Broker Online and in Dutch international development magazine One World. Has extensive experience in programme development, project management, evaluations, partnerships, and fundraising. Worked in several countries, among them 6 years in Nairobi, as institutional fund manager for 7 countries in East-Central Africa.

Outside Avance:
Anouk loves running, concerts, and being inspired by people. Loves animals in general and has two dogs herself, but they still live in Kenia.

Mail : anouk@avance-impact.nl

Wout Visser

Associate

At Avance:
Guides organisations and networks in the development and monitoring of effective advocacy strategies through workshops, trainings and coaching. He carries out qualitative programme and advocacy evaluations, using a wide range set of participatory methods.

Background:
As political scientist specialized in peacebuilding and reconciliation in conflict settings, specifically children’s rights and youth participation. Has 15 years of experience in international cooperation and has been working as an independent consultant since 2012.

Frans van Gerwen

Associate

Marije van Lidth de Jeude

Associate

At Avance:
Evaluator and consultant for projects in Latin America and Africa. Lives in Costa Rica.

Background:
Studied anthropology in Utrecht. Has more than 15 years experience as an evaluator/consultant within the international cooperation. Is specialised in gender, children- and women rights, migration and marginalised groups. Teaches at several universities including the University for peace in Costa Rica.

Outside Avance:
Committed to get whole Latin America on a bike. Setting the example herself.

Wouter Rijneveld

Associate

At Avance
Evaluator and consultant in the field of international development. Specialized in developing quantitative and qualitative research. Hands-on mentality, but draws his evaluations from the academic domain.

Background
Combines a science background (MSc Crop Science) with a social background (MA International Development). Over 15 years experience in designing integrated and practical systems for getting insight in results, mostly in African countries. Experience with complex evaluations and with capacity development and training in various contexts.

Outside Avance
Involved in small scale social interventions through communal living.

Els Rijke

Associate

At Avance
Associate consultant specialized in women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming.

Background
Works as an independent consultant since 2012, focusing on gender analysis, evaluation and capacity development. Has extensive experience with gender analysis of agricultural value chains, and developing women empowerment- and value chain strengthening strategies. In-depth knowledge of gender issues in the clean-cooking sector and frequently involved as gender expert for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC).
Worked for the Africa Biogas Partnership Programme and developed their gender-mainstreaming strategy, systems, and capacities. Designed and evaluated several development programmes with a focus on gender equality and the rights of women and girls. Worked for Hivos, an international development NGO, for which she developed and managed the portfolio of women’s rights organisations in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Outside Avance
After living in Kenya for six years Els moved to Cambodia in 2015. Tries to keep up with her running schedule and loves cooking for her friends.

Gerla van Breugel

Associate