BIOGRAPHY

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Paulette van Ommen is a sustainability leader, advisor, creative communicator and speaker. She is passionate about social norms, narratives and behaviors that inspire healthier and more sustainable living.

She builds on 15 years of business experience through leading roles at companies such as EY (2010-2014) and Royal DSM (2015-2019). After this, she worked with organizations, initiatives and brands that spark and drive positive, environmentally sustainable actions among people (whether they are co-workers, citizens or consumers). Since November 2020 she is the Director Health & Sustainability (Europe & Indonesia) at Ahold Delhaize, a global retailer.

Paulette served on the Supervisory Board of Social Enterprise NL and is an alumna of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers. She was included in the first (2024-2026) cohort of Women Climate Leaders of the European Investment Bank, 2022 MT/Sprout Next Leadership, 2021 Harper’s Bazaar Women of The Year nominees, and Trouw Duurzame 100 (Sustainable Top 100) in 2016, 2017 & 2018.

Having studied in the United States, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and various Latin American countries, Paulette holds a MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also has a BA Honors in Social Sciences from University College Utrecht, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Paulette lives and works in the Amsterdam area, The Netherlands, with her husband and children.

CURRICULUM VITAE

WORK

  • November 2020 - present: Director Health & Sustainability (Europe & Indonesia), Ahold Delhaize

  • 2019 - Q3, 2020: independent advisor

  • 2015-2020: Supervisory Board, Social Enterprise NL

  • 2015-2019: Global Climate Lead, Royal DSM

  • 2010-2014: Corporate Responsibility Leader, Senior Advisor to Jan Peter Balkenende and Working Group Leader of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition, EY

  • 2006, 2008, 2009: various research roles in The Netherlands, Costa Rica and the UK at the Business in Development Network (BiD Network), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)

ACADEMIC DEGREES & SCHOLARSHIPS

  • MSc Development Management at the London School of Economics (LSE) in London (UK), 2008-2009 - funded fully by the Christiaan Huygens Talent program scholarship of the Dutch government

  • BA Hons, Social Sciences, Magna Cum Laude, at University College Utrecht (The Netherlands), 2005-2007 with a focus on international development studies and politics, including an exchange semester at the University of Exeter (UK) - funded by the Erasmus Grant

  • Fulbright Campus Scholarship program, Elizabethtown College, PA (USA) - funded by the Fulbright Commission, The Netherlands

LIFELONG LEARNING

  • 2023: Cornell University: Ahold Delhaize Retail Academy

  • 2022: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: Sustainable Marketing, Media & Creative

  • 2020: Academy of Change: program on Environment & Behavior Change

  • 2020: Duke University (USA): Environmental Communication For Behavior Change (social marketing)

  • 2020: Climate KIC: Engaging People on Climate Change

  • 2019: Climate Reality Leadership (USA): Training, Atlanta

  • 2011: Harvard Business School (USA): Corporate Responsibility Strategies to Create Business and Social Value

  • 2007: Better Future “Future Leaders” (Ecuador): Summer program on social entrepreneurship