New director of the Expatcenter

Passing the baton

The Expatcenter's annual Informational Meeting was held on 13 September 2011 and saw departing Director Pauline Genee officially hand over her responsibilities to David van Traa. The meeting was held for international companies and also featured updates on the Expatcenter’s service developments as well as various workshops.

Mr Van Traa has held various positions within the City of Amsterdam since 2002, working within the fields of integration, culture and the creative industries. His most recent position was at the Department of Economic Affairs, where he was actively involved in the economic development and international positioning of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.

In his new position, he will focus on maintaining and improving the Expatcenter’s successful services and on its future positioning. A major area of focus will be the improvement of services offered to internationals in the sectors of housing, education and health.

"Throughout his career, David van Traa has proven that he can perform excellently within a complex field of influence. I have high expectations for David and believe that he will build on the successes of his predecessor Pauline to ensure that the Expatcenter will remain a major factor in attracting companies to the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area." Rijk van Ark, Director of Economic Affairs.