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“I find so much joy working on TEDxAmsterdam. It’s
always buzzing in my head.” Monique van nederlands (8)
Dusseldorp on stage at the end of TEDxAmsterdam news (139)
2009 partners (18)
speaker (65)
The best things in life happen seemingly without a purpose. When Monique was an intern at the
tedxams-talks (30)
European Institute for the Media 20 years ago, she was asked to step in when a colleague fell
ill, and produce the European Television and Film Forum in Seville. And sunny Spain is where theme (3)
the event-organising bug hit her full-heartedly. tribe (22)
video (31)
These days, Monique’s head is buzzing so much from TEDxAmsterdam excitement that she
hasn’t even noticed the city’s vuvuzela sounds lately, and appeared to be the only school mom
who had forgotten to dress her kids in appropriate World Championship clothing (read: orange
from top to toe). We meet over a large cup of tea and some espresso shots to discuss her role
Archive
in the second TEDxAmsterdam event. October 2010
September 2010
As I wait for our allotted time together, I expect to meet a fastidious lady, mobile phone glued to
August 2010
ear and laptop in tow, but I’m pleasantly surprised. Folding her knees gently under her body,
Monique is not wrapped in a tight business suit but instead is wearing a casual polo shirt. You July 2010
could even say that she is the picture of calm. June 2010
May 2010
Monique thinks of herself as a very modest contributor to the success of TEDxAmsterdam. “In April 2010
the conference business, TED is regarded as the highest possible standard. It’s part of a global
March 2010
movement to share knowledge, so I was delighted when Jim asked me to join the board,” says
Monique. February 2010
January 2010
As the Program Director, her main responsibility is the selection of speakers. “We definitely want December 2009
to make TEDxAmsterdam something special – we want to make something happen. It’s more November 2009
than just an auditorium filled with people listening to a speaker. It’s everything around that that
October 2009
makes TED so special – the buzz, the chatter, the connections that the event allows. Actually,
September 2009
it’s everything that doesn’t relate to my role selecting speakers!”
August 2009
What inspires Monique are “all new things,” she says, an essential element in the cultural July 2009
industries. ”I read, listen, look around and pick up snippets and put them together. It’s not so June 2009
much the result (an event here and there, soon forgotten), but the active interest in life and May 2009
ideas that suits me well. I need my work to force me to be aware.”
Monique compares her time in events to her time as an artist (she in fact graduated from art
school but left the scene quite soon after). “I’d look around in the world and anything I’d see Now on Twitter
could be relevant for my work, so it’s easy to understand why I ended up in events.”
Catching up with our 2009 #tedxams
Monique’s interests in new media came as a result of producing the iMMovator Cross Media speakers ...Merlijn Twaalfhoven on using
Cafe events and the internationally acclaimed PICNIC conferences, which she helped launch music to learn more about the world
and headed from 2006 to 2008. TEDxAmsterdam, however, pushes her even further. “My world http://tinyurl.com/38n39jx 1 week ago
has expanded ever since TED touched me. Everything I stumble upon is interesting now!” Bye bye beastie? Frans Timmermans of
#tedxams 2009 on confronting our fears
Like any good curator, Monique combines input from a range of sources, whether it’s people,
places or things. ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ is a mantra at this point. She then makes lists of http://tinyurl.com/3a9e86f 1 week ago
preferred speakers, favorite speakers, must-have speakers, thinking-about speakers, and so on. "A Conference Makes Learning Free (and
Through a strong networking process, Monique then wiggles her to the speakers themselves. It’s Sexy)" - NYT reports on TEDx popularity -
an important step, as it’s only here, face-to-face or on the phone, that a real sense of the person 531 events this year alone!
is possible. http://tinyurl.com/33b2sqo 1 week ago
More updates...
Monique’s criteria then becomes, can this person inspire? Can they speak English above
average? And do they know how to speak in public? Powered by Twitter Tools
If a desirable speaker needs to upgrade their performance skills, a TEDx team coaches them in
advance. “TEDxAmsterdam is all about the right mixture of interesting speakers. We have a News
crowd that is very interested in learning about new things, more than at any other event I’ve
seen. The audience is diverse and so is the subject matter. That means speakers have to Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-03
convey their message in the best possible way. The speakers are our rock stars,” she says. Impressive crowd at TEDxChange
Jacob Gelt Dekker: It starts with you
The choice of the Stadsschouwberg as this year’s venue will allow the TEDx team to add even
TEDxLahore for TEDxAmsterdam
more ’show’ elements to performances, because the venue has been built for that purpose.
“People experienced in speaking publicly are honored to speak at TEDx. Even better, TEDx Merlijn Twaalfhoven: Art is the new
speakers will put in extra effort as they realize the size of the audience outside the room.” journalism
“This is an event about people as much as it is about ideas,” says Monique. “And I think we
present a real cross-section too. Not just the ‘personalities,’ but we’ll happily put a Dutch
strawberry farmer next to a politician or a prizewinning scientist.”
According to Monique, this is what makes invitations for TEDxAmsterdam so highly sought-after.
Watching TEDtalks by yourself is great, but you can’t beat that electric vibe on the day itself.
“Honestly, that is what makes me run. Being part of last year’s event was pure bliss.”
When asked about what TEDxAmsterdam 2010 has in store, Monique has a clear vision: “I truly
hope people’s lives will change. I hope that TEDxAmsterdam inspires people to do what they
have always wanted to do.” The other big difference to last year is that there will be more focus
on sharing what happens inside before, during and after the event with a wider audience.
There will be some exciting surprises Monique could not share yet, but it might be wise to pack
your 3D glasses when you walk around Amsterdam this November. And finally, her personal
goals as a conference organiser? Monique would love to see Dutch speakers on the TED.com
top 3 list in a few years. How’s that for ambitious? Comes with the territory, I guess.
POSTED BY OLIVER DE LEEUW ON JUN 18, 2010
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World Cup News 4 months ago
Thank you for revealing, I came across this story whilst looking for infomation for my term
report, interesting comments and fantastic points produced.
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