Meet the team
Meet the small but mighty troupe behind Make it in the North, with 7 people and 5 nationalities (6 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!
Qing Gong
Account manager
Hello! I'm Qing, the account manager at Make it in the North. Originally from China, I came to Groningen in 2008 for my Master’s degree and it has held a special place in my heart ever since. As an international myself, I feel lucky to have witnessed the region’s growth over the years. My goal is to connect companies with international talent and help the North thrive. Shall we grab a coffee and get acquainted soon?
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.
Lucia Hrnciarova
Communication officer
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
Media & event coordinator
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.
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!
