In 1990 Jacqueline left the security of fulltime employment to enable her husband to start
his expat career. The family experienced two postings, the first for Nedlloyd in
Singapore, the second for Heineken in the Caribbean.
After returning to the Netherlands in 1999, Jacqueline was asked to chair the Heineken
Partner Network (HPN). Run by volunteers and sponsored by Heineken, HPN provides a
platform for information exchange between expat spouses. In 2003, HPN initiated the
shared partner network Global Connection, allowing multinationals worldwide to join and
make the network available to spouses of their expat employees. Jacqueline, who is the
proud mother of two teenage boys, loves to work (work being her favourite hobby), and she
also enjoys gardening and going to the gym in her few spare moments.
About GC
Why Partner Support?
There is no denying the fact that the well-being and mobility of expat partners contributes a great deal to the success of an employee’s posting abroad. A partner who feels valued and supported whilst living oversees will, in turn, be able to offer more support to the expat’s career.
Therefore employers should give due attention, not only to their employees, but also their employees’ partners. Luckily, as international mobility becomes more commonplace, more and more employers are realising this and are putting more emphasis on partners’ needs than ever before.
However, it is not always easy to figure out the best way to support expat partners. It’s sometimes difficult to define their needs, their worries, and how best to address these issues. Research has shown that the support of other people who are in a similar situation is vital.
Global Connection aims to provide the information and tools for support that many people rely on whilst they are abroad. This support can ultimately lead to the success of their expatriation.
About Global Connection
Global Connection originated from the voluntary Heineken Partner Network (HPN). The HPN was initiated in 1993 by ex- expatriate partners from Heineken, who realised that the experience they gained living abroad, was worth sharing with their successors. Jacqueline van Haaften, Managing Director of Global Connection, chaired the HPN for five years.
The information shared amongst expats is not company related. Therefore, in 2003, Global Connection was founded, allowing other multinationals to give their expat partners access to information and contacts invaluable for their adventure abroad.
Today, Global Connection has over 7000 members, representing more than 80 nationalities, living in 120 different countries around the world.
Global Connection offers:- a quarterly magazine published in 10 (language, company) editions
- specials on expat topics (e.g. ‘On the move’ and ‘Expat kids’)
- e-newsletters
- Cycles of Change workshops
- charity projects
- a private interactive website with
- country information
- expat related news
- work and study related information
- columns
- magazine online
- general expat reading tips
- network facilities
The Global Connection Team
Jean was originally born in South Korea. She grew up in the Netherlands as a Dutch native with Asian
genes. She spent 6 months living in London as a management trainee. For several years she travelled
extensively around the world as an incentive organiser. In recent jobs she has built up experience in
sales and account management for a large international company.
She joined Global Connection in December 2007 and became responsible for client relations and
expanding the client network. Jean enjoys family life with her husband and two young daughters and
loves to spend her spare moments meeting with friends, eating out or going on an occasional city breaks.
In her early twenties Geke lived in Haiti and the Caribbean for three years as an expat
partner, and experienced all the phases of a culture shock. After returning to the
Netherlands, she had several account management and sales jobs with international companies.
Geke has been working as an international account manager at Global Connection, since the
beginning of 2007. She is responsible for the client contacts and enthusing new companies
to join the Global Connection network. Geke is fluent in Dutch, English, German and French.
As a wife and mother of two young daughters, she also enjoys spending time with family and
friends. In her spare moments she loves to run.
Helen Gamble has been working as a final editor for Global Connection since 2005. A
British national, she grew up as an expat child in the Netherlands. She spent many years
studying and working in the UK and is now back on Dutch soil working as an editor, writer
and translator.
Bert van Dommelen has been a journalist for more than 30 years. He worked for various
Dutch newspapers. In 2002 he moved to Ireland, where he works as a journalist (he also was a
chef and joined a signage company). For Global Connection Magazine, he edits the Dutch
articles. Bert is not a real expat, because expats leave their home, planning to come back one
day. Since Bert came to Ireland, he feels like he has finally come home. Bert is a keen
guitarist and plays traditional Irish music with the Slievenamon Hillbillies. Named after the
mountain in Co. Tipperary where he lives.