We are proud to present our board members
Jean-Pierre Boelen has over 30 years of experience as amongst others partner and member of the executive committee at Deloitte Netherlands, CEO of an executive search firm and non-executive at a family-owned business. He held responsibilities across the region (UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Malta and Middle East). Currently he focuses on leadership and team development, through his roles as executive search partner and executive coach. He is passionate about people, and has a strong belief that education, (mental) health, and financial stability are key for an individual’s happiness and prosperity. What everyone deserves.
Hélène van Melle has 25+ years of experience in the corporate and NGO sectors. She
worked in various consulting, HR and project management roles. Passionate about
supporting vulnerable communities to connect to employment, she currently holds the
position of deputy director Europe at the Tent Partnership for Refugees. Hélène was a board
member of Stichting Grote Kerk Naarden and Stichting De Appelzak.
worked in various consulting, HR and project management roles. Passionate about
supporting vulnerable communities to connect to employment, she currently holds the
position of deputy director Europe at the Tent Partnership for Refugees. Hélène was a board
member of Stichting Grote Kerk Naarden and Stichting De Appelzak.
Bas van Rhijn has worked for 35 years in various roles in the financial industry, as a banker and investor, both in the Netherlands and abroad. He currently serves a few advisory roles for family offices and asset managers and is the treasurer of the F.G. Waller fund, Boardmember of the Friends of CODART Foundation and Supervisory Boardmember of de Jonge Strijkers Foundation.
Yana, originally from Ukraine, born into a family of international doctors, holds 2 Masters degrees in Economics and International Business and Teaching foreign Languages (English and German). She has more than 15 years of pan-European banking experience, having led international wholesale and retail banking teams in ING Ukraine, Germany. Belgium and the Netherlands. Yana’s expertise covers investment banking, strategy and business development & EU banking regulations. She is passionate about the positive impact of innovation & technology when combined with business ethics and human empathy. Fluent in English, German, Ukrainian, on track of mastering Dutch and ambition to learn French.
Michiel started his career at the Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. He subsequently worked with
various financial services companies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He
currently runs the private markets business for Providence Capital NV. Michiel is also a
board member of the F.G. Waller Foundation and Stichting De Wiersse and has been on the
boards of various other foundations throughout his career. He holds a master’s degree in law
from the University of Utrecht.
various financial services companies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He
currently runs the private markets business for Providence Capital NV. Michiel is also a
board member of the F.G. Waller Foundation and Stichting De Wiersse and has been on the
boards of various other foundations throughout his career. He holds a master’s degree in law
from the University of Utrecht.
Though retired as a clinical neurologist, Henry Chanoch Weinstein remains affiliated with OLVG and the Alzheimer Centre of Amsterdam UMC. He currently works as a consultant neurologist for different organizations. In addition to his work as a general neurologist, he developed a special interest in the boundaries between neurology and psychiatry and was for many years involved in the training of medical specialists, both regionally and nationally. Through his work in various medical centres in and around Amsterdam, which was supported by scientific literature, he became lastingly aware of the importance of social factors for the well-being and functioning of individuals. As a result, Henry has a long-term involvement with various social organizations. He enjoys channelling his passion and expertise into supporting United Way.
Meet our staff and volunteers
As soon as the war with Russia began, Olena moved with her family to Amsterdam. Currently she is project manager at UWRA (the Ukrainian Women Refugees Association in the Netherlands). She organizes various classes, sports, meetings and psychological support groups for Ukrainians in Amsterdam. Before she left Ukraine, Olena worked for 17 years at as key account manager and director at Fischer Ukraine Ltd (skis, hockey sticks). She subsequently worked for one year as executive director at a private school in Kyiv.
Myles has been with United Way the Netherlands since 2019, only six months after conception. In his current capacity, he is responsible for all operations, and functions as a deputy to the Executive Director. Myles is also part of the Next-Generation leaders initiative from United Way Worldwide.
Polina lived in Kyiv at the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. In April 2020 she moved to Amsterdam and became part of the UWRA community. She has a master's degree in psychology and social pedagogy as well as solid working experience in IT and marketing. Linking IT and psychology provided her with adaptability skills, and 10+ years of marketing experience taught her to be innovative, build effective communications and set up long-term partnerships. Polina’s solid analytical skills and understanding of the psychology of human behaviour enable her to find creative approaches to solving problems. She enjoys working in a multicultural team and contributing to society. Polina currently manages Healing the Mind, the UW-NL mental health project for Ukrainians. She is responsible for the project’s implementation and scalability.
After studying law at Utrecht University, Floris started his career in various management positions at KPN and Ahold. After ten years experience in the corporate world, he made a career switch and became director of Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. He subsequently became alderman for cultural and economic affairs for the city of Utrecht and director of Utrecht Science Park. In 2020 he moved from Utrecht to Friesland province, where he grew up. There he worked for LF2028, the foundation that organized Leeuwarden Cultural Capital of Europe. Today he is active as an independent professional for cultural and scientific organizations and as a volunteer. Floris temporarily assists United Way the Netherlands with the expansion of its support of Ukrainian refugees to areas outside Amsterdam.
Yulia Panova is a psychologist with more than 15 years’ experience of providing individual and group counselling, teaching and mentoring of children, adolescents and adults. Throughout this period, she has taken part in projects for these target groups such as organizing camps and retreats, lecturing and team-building, mentoring, training mentors, etc. Yulia enjoys working with children and seeing them overcome their difficulties. Her goal is to team up with parents and teach them to motivate and communicate with their children and enjoy their parenthood. Yulia has lived in the Netherlands since March 2022, when she left Kyiv because of the war.
Terri is a multilingual writer, editor and communication consultant based in Amsterdam and France. While thinking of herself as a generalist, she likes to focus on cultural, humanitarian and travel-related subjects. Working for such clients as KLM, World Press Photo and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deepened Terri’s international orientation. She developed formulas for a wide range of magazines and newsletters, for publication in print and online.
Maryna is a psychologist and psychotherapist in the psychoanalytical and trauma-focussed fields of psychotherapy. Before the war, she worked in Ukraine in a charitable foundation and private practice. In the Netherlands, Maryna is continuing her counselling of both children and adults. She works with adaptation issues, psychosomatic problems, apathy, anxiety and panic attacks.
Olexandra is a child psychologist for mothers specialized in family psychology. She is also a certified art therapist and fairy tale teacher. During more than 11 years of experience she has become a media expert and coach at international festivals and online conferences. Clients from 20 countries have chosen her as their guide to family happiness.
Olena was born in Kyiv and lived there until the invasion of Ukraine. She has a higher education degree in psychology and graduated as a Gestalt therapist. She specialized in trauma, PTSD and child-parent relations and has worked with teenagers and lead groups. Since her arrival in the Netherlands, Olena’s work as a psychotherapist has consisted of the counselling of Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes.
