BIOGRAPHY
Paulette van Ommen-Kian is a versatile impact leader, advisor, board member and creative. She is passionate about inspiring greater connection: between humans and in relation to greater challenges in society and the natural world we are part of. Combining board experience with an entrepreneurial attitude, strong networking skills, she has a proven ability to get meaningful initiatives done. Often, in creative and innovative ways.
She builds on 15+ years of business experience through leading roles at companies such as EY (2010-2014) and Royal DSM (2015-2019). After this, she independently worked with organizations, initiatives and brands that spark and drive positive, environmentally sustainable actions among people (whether they are co-workers, citizens or consumers). From 2020 to mid-2025 she was Director Health & Sustainability (Europe & Indonesia) at Ahold Delhaize, a global food retailer.
Paulette enjoys serving as a trustee on the board of Count Us In: a global, London-based non-profit organization harnessing the power of popular culture - from film and music to sports - to engage millions of people in climate action. Previously, Paulette served on the Supervisory Board of Social Enterprise NL and is an alumna of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers.
Recently, Paulette was included in the leadership network co-founded by Paul Polman and Valerie Keller: IMAGINE. Her leadership was also recognized by various initiatives, such as: MT/Sprout Next Leadership (2022), Harper’s Bazaar Women of The Year nominees (2021), and Trouw Duurzame 100 / Sustainable Top 100 (2016, 2017 & 2018).
Having studied in the United States, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and various Latin American countries, Paulette holds a MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also has a BA Honors in Social Sciences from University College Utrecht, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Paulette lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with her husband and children.
CURRICULUM VITAE
WORK
Q2 2025 - present: Board of Trustees, Count Us In
Late 2020 - mid-2025: Director Health & Sustainability (Europe & Indonesia), Ahold Delhaize
Q3, 2024 - present: Board of Advisors, University of Amsterdam Business School Impact Center
2019 - Q3, 2020: independent advisor
2015-2020: Supervisory Board, Social Enterprise NL
2015-2019: Global Climate Lead, Royal DSM
2010-2014: Corporate Responsibility Leader, Senior Advisor to Jan Peter Balkenende and Working Group Leader of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition, EY
2006, 2008, 2009: various research roles in The Netherlands, Costa Rica and the UK at the Business in Development Network (BiD Network), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
ACADEMIC DEGREES & SCHOLARSHIPS
MSc Development Management at the London School of Economics (LSE) in London (UK), 2008-2009 - funded fully by the Christiaan Huygens Talent program scholarship of the Dutch government
BA Hons, Social Sciences, Magna Cum Laude, at University College Utrecht (The Netherlands), 2005-2007 with a focus on international development studies and politics, including an exchange semester at the University of Exeter (UK) - funded by the Erasmus Grant
Fulbright Campus Scholarship program, Elizabethtown College, PA (USA), 2004-2005 - funded by the Fulbright Commission, The Netherlands
LIFELONG LEARNING
2026: Climate Play: Trained facilitator in the LEGO® Serious Play® for Sustainability method
2025: Oxford University: Cohort VI of IMAGINE leadership program
2023: Cornell University: Ahold Delhaize Retail Academy
2023: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: Ahold Delhaize “Grounded in Goodness” program for SVP+ executives
2022: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: Sustainable Marketing, Media & Creative
2020: Academy of Change: program on Environment & Behavior Change
2020: Duke University (USA): Environmental Communication For Behavior Change (social marketing)
2020: Climate KIC: Engaging People on Climate Change
2019: Climate Reality Leadership (USA): Training, Atlanta
2011: Harvard Business School (USA): Corporate Responsibility Strategies to Create Business and Social Value
2007: Better Future “Future Leaders” (Ecuador): Summer program on social entrepreneurship