FORWARD Academy 2025

FORWARD organiseert voor de vierde keer de FORWARD Academy: een reeks interactieve seminars met praktische insteek, gericht op het bevorderen van LHBTQIA+ inclusie binnen de juridische werkomgeving.

De seminars vinden plaats op 18 september, 25 september en 2 oktober, van 12.00 tot 13.00 uur.

De eerste seminar op 18 september gaat over "How your personal leadership can shape a culture of inclusion" en wordt gegeven door Rein Sevenstern:

Diversity doesn’t just happen through policies or business practices; it starts with us. With the way we show up, the choices we make, and how we interact with others every single day. Each of us carries a personal leadership responsibility to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and heard.

In this one-hour online lunch session, Rein invites you to reflect on your own role in fostering inclusion and diversity. Drawing on his experience advising organisations, he highlights a powerful truth:

“Diversity is not a goal, it is an outcome; it is the result of inclusive actions, behaviours, attitudes, and leadership styles. Through personal leadership, diversity can flourish by creating an inclusive environment. Everyone has their own role to play, their own form of leadership. This means that to truly enhance diversity, each of us must embody our own version of inclusive leadership within the organisation.”

During this session, you will explore:

• Why diversity is the outcome of inclusive leadership.
• How your own behaviour and mindset can open space for others.
• Practical ways to bring more inclusion into your daily work.
• The ripple effect of small, conscious actions.

Bring your curiosity, your lunch, and your openness. Walk away inspired, with clear ideas on how you can personally contribute to a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

De tweede seminar op 25 september gaat over “Coming-out in de topsport” en wordt gegeven door Pepijn Keppel:

Pepijn Keppel is schrijver, onderzoeksjournalist en columnist voor de VPRO, Trouw en De Groene Amsterdammer. Hij debuteerde in 2022 met De laatste man, een boek over zijn coming-out in het tophockey.

Pepijn hockeyde jarenlang in alle Oranje-jeugdselecties en bij hockeyclub Bloemendaal, maar durfde daar niet uit de kast te komen. Hij vertelt over die periode en gaat in gesprek over hoe je een werksfeer creëert waarin iedereen zichzelf durft te zijn.

De derde seminar op 2 oktober gaat over “De kracht van diversiteit” en wordt gegeven door Nicole Römer:

Nicole is Partnership Manager bij NewBees INC., waar zij zich inzet voor het opbouwen van langdurige partnerships die bijdragen aan blijvende impact op het gebied van diversiteit, gelijkwaardigheid en inclusie. Met een achtergrond als jurist, schrijver, spreker en D&I-consultant, heeft Nicole jarenlang als freelancer organisaties en mensen geholpen om betekenisvolle verandering te realiseren. Haar cliënten waren onder andere SoHo House Amsterdam, Oxfam Novib en Gemeente Amsterdam.

Tijdens deze interactieve, energieke en inspirerende seminar worden deelnemers uitgenodigd om open, nieuwsgierig en betrokken te zijn, en bewust te reflecteren op hun eigen aannames.

Wat we gaan doen:

• We verkennen zichtbare en onzichtbare aannames, met voorbeelden uit NewBeesINC. casussen en de juridische sector.
• Deelnemers leren bewust hun eigen aannames herkennen en ontdekken concreteacties om inclusie te bevorderen.
• We besteden specifieke aandacht aan LHBTQIA+ identiteit, de aannames die ledenvan de gemeenschap ervaren van collega's en de impact hiervan op de werkvloer.
• We maken de stap naar actief omstanderschap en bondgenootschap ('allyship').
• We bieden praktische handvatten om vooroordelen te herkennen, microagressiestegen te gaan en collega's te ondersteunen.

De sessie combineert reflectie en actie, zodat deelnemers na afloop handvatten hebben om inclusie en gelijkwaardigheid actief vorm te geven in hun dagelijkse werk.

Elke seminar van de FORWARD Academy is online te volgen. De link om online deel te nemen wordt kort voorafgaand aan de seminar gedeeld.

Je kan zelf bepalen of je aan alle, of slechts bepaalde seminars wil deelnemen. Je meldt je voor elke seminar apart aan.

Deelname aan de FORWARD Academy is gratis, en toegankelijk voor iedereen die werkt in een juridische werkomgeving, ongeachte rol of functie.

FORWARD is organising the FORWARD Academy: a series of interactive seminars with practical approach, aimed at improving LGBTQIA+ inclusion within the legal working environment.

The seminars will take place on 18 September, 25 September en 2 October, from 12.00 until 13.00 CET.

The first seminar on 18 September will be about "How your personal leadership can shape a culture of inclusion" and will be given by Rein Sevenstern:

Diversity doesn’t just happen through policies or business practices; it starts with us. With the way we show up, the choices we make, and how we interact with others every single day. Each of us carries a personal leadership responsibility to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and heard.

In this one-hour online lunch session, Rein invites you to reflect on your own role in fostering inclusion and diversity. Drawing on his experience advising organisations, he highlights a powerful truth:

“Diversity is not a goal, it is an outcome; it is the result of inclusive actions, behaviours, attitudes, and leadership styles. Through personal leadership, diversity can flourish by creating an inclusive environment. Everyone has their own role to play, their own form of leadership. This means that to truly enhance diversity, each of us must embody our own version of inclusive leadership within the organisation.”

During this session, you will explore:

• Why diversity is the outcome of inclusive leadership.
• How your own behaviour and mindset can open space for others.
• Practical ways to bring more inclusion into your daily work.
• The ripple effect of small, conscious actions.

Bring your curiosity, your lunch, and your openness. Walk away inspired, with clear ideas on how you can personally contribute to a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

The second seminar on 25 September will be about “Coming-out in professional sports” and will be given by Pepijn Keppel:

Pepijn Keppel is a writer, research journalist and columnist for the VPRO, Trouw and De Groene Amsterdammer. He debuted his boek De laatste man, a book about coming-out in professional field hockey.

Pepijn played field hockey for years in all Dutch national youth selections, but was afraid to come out of the closet. He will share his experience during that time and discuss how to create a working environment in which everyone dares to be themselves.

The third seminar oo 2 October will be about “The power of diversity” and will be given by Nicole Römer:

Nicole is Partnership Manager at NewBees INC., where she is engaged in building longterm partnerships that contribute to lasting impact in the field of diversity, equality and inclusion. With a background as a legal professional, writer, speaker and D&I-consultant, Nicole has over the years helped organisations and people to realise meaningful change. Her clients include SoHo House Amsterdam, Oxfam Novib and the municipality of Amsterdam.

During this interactive, energetic and inspiring seminar participants are invited to be open, curious and involved, and to consciously reflect on their own biases.

What we will be doing:

• We explore visible and invisible biases, with examples from NewBees INC. cases and the legal profession.
• Participants will learn to consciously recognise their own biases en discover concrete actions to improve inclusion.
• We will pay specific attention to LGBTQIA+ identity, and biases that members of the community experience from colleagues and the impact they have on the working environment.
• We take a step towards active bystandership and allyship.
• We offer practical tools to recognise biases, and combat micro-agressions and support colleagues.

This session combines reflection with action, so that afterwards participants will have the tools to actively shape inclusion and equality in their daily work.

Every seminar of the FORWARD Academy can be followed online. The link for participating will be shared shortly before the seminar.

You can choose to follow all or only selected seminars. Please sign up for each seminar separately.

Participating in the FORWARD Academy is free, and accessible for everyone working in a legal working environment, regardless of role or function.