Join us for an afternoon of dialogue, insight, and celebration as we host the Meet the Ambassador Event 2026 presented by Nuvanta Solutions.
Following the success of last year’s SOLD OUT edition, this year’s event returns by bringing together the Dutch-Australian business community for meaningful discussion and networking with Her Excellency Ardi Stoios-Braken, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Australia.
The Event Program
The afternoon begins with an exclusive invite-only Roundtable for our NCCA Royal Orange, Corporate and SME members. In this intimate session, the Ambassador will share her perspectives on the latest economic developments and emerging opportunities for Dutch-Australian business collaboration. This small-group setting offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the Ambassador and fellow Business Members in a focused and interactive environment. Guests will also have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange insights throughout the session.
After the Roundtable, we open the doors for our Networking Drinks, welcoming all members and guests for a relaxed and celebratory evening. It provides the perfect occasion to strengthen connections, meet new contacts, and celebrate with the Dutch-Australian business community.
Thank You to Our Naming Partner – Nuvanta Solutions
We are proud to have Nuvanta Solutions as our Naming Partner for Meet the Ambassador 2026. Their generous support plays an important role in bringing together leaders from business, government, and the Dutch-Australian community for an evening of meaningful connections and collaboration.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Rutger-Jan Bakelaar and the entire Nuvanta Solutions team for their partnership and commitment to this event. Their support helps strengthen the connections between the Netherlands and Australia and creates opportunities for our business communities to connect, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships.
Meet our Event Partners
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our Event Partners for their generous support of Meet the Ambassador 2026. Their involvement helps bring our community together and creates valuable opportunities for connection, collaboration, and strengthening business ties between the Netherlands and Australia.
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Nuvanta Solutions is an Australian advisory firm with a simple idea: governments are good at writing strategies, and Nuvanta makes them real. Working with state and federal departments, councils and regulated organisations, the firm takes a plan that is stuck on paper, builds something people can actually use, and then gets it funded and delivered. Its five practices span strategy, prototyping and procurement; economic research and market intelligence; climate and sustainability; leadership and culture; and international development across the Asia-Pacific, delivered by senior practitioners with the method and bench of a much larger firm. Nuvanta was founded in Melbourne in 2025 by RJ Bakelaar, who began his career in the Netherlands and has years advising government in Australia and around the globe. https://nuvantasolutions.com.au/about/
In 2026 Nuvanta Solutions was appointed to the Austrade Industry and Market Insights Services Panel (SON4235805), one of twelve firms appointed nationally. The appointment runs to May 2029 and covers market and industry insights that support Australia's trade and investment ambitions, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific. It anchors Nuvanta's economic research and market intelligence practice.
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House of Orange Design
Locally Made. Circular by Design.Melbourne furniture manufacturer and HK Living distributor, House of Orange Design has been designing and making furniture since 2006. Its pieces are built for durability, adaptability and reuse, designed to stay out of landfill. Furniture is made from sustainably timbers, finished with low-VOC, water-based paints. Configurations of the signature Frankie bunk bed are bought back when a configuration needs changing. Packaging waste is reduced through reusable furniture blankets, recycled paper alternatives and reused cardboard.
https://www.houseoforange.com.au/ -
Umbrella Club is an Australian IT contractor community that brings together experienced technology professionals and businesses seeking trusted expertise. Umbrella Club aims to make contracting more connected, collaborative and rewarding for both professionals and organisations. https://umbrellaclub.com.au/
Rather than operating as a traditional recruitment agency, it has built a peer-led network where members share opportunities, exchange knowledge, make referrals and support one another's professional growth.
For IT contractors, membership offers access to curated contract opportunities, mentoring, career support, specialist industry chapters and networking events. For businesses, Umbrella Club provides access to a carefully vetted network of experienced IT professionals across fields including data and analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software development, project management and digital transformation.
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New Orange is a digital technology and business transformation partner, helping ambitious organisations rethink how they operate, compete and grow in an AI-enabled world.
With around 90 colleagues across the Netherlands, Australia and Malaysia, we bring together business strategy, deep technical expertise and AI-enabled engineering to turn complex challenges into real opportunities.
We work closely with mid-sized organisations to identify where technology and AI can make a meaningful difference, rethink business processes and develop practical strategies for transformation. From AI strategy and business process redesign to e-commerce, digital platforms, system integrations and custom software, we help organisations turn ideas into working solutions.
Through our Agentic Engineering approach, we combine human expertise, judgement and shared knowledge with the capabilities of AI to deliver quality from the outset. As a long-term partner, we help our clients build the capabilities and technology they need to thrive in an AI-enabled world.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Time:
Roundtable walk-in: 3:30 PM
Roundtable: 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Networking Drinks: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Tickets & Registration
Roundtable
Exclusive to NCCA Royal Orange, Corporate, and SME Members. Roundtable seats are limited and available by invitation only (To be sent out by Business Manager). Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Corporate and Royal Orange: Included
SME members: $100 pp
Networking Reception
Open to members and non-members. Includes 1 complimentary drink, canapés, and access to an evening with the Ambassador and the Dutch–Australian business community.
Members, early bird: $45 (Closes 26th of October)
Members: $65 (Opens from 27th of October)
Non-members, early bird: $65 (Closes 26th of October)
Non-members: $85 (Opens from 27th of October)
