Ireland Netherlands Business Association Autumn Dinner (21 November, 2019)

The INBA Autumn Dinner took place at the NH Barbizon Palace Hotel in Amsterdam on 21 November, 2019.   See our photos from the evening  here.

Alongside a review of the year to date from INBA Patron Ambassador Kelly, and a sketch of various scenarios in the months to come (and their possible effects on business planning) from INBA Chairman Gordon Campbell, we had a thought-provoking and entertaining look at the world from Han de Jong (Chief Economist of ABN AMRO Bank N.V.).

Himself a long time INBA supporter and member, Han de Jong declared himself an optimist before sharing his insights into ongoing global political and economic developments, with special attention given to the US-China trade war and Brexit.  

Prior to taking up his position as Chief Economist with ABN Amro N.V.  in 2005, he headed the Investment Strategy team at ABN AMRO Asset Management for five years. Before that, Han held various positions inside and outside ABN AMRO, such as leading the bank’s fixed-income research unit. Between 1992 and 1997, he worked in Dublin, Ireland, for a local brokerage firm as its Chief Economist. After graduating, Han initially worked as a lecturer at a third-level college in the Netherlands. From 2003 to 2012 Han was columnist with Het Financieele Dagblad, the leading Dutch financial newspaper. From 2008 to 2018 he also served on the investment committee of several Dutch pension funds. In addition, he teaches macroeconomics at a post-graduate investment-management course at the Free University in Amsterdam and teaches several courses at the Executive Programme at Nyenrode University.