Meet our team - Anniek Bakker
Can you tell us a bit about your background and why you wanted to join 2Impact?
I have a background in business administration with a focus on risk and control. After years of working as a freelancer, I realised I wanted to collaborate with a team to develop sustainable solutions. There’s so much happening in this field, and working alone started to feel limiting—I believe we can create more impact together. Together, we can achieve more for our clients and drive sustainable change.
Have you always been involved in sustainability?
Not necessarily. I started in risk management within the financial sector. Interestingly, I see many similarities between the development of risk management over the past 15 years and the current evolution of sustainability. I now use that experience in my work. Additionally, I’ve worked as a consultant in various sectors, and that variety helps me tremendously in understanding client needs and crafting sustainable solutions that truly fit.
What has been your biggest learning moment in sustainability?
What strikes me repeatedly is that we only take action when it becomes truly necessary. Legislation plays a crucial role in this. As complex and tedious as regulations can be, they force organizations to think critically. And those who genuinely engage in this process soon discover that it provides clarity, leading to targeted actions that contribute to building a future-proof organisation.
What do you see as the biggest challenge for companies?
The biggest challenge, I think, is to truly make sustainability a core part of the organisation. The range of topics is so broad and complex that many organisations risk becoming overwhelmed. It’s valuable to identify what’s genuinely relevant, break it down, and then integrate it thoroughly into the organisation from start to finish. Sustainability shouldn’t be a separate element but rather a natural perspective in decision-making.
How do you personally approach sustainability in your daily life?
I try to avoid using the car as much as possible, I enjoy the challenge of finding everything second-hand, and I’m always exploring ideas for a more sustainable (and ideally slower) lifestyle. At home, I’m working on making our diet more sustainable, though that’s quite a challenge with three men in the house, including two hungry teenagers.
What can clients call you about tomorrow?
Clients can reach out to me to brainstorm how to truly embed sustainability into their business operations, align it with their organization’s ambitions, and simultaneously meet all obligations. One of the topics I’ve been working on a lot is the EU Taxonomy. Many companies will need to report on this next year but are still unfamiliar with the details. The EU Taxonomy is quite information-intensive. I can help them identify what’s relevant for them and perform the necessary analysis.
How are you finding your experience at 2Impact so far?
Very positive! At 2Impact, colleagues have a lot of technical expertise and a strong drive to co-create practical solutions with clients. Moreover, there’s an in-depth understanding of the subject matter, which is essential in this field. On top of that, everyone enjoys working together and learning from each other’s perspectives, which makes it all the more rewarding.
Finally, you’re now working with a Rotterdam-based company. How’s that going?
I love being back in Rotterdam! I studied here, so it’s great to return after years away. The city has a refreshing no-nonsense approach that suits me and aligns perfectly with how we work at 2Impact.
