Jacqueline Baud reflecting on Community, Growth and her Dutch Chamber Journey

Could you please introduce yourself and share about your journey and time with the Dutch Chamber?

My connection with Hong Kong goes back quite a long way. I first lived here before I was married, when I was working for Deutsche Bank. When my husband was later offered the opportunity to relocate again and we could choose between Hong Kong and Singapore, we did not hesitate for a second — Hong Kong felt like coming home.

As often happens in Hong Kong, opportunities come through personal connections. Through my network, I was approached for the role of General Manager of the Dutch Chamber. I joined in March 2010. It was an exciting time because we were essentially a completely new team. Our Marketing Manager, Faith Fung, had started only two months earlier, and Helen Yong joined as Office Manager a few months later.

The years that followed were incredibly rewarding. We worked closely with members, the Consulate, sponsors and many volunteers to strengthen the Chamber and create a platform where Dutch and international businesses could connect, learn and support one another. It was a period of growth, entrepreneurship and optimism in Hong Kong, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of it.

What do you think made the Chamber relevant to both long-standing members and newer businesses in Hong Kong?

I believe the Chamber's strength has always been its ability to bring people together, regardless of whether they had been in Hong Kong for twenty years or had just arrived.

During my time, we saw a growing number of entrepreneurs and smaller businesses joining alongside the more established corporate members. Hong Kong had recovered remarkably quickly from the financial crisis of 2008 and continued to attract ambitious people looking to build businesses and explore opportunities in both Hong Kong and Mainland China.

For newer businesses, the Chamber offered immediate access to a trusted network, practical advice and valuable connections. For long-standing members, it remained a platform to stay engaged with the Dutch business community, exchange ideas and contribute their experience.

What made the Chamber particularly valuable was that it was much more than a networking organisation. Members actively shaped the Chamber through committees, events and initiatives. That sense of ownership and involvement kept the Chamber relevant, dynamic and welcoming for both new and established members.

Which legacy (tradition) from your time as GM would you most hope continues under future leadership?

If I had to choose one legacy, it would be the creation of member-driven platforms that brought together professionals with shared interests and expertise.

Rather than focusing solely on networking events, we developed communities where members could exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas throughout the year. We started with the Finance Platform, which included monthly lunches with guest speakers and an annual Finance Gala Dinner featuring distinguished speakers and, of course, a much-loved pub quiz.

Building on that success, we launched several other platforms, including Women in Business, Creatives, Food & Agri and Young Professionals. Each of these groups developed its own identity and programme while remaining connected to the wider Chamber community.

Another initiative I am particularly proud of was the introduction of the New Members Lunch. Every one or two months, new members were invited to join a lunch hosted together with the Dutch Consul. In a relatively small setting, participants discussed a current business topic while getting to know one another. These lunches often led to valuable professional connections and collaborations and proved that some of the best networking happens around a small table rather than in a large ballroom.

I hope the Chamber continues to create these kinds of platforms where people not only meet, but genuinely learn from and support one another.

How do you think the Dutch Chamber has evolved over the years in terms of its role in the business community?

The Chamber operates in a different environment today than it did during my time as General Manager. Hong Kong has gone through significant changes over the past decade, both economically and socially. The relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China has evolved, and many international companies and professionals have reassessed their presence in the region, with some relocating parts of their operations to places such as Singapore.

At the same time, I believe Hong Kong's fundamental strengths remain. The city has always had an incredibly entrepreneurial spirit, a strong international outlook and a business community that is remarkably resilient and adaptable. The business-mindedness of both the local Hong Kong community and the international community has always been one of the city's greatest assets.

In this changing environment, the role of the Chamber may have become even more important: bringing people together, facilitating dialogue, helping members navigate change and maintaining strong international business connections.

What makes the Dutch Chamber unique is that it is not just driven by its board or its staff. Its success has always depended on the active involvement of its members. So many initiatives, events, committees and platforms have been created and sustained by volunteers who generously contribute their time, expertise and networks. Combined with a dedicated Chamber team, this creates a very special organisation that is truly built by and for its members.

What did being General Manager of the Dutch Chamber mean to you personally? What part of the role gave you the most satisfaction, and what part challenged you the most?

Being General Manager was one of the most rewarding roles of my career.

The greatest satisfaction came from bringing people together and seeing ideas develop into successful initiatives. Whether it was helping a new entrepreneur build connections, organising a major event or launching a new platform, it was incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact on members and the wider community.

One thing I came to appreciate very quickly was how much people were willing to contribute. Time and again, members stepped forward to organise events, share expertise, introduce contacts or help launch new initiatives. As General Manager, I often felt more like a facilitator than an organiser. My role was to connect people and create opportunities, but the real strength of the Chamber came from the willingness of members and colleagues to invest in the community.

I also loved the variety of the role. One day I could be discussing strategy with corporate leaders, and the next I could be working with volunteers, organising an event or welcoming new members. No two days were ever the same.

The biggest challenge was balancing the interests and expectations of a very diverse membership. The Chamber served multinational corporations, SMEs, entrepreneurs, young professionals and many others. Ensuring that everyone felt represented and received value from their membership required constant attention, creativity and adaptability.

Looking back on your time here, what moments or milestones stand out most vividly to you?

Several moments immediately come to mind.

In addition to the sector- and theme driven platforms I mentioned earlier and the new members lunch, I think of the successful return of the Dutch Chamber Business Awards Gala. The event had not been held for many years and bringing it back as a sold-out evening celebrating leadership and entrepreneurship was incredibly rewarding.

Another standout project was the pop-up store we organised together with the Swedish, French and German Chambers during Business of Design Week. Bringing together around twenty-five businesses in a month-long showcase was ambitious, innovative and great fun.

I also have very fond memories of launching the annual DutchCham Golf Tournament, which was made possible with the support of ABN AMRO. The day combined business networking with a uniquely Hong Kong experience, ending with cocktails and prize-giving aboard a traditional junk sailing back towards Central.

But above all, what I remember most are the people. I had the privilege of working with an extraordinary group of colleagues, board members, volunteers, Consulate staff, sponsors and members. The friendships, collaborations and shared experiences are what remain most vivid and meaningful to me today.

This interview was published in August 2026