Passing the Pen - Rafael Rienks

Who am I?
My name is Rafael. I am a postgraduate student from Amstelveen currently pursuing a master’s degree in international relations in Hong Kong. In my free time, I love to cook, try out new foods, and travel, which makes Hong Kong an excellent place for me.

My professional/academic background is:
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2023. During my studies, I interned at the think tank Freedomlab. Here I worked on a project with the Dutch Interprovincial Digital Agenda (IDA) on how digitalization can help the Dutch provinces tackle their pressing economic, environmental and societal challenges. Furthermore, I researched global trends in trade and decoupling, particularly relating to the European Union and China in sectors such as technology, natural resources and critical manufacturing.

I moved to Hong Kong because:
I moved to Hong Kong to pursue a Master’s degree in International and Public Affairs at the University of Hong Kong. My passion for China and international affairs made Hong Kong the perfect place for me. The international character of Hong Kong and its unique position in Asia and the world is what attracted me to this city. I believe studying in Hong Kong has helped me to obtain a unique perspective on international affairs and bridge the divide between East and West.

I work for:
Currently, I am a full-time student pursuing my Master's degree. In addition to this, I am also studying Mandarin Chinese. After moving from Amsterdam to Hong Kong, I became a fellow at Freedomlab, occasionally working with them on issues and projects where my insights are of value.

My most remarkable work story is:
My most remarkable work story was giving a seminar on potential decoupling scenarios to a group of portfolio managers and investment strategists. This allowed me to share my knowledge of Chinese and global affairs, international relations and political economy with an audience of professionals with first-hand experience in investing in China. This opportunity gave me invaluable experience in bridging the gap between theory and practice. 

I find most of my business contacts through:
Most of my business contacts come from my peers and superiors in academia. Here in Hong Kong, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce has enabled me to quickly build a new network in an entirely new place.

One day I will be:
One day I will be representing my country internationally, building mutually beneficial international relationships and creating new opportunities. Through my work, I hope to create a bridge between different countries and people.