Teun Toebes
Humanitarian activist, Nurse
Teun Toebes (25) is an international healthcare innovator and humanitarian activist. His mission is to improve the quality of life of people with dementia worldwide. Before that, he lived for three and a half years in the closed ward of a nursing home to experience up close how we treat people with dementia and how we can change it for the better. Because dementia does not belong to healthcare, but to our society, the internationally award-winning film Human Forever takes his mission to the next chapter. He has many followers on social media and has been featured in international media. He speaks at international conferences and previously published the #1 global bestseller The Housemates, Een Wereld te Winnen and Human Forever together with Jonathan de Jong.
'Only if we start looking at people with dementia differently will the future be able to change, only then can the inky black stigma give way to hope. Because only if we continue to see the human being will he never disappear.'
Follow Teun on social media: @teuntoebes
Evelyn Finnema
Prof. dr. Evelyn Finnema is a full professor in Nursing Science and Education at the University Medical Center Groningen/ University of Groningen, the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and the NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences.
She is a nurse, non-practicing, and health scientist. She obtained her PhD in 2000 on research into the effect of person-centred care on the quality of life of nursing home residents with dementia and job satisfaction of the care professionals. The research results contribute to the quality of life of frail persons and to improvement and support of professional action in this context. Her research themes are frailty, person-centred care, and the professional development of nurses.
In addition, she is the Governmental Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. In this role, she advises the ministers and represents the Netherlands in the field of nursing in Europe.
Esther Feijen-de Jong
Associate professor of obstetrics/ midwifery, Programme leader obstetric science North Netherlands, Accessible sustainable obstetric care
Esther Feijen-de Jong is a highly trained nurse and midwife, currently serving as an assistant professor of midwifery at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), within the Department of Primary Medicine and Long-term Care. She is actively involved in teaching both bachelor’s and master’s programs in midwifery. Her research program is dedicated to enhancing care that meets the needs of pregnant women while also supporting the sustainable employability of midwives. This dual focus aims to improve both access to care and the overall quality of midwifery services. Her work is situated at the intersection of practice, education, and research, with the goal of making research findings applicable to real-world settings and translating practical issues into research questions.
During the upcoming conference, Esther will provide insights into the world of midwifery in the Netherlands. She will explore its history, discuss current challenges, and share future perspectives for the profession.
