Sybren was elected to the ISA Board in 2019.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, but with a worldwide interest. I have been stuttering since I started to speak. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Stuttering Community (and the General public!) as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Stuttering Association (ISA) on behalf of the Dutch Stuttering Association ‘Demosthenes’. I have been an active member of ‘Demosthenes’ since 2001 in different positions: Vice-president, editor of the national magazine for people who stutter, initiator of a working group for young people who stutter, member of a regional self-help group, and currently I organize different workshops and weekends.
I have attended several ELSA-youth meetings, and was present at several world conferences (Croatia (2007), Argentina (2011), The Netherlands (2013), Iceland (2019). Since 2015 I organize European Youth Exchanges for Young People who stutter. supported by a grant from Erasmus+. I am currently also involved in a European project on creating a manuals related to (dealing with) stuttering for teachers, trainers and others who work with young people (the same project as Sigríður is involved in).
I have a background in Public Administration and Ethics and have worked in Social Research for more then 10 years. In 2016 I graduated as Outdoor Life Coach and have my own organisation Orange Raven. I work as a nature and online coach and stutter whisperer and give workshops on topics related to (building up) self-esteem, social contacts and non-judgmental listening.