After the first speakers clearly established the need to strengthen economic bilateral ties between the UK and the Netherlands, the second part of the evening honoured the top leaders and best practices within the British and Dutch business communities.
This year, instead of handing out physical awards, the NBCC decided to make a donation to the Koning Willem Fonds (KWF). Since 1874 the Koning Willem Fonds has provided a lifeline for Dutch nationals in the United Kingdom who face challenges such as homelessness, illness, financial hardship, or unforeseen life events, ensuring no Dutch person in the UK stands alone. For more information on KWF, please read here: https://bit.ly/4iUA9VA
Recognising these achievements is essential to inspire future growth. A big thank you to our dedicated jury members for their hard work in selecting the winners.
NBCC Woman of the Year Award 2025, sponsored by Diageo and Bam
Winner: Virginia Yanquilevich, CEO of Dopper
The jury said: "Our winner is mentoring other emerging female CEOs and is helping scale home grown businesses on an international level. She has played a key role in making sustainable solutions fashionable and cool. Her products are now featured as must have accessories in Vogue.
Virginia's leadership in sustainability is both inspiring and authentic. She brings a unique, down-to-earth approach, grounded in her deep commitment to making the world a better place. She shows strong commitment to inclusivity and gender equality.
She is a powerful force for change in the water industry, leading a global movement for sustainability and advocating for policy shifts to ban single-use plastics. Her leadership demonstrates how a fast-growing business can challenge the status quo and create far-reaching impact.
Virginia's impact reaches across various sectors, from business to policy. She’s not just shaping how companies operate but also influencing government policy to further the cause of sustainability.
As the CEO of Dopper, Virginia has taken the company to new heights, making it a global leader in sustainability. She leads with an intrinsic passion to create a better world with a leadership style grounded in integrity and purpose, which inspires many others in her wake."
The NBCC Woman of the Year Award 2025 was presented by Her Excellency Joanna Roper CMG, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Netherlands.
NBCC Tech AI Award 2025, sponsored by META, BSI and DLA Piper
Winner: Redline Discovery
They have won this award because judges felt “Redline Discovery is rooted in both the UK and Netherlands, Redline Discovery’s AI innovation is a shining example of bilateral tech collaboration with global ethical impact.” "Redline Discovery is proving that ethical AI can be powerful — setting a new standard for justice-driven technology that serves people, not just systems."
The NBCC Tech AI Award 2025 was presented by Frans Everts, President of Shell, the winner of last years award and Ilke Toptas, Regional Director Northern Europe at Meta.
NBCC Sustainability Award 2025, sponsored by Signify, Philips and Clifford Chance
Winner: Arcadis
The judges said while the idea of valuing natural capital is not new, Arcadis has refined its approach, made it more accessible and actionable, and aligned it with current global and regulatory trends in sustainability and finance. This integration with business decision-making and financial reporting makes it an important innovation in how companies and governments approach nature-related risks and opportunities in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss. Arcadis’ NCV model is an important step toward incorporating nature-based solutions into the mainstream of business and governance decisions.
The NBCC Sustainability Award 2025 was presented by Berte Simons, COO, Port of Rotterdam and Alice Steenland, Chief of Strategy, Sustainability and Marketing at Signify.
NBCC Young Professional Award 2025 sponsored by ING, Society College and Unilever
Winner: Ylona Mak from FrieslandCampina
It was clear to judges that Ylona stood out to the jury as a true changemaker—driven by a clear passion for her work and a strong commitment to connecting it with broader societal impact. Her proactive mindset, coupled with a relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth, makes her a shining example of the next generation of leadership.
Her commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is both deep and wide-ranging. At Rabobank, she led a 6,000-strong sustainability community and founded the Net Positive Movement. As a board member of the Young SDG Network under the UN Global Compact, she’s championed change with courage—even in the face of public criticism. Today, through roles at SDG Netherlands, Network 2100, and FrieslandCampina, she continues to push for systemic change with ambition and optimism.”
The NBCC Young Professional Award 2025 was presented by Alexandra MacMahon, UK Country Manager at ING, London Branch and Joanny Lijbers, VP Marketing, Unilever
NBCC Stronger Together Award 2025
Winner: Boskalis
Judges felt that Boskalis demonstrated the strength of long-standing UK ties through its pivotal role in the high-profile salvage operation of the Stena Immaculate. Called upon at a critical moment, the company delivered clear added value with expertise and precision—showcasing the importance of trusted partnerships in times of need. With strong roots and collaboration between its sites in Aberdeen, London, and Papendrecht, Boskalis is an exemplary case of a cross-channel business.
The NBCC Stronger Together Award 2025 was presented by Minister Reinette Klever, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development and Paul Drechsler CBE, Lead Non-Executive Director, UK Department for Business and Trade.
