Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, on Friday, September 11, 2026, participated in a high-level diplomatic exchange bringing together women ambassadors and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Marjan Rintel, with discussions centered on leadership and the experience of women occupying senior decision-making positions.
“It was a very inspirational gathering, especially in light of the current geopolitical environment and challenges facing airports, airlines, and management,” Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, Minister Plenipotentiary, said.
The event took place at the Polish Embassy in The Hague at the invitation of Her Excellency Margareta Kassangana, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Women Ambassadors Group in the Netherlands is an informal network of women ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including some ambassadors based in Brussels. Its purpose is to facilitate communication and provide a support network among women ambassadors. Its periodic meetings also expose members to Dutch politics, female leadership, gender equality, and leadership in the private sector.
Ambassador Kassangana also has an established record of convening women’s events. In a previous International Women’s Day event at the Polish Embassy, she brought together women community leaders, activists, artists, academics, and cultural figures, describing the occasion as an opportunity for exchange and inspiration.
The guest speaker, Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, was particularly relevant to the Women Ambassadors Group because she is one of the Netherlands’ most prominent female corporate executives. There is also a strong gender-leadership component within KLM’s diversity and inclusion programme. KLM operates Women on Board, a women’s network intended to bring together and inspire women from different backgrounds and to increase awareness of gender diversity while promoting a more transparent and inclusive organization.
Minister Arrindell added that she could identify with the aviation challenges and reflected on when she was President of the Supervisory Board of Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) from 1999 to 2001, including during the 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years ago.
Rintel has previously participated in women’s leadership initiatives. For example, she has supported the SkyTeam RISE leadership programme for female leaders, where participants have described her sharing her career experiences and perspectives on women’s leadership.