We are:

Lamers Urban Policy Consulting is founded by Trees Lamers in 2004. Kim Hoffmans, Njord Pattiasina, Tijmen Smit, and Trees Lamers work for Lamers Urban Policy Consulting. All describe their background and inspiration in the sections below.

Kim Hoffmans

After graduating from my master Criminology I worked as policy officer youth delinquency at the Public Prosecutor’s office in Rotterdam. However, I found that the distance to the implementation process was too large. As the obstinate reality on street level and the involvement of the ultimate target group take in prominent positions, my work for Lamers Urban Policy Consulting constantly links policy and implementation. This continuous exchange fascinates me very much since it also allows for theory and practice to be linked. Besides working for Lamers Urban Policy Consulting, I am also enrolled in further postgraduate studies in Forensic Child Studies at the University of Amsterdam.

Njord Pattiasina

Those moments where interests meet, collide, and produce tensions, fascinate me enormously. Hence, finding an adequate response to intersections of interests and conflicts has evolved as my specialism. I studied political science, international relations and post-conflict reconstruction and worked in The Netherlands, Colombia and Afghanistan, which has learnt me approaching these issues from different points of view. In this way I work towards transforming conflict and come up with solutions that permanently contribute to a pleasant living environment.

Tijmen Smit

As a graduate in public administration and in my work for Lamers Urban Policy Consulting I have specialised in the cooperation between organisations with different DNA. The reality has shown me that different organisations tackle the same issues but with diverging aims. To collaboratively work on the problems encountered in the urban setting and to experience the communality, resistance -both practical and mental- needs to be transformed. My goal is to start this process and ensure smooth progress. Through keeping a continuous focus on the goals identified to tackle the issues, a result-oriented approach is guaranteed.

Trees Lamers

The complex problems one encounters in the larger cities enthral me very much. How is this complexity transformed, in order to mitigate the problems? That is pivotal in my work! Not only the contents of a problem are complex, the organisations involved may increase the level of complexity even more. In my experience the following points are evident in tackling those problems:

  • An open attitude and way of communicating;
  • Clearly pointing out the issues and the subsequent conflicts;
  • The use of creativity, humour, and decisiveness;
  • A shared approach to tackle the problems and to develop innovative solutions from the strength of the professionals belonging to the various organisations.

Before founding Lamers Urban Policy Consulting I worked on urban policy for over 20 years, in various organisations and various capacities. I hold an MA in public administration, for which my final thesis was about the citizens’ perspectives on urban policy, as they are the target group of professionals and civil servants.