The EU Pay Transparency Directive is coming – and organizations must take action now. Equal pay is no longer just an ideal but is becoming a legal obligation. This will have a major impact on compensation structures, HR policies, and legal compliance.
On 18 November 2025, Highberg, in collaboration with MR. in opleidingen, is organizing the event for labor law attorneys.
Why you should be there
– Concrete insights into the impact of the EU Directive on practice
– Legal and strategic perspectives combined in one event
– Keynotes & discussions with top executives, academics, and experienced professionals
– Practical insights for policy, organizational culture, and compliance
– Accreditation points through a collaboration between Highberg and MR. in opleidingen for permanent education (PO) credits.
Keynote speakers & guests
Opening by: Lianne Hamstra & Rogier Kerkhof
Maarten Edixhoven
For Maarten Edixhoven, the Pay Transparency Act is more than just a compliance exercise. Drawing on his experience at Aegon and now as CEO of Van Lanschot Kempen, he shares how data, independent analyses, and the balance between rule-based and principle-based approaches are crucial. With a long track record as CEO at Zwitserleven, Aegon Netherlands, and now Van Lanschot Kempen, he knows better than anyone how complex and time-consuming this transition is.
Maria Verschoor
Olympic field hockey player Maria Verschoor – two-time Olympic champion, world champion, and multiple European and national champion – also fights for equal pay off the field. Sharing from her personal experience, she takes the audience through the impact of inequality, her decision to publicly raise the issue, and the reactions that followed. Maria currently plays in Spain and continues to be an inspiring voice for equality in sports.
Emmy Kooloos
How do you explain pay differences in a world of scarcity, negotiations, and historical disparities? Emmy Kooloos, senior reward consultant at Highberg, shares the biggest challenges and practical tips regarding the Pay Transparency Act. With over 13 years of experience in reward strategy and implementation – including 8 years at Korn Ferry/Hay Group – she makes complex topics concrete and applicable for employers.
Corien Dieterman
Moderator Corien Dieterman guides the audience through the broader playing field of social sustainability: from equal pay and equal opportunities to the challenges of the CSRD, CSDDD, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive. As Sustainability Lead at NN Group HR Strategy & Change, she brings together vision and practical experience.
Ruben Houweling
What does the Pay Transparency Act actually mean for employers? Professor Ruben van Houwelingen unpacks the directive, connects it to existing legislation, and dives deep into each theme and article. He highlights the dilemmas and provides insight into what this means in practice.
Zef Even
What do we mean by “equal pay for equal or equivalent work”? How do you define what constitutes pay, and how do you compare roles? Zef Even, labor law attorney at SteensmaEven and professor of European Labor Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, provides clarity on this complex issue.
Amber Zwanenburg
Attorney Amber Zwanenburg (SteensmaEven, Erasmus University Rotterdam) makes the obligations under the Pay Transparency Act tangible: from the recruitment process to employee information requests, and from reporting requirements to the consequences of pay disparities. A session full of practical tools for employers looking to prepare.
Moderator: Corien Dieterman – NN Group
Program
– 11:45 – 12:30 Walk-in and lunch
– 12:30 – 12:40 Opening by Lianne Hamstra and Rogier Kerkhof (both partners at Highberg)
– 12:40 – 13:10 Keynote speaker: Maria Verschoor (Two-time Olympic champion, world champion, and multiple European and national champion)
– 13:10 – 14:00 Ruben Houweling (Professor of Labor Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Crown-appointed member of the Social and Economic Council)
– 14:00 – 15:00 Zef Even (employment lawyer at SteensmaEven and professor of European Employment Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam)
– 15:00 – 15:15 Break
– 15:15 – 16:00 Emmy Kooloos (senior reward consultant at Highberg)
– 16:00 – 16:45 Amber Zwanenburg (Lawyer at SteensmaEven)
– 16:45 – 17:30 Keynote speaker: Maarten Edixhoven (CEO of Van Lanschot Kempen)
– 17:30 – 17:45 Wrap-up chair: Corien Dieterman (Sustainability Lead at NN Group HR Strategy & Change)
– 17.45 Networking drinks
Meer lezen
