Welcoming Marlies Jongman as our new Communication, Branding & Outreach Lead

In this role, Marlies will lead QDNL’s Branding and Outreach team and be instrumental in amplifying the Dutch quantum ecosystem’s voice, both nationally and internationally.

Marlies brings over 15 years of experience in strategic communications, branding, and marketing, having led teams at fast-growing startups and global innovators. She studied Communication and Information Studies at the University of Groningen and has since built a dynamic career at companies such as HelloFresh and Lely. Her expertise spans content creation, PR, branding, media relations, and event management, experience that will be invaluable as QDNL enters its next growth phase.

We caught up with Marlies to learn more about her background, ambitions, and what excites her about joining the quantum world.

Thank you! I'm always eager to learn new things, and after 15 years in the corporate world, I felt it was time to explore a new frontier. Previously, I worked at Lely, a company that creates robots for dairy farming. I found the communication around these high-tech robots fascinating, which led me to seek out a role in a high-tech environment. Quantum technology is new to me, and that's precisely what makes it so intriguing and challenging.

I'm joining QDNL at a pivotal moment as we enter phase 3, where external communication becomes more important. The initial phases were primarily about building and growing our community. Now, it's essential to reach out more broadly. My focus will be on bridging the gap to a wider audience, ensuring that our message resonates beyond our current community.

During the startup phase of HelloFresh in the Benelux, I was responsible for communications and PR, later becoming Head of Communications & Brand. I worked on everything from content creation to media relations, event management, and crisis communication. Later, at Lely International, I managed global marketing communications and events, promoting innovative solutions like automated milking systems and feeding robots for dairy farming. Throughout my career, I have always focused on building strong brands and creating compelling narratives that connect technology to people, experience I’m excited to bring to QDNL.

I'm really looking forward to immersing myself in the quantum technology field and expanding my knowledge. The opportunity to explore a completely new area and help bridge the gap to a wider audience is incredibly exciting. I’m eager to contribute to QDNL’s mission and help grow the visibility of the Dutch quantum ecosystem internationally.