Welcome, I'm Elise – your Virtual Assistant
I'm Elise, a versatile Virtual Assistant from Berkel en Rodenrijs. With my extensive background as an executive secretary, team and department secretary, project support worker, and support worker, I've learned the value of good support for an organization's success. I find satisfaction in creating structure, ensuring processes run smoothly, and relieving the burden on entrepreneurs and teams, allowing them to fully focus on their core business.
I worked for the Municipality of Rotterdam for five and a half years in secretarial and administrative support roles. There, I not only supported management and departments but also organized events and meetings, including those for the Mayor and the Rotterdam Authority Triangle, which consists of the Mayor, the Chief of Police, and the Chief Public Prosecutor. During this time, I further developed my organizational and communication skills and learned to work in an environment where discretion, flexibility, and accuracy are paramount.
I currently work as an executive secretary at the Ministry of Defence, where I support management with a wide range of tasks. This includes carefully managing agendas, coordinating appointments and meetings, and organizing gifts, promotional gifts, and thank-you gifts that align with the ministry's context and image. This role demands precision, a professional demeanor, and a strong sense of responsibility – qualities I also bring to my work as a Virtual Assistant.
In addition to my paid work, I offer my expertise as a Virtual Assistant. From home or on-site in North and South Holland, and North Brabant, I support entrepreneurs, executives, and organizations with a wide range of tasks:
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Agenda management and email management
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Administration, invoicing and time tracking
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Documentation and archive management
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Customer contact and communication
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Social media management
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Project and event organization, from webinars to complete company meetings
What defines me is my proactive and structured approach. I always think one step ahead, identify bottlenecks before they become problems, and ensure clarity and continuity. At the same time, I work in a personal and accessible manner; I believe it's important to be a reliable sparring partner, someone you can trust and rely on.
With me as your Virtual Assistant, you'll not only receive practical support but also more time, peace, and space to grow and focus on what you do best. Together, we'll ensure your company, foundation, organization, or business operates professionally, efficiently, and future-proof.
Work experience
Executive Secretary Management Staff
Ministry of Defense
May 2025 - present
Executive Secretary at the Executive Staff. I maintain an organized and practical agenda, act as the link for draft documents, scan them for inaccuracies or missing information, and ensure these are corrected before the document is submitted for signing.
I also order various items such as catering, promotional gifts, and gifts for love and sorrow, and ensure that sufficient stock is available in a timely manner.
I support management colleagues with ad-hoc (agenda) requests and explore problems within the building, and see if I can solve these problems, with the help of colleagues, for a better and more pleasant working environment.
Executive Secretary Director of Operations
Ministry of Defense
December 2024 - May 2025
Executive Secretary to the Director of Operations and Deputy Director of Operations. I maintain an organized and practical agenda, act as the link for draft documents, scan them for inaccuracies or missing information, and ensure these are corrected before the document is submitted to the Director for signature.
I also keep track of facility matters such as office supplies, business gifts, and gifts for love and sorrow, and ensure that sufficient stock is available in a timely manner.
I support management colleagues with ad-hoc (agenda) requests and explore problems within the building, and see if I can solve these problems, with the help of colleagues, for a better and more pleasant working environment.
Supporter of the Triangle of Authority
Municipality of Rotterdam
January 2024-December 2024
In addition to my work as an executive secretary, I also support the Rotterdam Triangle of Authority. I provide administrative and minor substantive support for the meetings of the Rotterdam Triangle of Authority. My duties include drafting and requesting meeting documents, setting and strictly adhering to deadlines, maintaining the annual planning and coordinating requests for agenda items, and arranging facility-related matters.
Executive Secretary
Municipality of Rotterdam
October 2022–December 2024
Executive Secretary to the Director of Safety and Deputy Director of Safety. I maintain an organized calendar and updated inbox to relieve the burden on managers, allowing them to focus on fulfilling the board's responsibilities. Besides managing calendars and inboxes, I also handle finances and monitor allocated budgets, oversee HR matters, and, where necessary, alert managers to deadlines in the financial and administrative decision-making systems. I also represent management at facility, emergency response, and IT-related meetings. I process incoming physical and digital mail and notify the relevant colleagues. I coordinate facility-related matters such as office supplies, business gifts, and gifts, and ensure sufficient supplies are available in a timely manner. I also handle bookings for business trips and all administrative tasks, both before and after the trip, to ensure a complete file.
Executive Secretary
Municipality of Rotterdam
October 2022–December 2024
Executive Secretary to the Deputy Director of Safety and Deputy Director of Safety. I maintain an organized calendar and updated inbox to relieve the burden on managers, allowing them to focus on fulfilling the board's responsibilities. Besides managing calendars and inboxes, I also handle finances and monitor allocated budgets, oversee HR matters, and, where necessary, alert managers to deadlines in the financial and administrative decision-making systems. I also represent management at facility, emergency response, and IT-related meetings. I process incoming physical and digital mail and notify the relevant colleagues. I coordinate facility-related matters such as office supplies, business gifts, and gifts, and ensure sufficient supplies are available in a timely manner. I also handle bookings for business trips and all administrative tasks, both before and after the trip, to ensure a complete file.
Team leader secretary
Municipality of Rotterdam
mei 2019-oktober 2022
Secretary to the DBO and Strategy teams and team leaders at the Safety Directorate. Duties include financial, personnel, and scheduling support, as well as minute-taking and administrative and content support for WOO (Works and Activities of Personnel) requests.
Deputy Executive Secretary
Municipality of Rotterdam
May 2019–October 2022
Deputy Executive Secretary at the Youth and Education departments, and Community Support during the summer holidays.
Training courses
2025-2026
HBO Diploma
Schoevers
Completed vocational training as a Virtual Assistant (VA), focused on self-employment and online support. Skilled in digital collaboration, project management, and professional communication. Experience with content creation, social media, and business writing. Skilled in business planning, personal branding, and effective customer engagement.
2021-2022
HBO Diploma
NCOI
Completed a short Bachelor's degree in Criminology with a focus on criminal behavior, social impact, and policy. Familiarity with sociological, biological, and biosocial explanations for crime. Experience analyzing cases and designing offender-focused interventions. Knowledge of criminal law, safety, victimization, and current developments in criminology.
2016-2019
MBO 4 diploma
Albeda College Rotterdam
Completed MBO-level 4 training as an Executive Secretary/Management Assistant. Skilled in agenda management, correspondence, taking minutes, and organizing meetings and gatherings. Experience with administrative processes, customer contact, and supporting management and directors. Strong planning, structuring, and professional communication skills.