For most delegates, the Global Shrimp Forum experience begins long before they arrive at the venue. From accommodation and travel advice to local recommendations and practical support, Maaike Engbersen helps ensure that every attendee can focus on making the most of their time at the Forum.
Having been involved with GSF since its foundation phase, Maaike has seen the event grow from a new industry initiative into a leading global gathering for the shrimp sector. We spoke with her about five years of Global Shrimp Forum, the unique atmosphere that keeps people coming back, and the behind-the-scenes planning that helps make each edition run smoothly.
Describe your role at GSF.
I’ve been involved with the Global Shrimp Forum since the very beginning and was part of the foundation phase of the organization. Back then, I worked in-house as Conference Business & Operations Manager, which gave me the opportunity to get to know the board and the entire organization very well. Over the years, my role changed, and for the last three editions I’ve been mainly focusing on logistics and operations.
A big part of my work nowadays revolves around coordinating accommodation for delegates, speakers, chairs, and panelists — especially connecting them with hotel rooms at the main venue, the Van der Valk Hotel in Utrecht. Since the venue hotel fills up very quickly, I also help attendees find alternative hotels in Utrecht, advise them on transportation and travel planning, and provide tips for side events, excursions, and things to do in the city and beyond. In many ways, I try to make the whole GSF experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible for everyone attending.
How long have you been working with the GSF?
I’ve been working with GSF since 2022, so this year will actually be my fifth edition of the forum. Time has flown by! It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch the event grow from its early stages into such an internationally respected forum.
What do you most enjoy about collaborating with the GSF team?
Without a doubt, the people. I’ve known Willem for about 25 years - we studied together and have stayed in touch ever since - so there’s already a strong foundation of trust there. And honestly, the entire GSF team is fantastic to work with!
What I really appreciate is how quickly everyone communicates and how efficiently things are handled behind the scenes. There’s a very positive and professional atmosphere, but at the same time it feels personal and approachable. Everyone genuinely wants to make the event a success, and that creates a really enjoyable working environment.
I also work closely with the team at Van der Valk Utrecht, and the collaboration with them has always been smooth, professional, and pleasant as well. It truly feels like everyone is working together toward the same goal.
What would you say makes the Global Shrimp Forum unique?
For me, what makes GSF unique is absolutely the atmosphere within the shrimp community. The attendees come from all over the world, from many different cultures and backgrounds, yet there’s a very respectful, open, and friendly vibe throughout the event.
Over the years, I’ve built relationships with many attendees, and some of them I’m now speaking to for the fifth year in a row. That connection is really special. At the same time, every year brings new faces and fresh perspectives, which keeps the forum dynamic and exciting.
GSF has managed to create something that is highly professional and internationally important, while still feeling welcoming and personal, and I think that balance is quite rare!
What is a part of your role that you think goes unnoticed, but is vital in the delivery of the forum?
A lot of the logistical work happens quietly behind the scenes, so people often don’t realize how much coordination is involved in making everything run smoothly. Hotel room management, for example, can become quite complex because the venue hotel sells out so quickly.
Making sure that speakers, delegates, panelists, and chairs are all accommodated properly, often across multiple hotels, requires a lot of planning, communication, flexibility, and problem-solving. On top of that, I help attendees with travel advice, transportation questions, and local recommendations, which may seem like small details, but they really contribute to the overall experience people have at the forum.
When everything runs smoothly, people barely notice the work behind it, which is usually a sign that the logistics have been done well!
For how long, ahead of the event in September, are you preparing?
I usually start preparing around four months before the event takes place in September. From that moment onward, the coordination gradually builds up as registrations come in and hotel availability starts changing quickly.
My work continues throughout the event itself and even for about two weeks afterward, wrapping up final details and making sure everything has been properly completed.
We’re celebrating our 5th anniversary this year. What have you enjoyed most about working with the team over the years?
What I’ve enjoyed most is seeing how much the Global Shrimp Forum has grown over the past five years, while still maintaining the same positive spirit and collaborative atmosphere it had in the beginning.
It’s been incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey and to contribute to an event that has become such an important meeting point for the global shrimp industry. I’ve especially enjoyed the long-term relationships that have developed over the years, both with the team, and with attendees from around the world.
There’s a real sense of continuity and community, and that’s something quite special. I genuinely look forward to working on GSF every year, and I’d happily continue doing this for the next five years as well!
