Desiree Hoving

Moderator who designs conversations around complex issues

A strong event is not just about who is on stage.
It is about bringing people with different perspectives together in a way that creates real momentum.

I design and moderate events at the intersection of science, technology, policy and society. With a journalistic eye, thorough preparation and smart interactive formats, I make complex topics clear and get the conversation moving in the room.

The result is a programme that is intellectually strong, activates people and stays with them long after the event.

Get in touch for an introductory call
+31 6 20 245 924 | info@desireehoving.nl

Desiree Hoving

Moderator who designs conversations around complex issues

A strong event is not just about who is on stage.
It is about bringing people with different perspectives together in a way that creates real momentum.

The result is a programme that is intellectually strong, activates people and stays with them long after the event.

Get in touch for an introductory call
+31 6 20 245 924 | info@desireehoving.nl

My approach

For me, a strong event does not begin on the day itself, but much earlier. Together, we clarify why people are coming together, who the event is for, and what it is meant to set in motion. We sharpen the central question and look for a common thread that gives direction to the programme.

From there, I help shape the structure: which elements are needed, where the substantive core lies, where interaction matters most, and which formats help people truly connect. The result is a programme that is not only well designed, but also feels right in terms of energy and rhythm.

Behind the scenes

I like to work with care behind the scenes as well. Ideally, I speak with every speaker or panellist one to one in advance, so that I come in well prepared and can genuinely move the conversation forward on the day itself. When useful, I also help shape panel discussions: who responds to whom, where the real differences in perspective lie, and how to build tension without it feeling forced.

I also write my own scripts for introductions, transitions and closing remarks. That way, not only does each individual part work well, but the overall arc of the event holds together too.

On stage

On stage, you can count on a moderator who is thoroughly prepared, gets to the heart of the matter quickly, and shifts smoothly when the moment calls for it. I ask sharp questions, keep sight of the bigger picture, and create an open atmosphere in which people feel invited to take part.

I bring energy without creating restlessness, and make space for substance without letting things become heavy. The result is an event in which people do not just listen, but become genuinely engaged and help set something in motion together.

Solar Flexible

How do you prevent a promising solar innovation in Europe from getting stuck in the research phase? At Solar Flexible, I moderated the conversation between science, industry and policy on the potential of flexible perovskite solar cells, smart manufacturing and the conditions needed for real scale-up.

It was a real pleasure to work with Desiree Hoving as the moderator of TNO’s Solar Flexible event. She was sharp in her interviews, asked exactly the right questions, and knew when to dig deeper when it mattered. Her preparation was outstanding, and her grasp of the content helped take the programme to a much higher level. Just as importantly, she was a joy to work with: professional, energetic, and always warm and positive. Desiree, you truly made the event shine.

Niels van Loon, Analytical Innovator at TNO

EWUU Community Day

Not a room full of rows of chairs, but an open marketplace of conversations. At EWUU Community Day 2025, I guided an interactive gathering where researchers, students, policymakers and societal partners met around transdisciplinary collaboration. It was an afternoon that did not just talk about connection, but actively created it.

Working with Desiree on an experimental event in a scientific context was a real pleasure. What stood out to me most was her ability to analyse quickly, turn ideas into a strong script, and bring courage, flexibility and enthusiasm to the process. I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a moderator who dares to do things a little differently.

Helma van Luttikhuizen, Project Manager Community Building & Impact at EWUU Alliance

Conferentie over dierproeven in Media Plaza

Unboxing Logistics

For the knowledge festival Unboxing Logistics, I designed and moderated an interactive event on the role of logistics in a resilient society. Through substantive conversations, active formats and sharp audience interaction, I helped create a room that truly took part.

For our annual knowledge festival, we were looking for an external moderator who could guide participants through interactive formats with flair and enthusiasm, while also leading substantive conversations with our speakers. A rare combination? Not at all. Desiree delivered exactly that, and then some. In short, I would highly recommend working with her if you want a dynamic event that is engaging and content-rich at the same time.

Charlotte Tillie, Coordinator of Knowledge Dissemination, HAN University of Applied Sciences

Portretfoto door fotograaf Milou van der Will, 2024

About Desiree

From science to the stage

My career began in science. I worked as a researcher at TNO and Delft University of Technology until I discovered that my strength was not in specialising, but in connecting perspectives.

That discovery led me into journalism. As a science journalist, I wrote about technology, health, sustainability and other major questions of our time. I interviewed researchers, leaders and entrepreneurs, and learned how to grasp complex topics quickly and make them accessible to a wider audience.

Later, I discovered that live conversations can do something extra: they do not just inform people, they can actually move them forward together.

Since then, I have worked as a moderator and conversation leader. My focus is on events where people understand one another, challenge one another and inspire each other.

Preparation and improvisation

Long before I moderated my first event, I was already standing in front of groups with a microphone in hand.

As a Body Attack instructor, I learned how to build energy in a room and what it takes to bring people along with you. Around the same time, I trained in improvisational theatre.

There, I learned a lesson that still sits at the heart of my work: no matter how well prepared you are, the best moments often happen unexpectedly.

My script may be solid, but the real magic begins when you are willing to respond to what is happening in the room.

That balance between preparation and improvisation is exactly where my strength as a moderator lies.

My clients

My clients are mainly organisations working with complex content: universities, research institutes, ministries and societal organisations.

Organisations such as TU Delft, Erasmus University, TNO, RIVM, NWO and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management have brought me in as a moderator or programme designer.

They bring me in for, among other things:

conferences and symposia
strategic gatherings
dialogues between science, policy and practice
online talk shows and hybrid events

Often, the question behind the brief is the same:

Help us create a conversation that truly matters.

I am also affiliated with the following speakers’ agencies: Dagvoorzitter.nl, ZijSpreekt, Sprekershuys, Athenas, and Masters in Moderation for international events. This makes it easy for clients to book me through the channel that suits them best, both in the Netherlands and beyond.

Desiree is an innovative and professional moderator. With skill she created a session that addressed the overall narrative of the M&I Healthcare meeting in Helsinki as well as the needs of the international participants for the workshop she facilitated. Amazing job!

Andrew Winterburn, an experienced business leader, strategic thinker and entrepreneur with extensive international expertise.