LIFT should be an excellent occaision to get back in touch with what is new and happening. As for my background, I was brought up in Holland; spent time living, working and/or studying in Germany, the US, Laos, Thailand and Switzerland. Apart from my interest in how society and technology blend, I've dabbled in biology, ethics, conflict resolution, sustainable development and hrd. Interests that have led me to work in health care, education, non-governmental organisations and in telecommunications. As I see it, LIFT and similar phenomena are tapping into a groundswell of creative and pragmatic energy, which is why I'm so interested in being part of all this. Another example of a forward-looking community that likes to hear about and advocates ethical, sustainable business initiatives and practices is EBBF. I'm a member of that too.