Biography Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie Rakhorst (1967) graduated from European University Antwerp with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in 1988. Shortly afterwards, she established a Dutch branch for a Belgian laboratory, where she served as General Manager for four years.

Having carried out extensive market research, she proceeded to set up her own business in 1994: Search Laboratory in Heeswijk, the Netherlands. Anne-Marie is currently the director-proprietor of four operating companies, each supplying its own range of specialised services, as subsidiaries of Search Holding B.V. In addition to Search Laboratory, the holding comprises Search Engineering, Search Education and Search Quality. Search has developed into a firm of consulting engineers, laboratories and a training institute that operates globally. Its clients include property companies, housing corporations, the industrial sector, contractors, and national, provincial & municipal government bodies. Search specialises primarily in asbestos and soil surveys, while it can also provide the entire management for sustainable construction, demolition and renovation projects. In addition to carrying out research and providing consultancy and project management services, Search provides a range of practical training courses on such topics as in-house emergency services, safety, asbestos, environmental and soil surveys.

In 2000, Anne-Marie Rakhorst was voted Businesswoman of the Year, also known under the more prestigious title of ‘The Veuve Clicquot Award’. Anne-Marie is a much sought-after speaker at conferences and events focusing on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, while she herself organises conferences for women in business.

For further information on Anne-Marie Rakhorst, visit www.annemarierakhorst.nl.