This week started with its most intensive item, which had been on the horizon for a few months. It means that after it, for the first time since early fall, my days opened up before me, without urgent deliverables. Something I had craved. I have had several sessions this week I could focus and work undisturbed. It felt very good.

This week I

• Spent a day in Delft with the newly created interprovincial ethics committee w.r.t. the use of digital technology, data and algorithms in provincial public tasks. In the past months I helped select and fill this committee, as well as designing its tasks and its initial work processes. In December I conducted a number of conversations with potential members. All with an eye to bring them together this Monday. The minister for digitisation visited the organisation of provinces, and launching the ethics committee was the final act of the program. In the coming months my company will support the work of the ethics committee.
• Had the weekly client meetings
• Presented in person to the digital transformation team of a province about the incoming EU data legislation
• Updated the online Dutch language guide about the EU data legislation I maintain for a client, including adding new sections for which I finally had the time and focus to write
• Internally discussed our first impressions of a new digital ethics project we are involved in for a law enforcement organisation
• Calculated the new salaries for our team and the collective bonus for 2022, and did the January salary payments.
• Processed the paper work for a new team member who signed their contract this week, and will start February 1st
• Found time for the first time in months to quietly sit down and make a range of conceptual notes
• Took Y to her weekly swimming lesson.
• Watched episodes of the German series Kleo wit E.
• With E and Y rearranged some things in the living room, Y’s room and our top storey work space. Now that Y is a bit older and her play changes we’re adapting our spaces. This means more living space down stairs as well.

Three jets above The Hague, as I walked to the train station