Ronald Heister | biography
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biography

About Ronald F.A. Heister

Ronald F.A. Heister (Netherlands, Europe) combines decades of experience in journalism, public service, and international public relations to shape compelling narratives at the intersection of business, science, and society. Starting his career as a presenter for national news and cultural events, such as the North Sea Jazz Festival and Amsterdam’s Royal Concert Hall, Ronald’s storytelling skills quickly became his hallmark.

His career evolved as he took on leadership roles in government, serving as municipal Director in Amsterdam. There, he led large-scale transformation projects, coordinated official visits for heads of state and diplomats, and played a key role in high-profile events, including the marriage of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. His work also fostered strong collaborations between academia and governance through partnerships with the University of Amsterdam.

In 2008, Ronald founded an international PR firm in Amsterdam, representing prestigious clients such as SEFE Energy (formerly Gazprom International), China Eastern Airlines, Virgin Galactic, and the Skolkovo Foundation. His pioneering work in the emerging commercial space industry earned him the nickname “PR of the Stars.” Ronald was among the first to board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo during its landmark inauguration at Spaceport America and spearheaded public relations efforts that have transformed the commercial space sector.

From enduring arctic cold in Kazakhstan to the desert heat of Jordan, Ronald’s global ventures have consistently combined high stakes with high impact.

Realizing that nothing is what it seems, today, Ronald pioneers a unique field as the world’s first Human Sustainability Advisor, leveraging his extensive international experience to inspire ethical leadership, meaningful change, and a renewed focus on human connection in a rapidly evolving world. As a speaker, author, and educator, he advocates practical, conscience-driven stewardship for the future.

Title

What I Learned Along the Way

Picture of Ronald Heister presenting

Public Broadcaster Presenter & Journalist

Finding My Voice in Broadcast

My journey began not in a boardroom, but behind a microphone at the Dutch public broadcaster (KRO/NCRV). From national radio to the North Sea Jazz Festival to Amsterdam’s Royal Concert Hall, I learned the responsibility of telling people’s stories and the magic of doing it well. Meeting legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Sarah Vaughan, shaped my own voice & style. Experiences that catapulted me out of the familiar.

Picture of a Royal Decoration to Ronald Heister for services to the Crown

State Diplomacy & Leadership

From ambassadors to the Royal Wedding

Nothing quite matched the feeling of meeting heads of state in our capital City of Amsterdam. Or informing government representatives like ambassadors, on relevant issues. Or coordinating to the royal wedding where I enjoyed participating in the organization of the marriage between their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (for which I was gracefully granted an official decoration by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix).

Picture of the book Transforming Europe's Heart by Ronald Heister

Municipal Director | Amsterdam

Transforming Europe's Heart

As municipal Executive Director of a public private partnership between the City of Amsterdam and 11 housing corporations and project developers, I was spearheading communication on complex urban renewal transformation, revitalizing a disadvantaged neighborhood with 134,000 inhabitants, 56,000 houses in need of renovation, and 7,000 companies through a multi-faceted approach encompassing economic uplift, multi-cultural social cohesion, and administrative consolidation. I learned a lot about politics, hidden agenda's, board room tactics and: the human component in decision making. On which I wrote a book: Transforming Europe's Heart: The Amsterdam Redevelopment Project

Picture of Ronald Heister meeting the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy

Founding My PR-Firm

Building brands the hard, honest way.

I founded my Amsterdam PR firm in 2007. We combined communications craft with leadership and corporate strategy, launching a magazine; advising celebrity careers; staging red-carpet film events; delivering product launches; managing artists; inaugurating aircraft; and providing C-suite marketing counsel. Clients ranged from EU Climate-KIC and SEFE Energy (formerly Gazprom International) to Virgin Galactic, Emirates, Warner Bros., and Sanoma. The advantage of working at the top of PR is access to every layer of society—across industries and institutions, from boardrooms to the front line. It turns you into a wide-angle generalist: you learn fast, see broadly, and connect dots others miss. The title “PR of the Stars” followed the work. Those hectic days were some of the most fun though, truth be told, I’ve loved every chapter. It brings you to meet interesting people. In the photo, I’m in conversation with “the President of Europe,” Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, or as Kissinger would say: ``Mr. Europe``.

Transforming the Space Industry

Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic

One of the most extraordinary projects of my career was commercial spaceflight. A client introduced me to Sir Richard Branson; I was asked to sell $400,000 tickets to space and soon found myself helping steer a remarkable shift from institutional to commercial space. We navigated resistance and media cycles, elevated stakeholder engagement, and turned skepticism into sales and lasting industry buy-in. I opened a second office in The Hague, the Space Trade Centre, where we hosted EU space leaders, international space-law experts, astronauts, and industry figures including Richard Branson. For the full story, read my book Behind the Spotlight. From the inauguration of SpaceShipTwo at Spaceport America, among millionaires, tycoons, and celebrities, to countless awe-inspiring moments around the globe. No single line can capture how much I learned on this journey.

Picture of Ronald Heister 50 Years of Yuri Gagarin Jubilee Gala

Working on All Continents

Preparation, presence, and respect; everywhere.

What followed was a worldwide stream of board room advisory work: marketing wide-body aircraft in Moscow; curating celebrity opening nights and networking in Singapore; private-jet hops into freezing Baikonur nights to witness ESA astronaut Dr. André Kuipers launch into space; setting up business in Jordan and walking the Wadi Rum desert; strategy sessions at industry conferences in Las Vegas; and hosting private gatherings during the Cannes Film Festival. For my efforts in the commercial space industry, cosmonaut Sergey Zhukov, top man at the Skolkovo Foundation, awarded me a Medal of Honor at a gala evening organized by Ronald Heister PR for the International Space Transport Association, celebrating 50 years of space exploration.

Dummy design for Behind the Spotlight

Author - looking behind the spotlight

Nothing is what it seems

I’ve authored two books that reflect pivotal chapters of my journey. The first delves into the challenges and triumphs of leading one of Europe’s largest urban redevelopments as a municipal director; a story of transformation on a grand scale. My latest book, 'Behind the Spotlight', weaves together three powerful storylines: the highs and intriguing anecdotes from my time in elite PR, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous; the eye-opening revelations that followed the 2012 credit crisis, a moment when everything around me shifted and I began questioning the world’s surface; and finally, the profound insight that emerged from looking beneath the facade of society, politics, economics, and education. What I discovered was unsettling yet clear: nothing is what it seems. This realization led me to a new mission focused on investing in human sustainability, a cause that now commands my passion and commitment.

Human Sustainability Advisory

From PR of the Stars to PR for Humanity

There came a moment when I paused to reflect deeply. After years working in high-pressure international systems bound by control and structure, I realized something profound: the world is changing, yet human nature often repeats itself. Today, I pioneer Human Sustainability as the world’s first Human Sustainability Advisor. Through my Human Sustainability Framework and the visionary 17 Real Human Goals, I guide leaders to navigate what I call the Historic Double Disruption: on one side, a global debt crisis totaling $324 trillion, and on the other, AI poised to transform or eliminate up to 80% of jobs by 2030. These seismic shifts threaten not only economic stability but the very meaning of work and human purpose. As societies face rising inequality, digital control, and social fragility, my work centers on remembering who we are beyond data and roles, that we are conscious beings with intrinsic worth. Human sustainability is the missing pillar in today’s challenges, and through speaking, advising, and education, I inspire a new path rooted in ethical leadership, inward connection, and a lasting human future.