In 1983, Lilianne Ploumen became a community outreach worker in the Crooswijk area of Rotterdam. In 1985, she joined the Institute of Psychological Market Research (IPM), working in the statistics department and as a research project leader. IPM focuses on research-based consultancy. In 1995 she founded Ploumen Projecten, an organisation specialising in market research and innovation for commercial and non-profit clients. In the same year she also began working as a fundraising co-ordinator for Mama Cash, an international fund supporting women’s initiatives, going on to become director of the organisation from 1996 to 2001. From 2001 to 2007 Ms. Ploumen worked for the development organisation Cordaid, first as head of quality and strategy and later as director of international programmes. In Ms. Ploumen was appointed Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the Rutte-Asscher government.

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