Employee Story: How Anouk Lohuis’ journey in energy transition brought her on an adventure Down Under
Life moves in many unexpected ways – if there’s anything we’ve learned from the past few years of having to navigate the COVID 19 global pandemic and even now, with the uncertainty of geopolitical volatility consuming the world, it’s this. But sometimes these unexpected twists and even the disappointments that they bring along the way could wind up surprising you. For Anouk Lohuis, Rabobank’s Head of Energy Transition Coverage & Strategy Execution, her journey into the world of energy transition and eventual move to Sydney, Australia, was anything but linear. It’s a tale of determination and persistence in chasing a dream that was years in the making.
Some 15 years ago, a young trainee started her banking career at one of Rabobank’s local member banks in the mid-sized city of Gouda in the Netherlands. That experience gave Anouk Lohuis a good insight into the roots of a cooperative bank, but she knew she was not going to be content with never experiencing life abroad. With this steely certainty of knowing she wanted to travel and work outside of her native Netherlands, Anouk jumped at a credit analyst position that relocated her to Frankfurt, Germany, for a few years, before she eventually moved back home.
A second opportunity to spread her wings even further came in 2020, when another role came up in New Zealand, and she began making active preparations for a gigantic move down south. But then came a curveball that put a wrench in her plans: a global pandemic that soon made it clear that the move was shelved. “It was very much a bummer – I was committed to moving out of Europe, and the opportunity was right there. But life had other plans,” Anouk muses.
Twists and turns into energy transition
Anouk continued her foray on the frontline servicing clients, and it was while she was in the Loan Capital Markets team when she received an opportunity to take up a strategy role in the energy transition sphere. “I was initially uncomfortable moving from the frontline to an internal strategy job, but I realised it was an opportunity for me to learn about energy transition – one of the biggest growth mandates in wholesale banking – and how to drive a strategy across the organisation. I would be participating in a powerful commercial growth initiative that would really involve and impact our clients,” she reflects.
Describing herself as a very curious, caring and reliable person, Anouk was able to commit herself to really taking on the transition manager role for Rabobank’s Banking 4 Energy Transition business, and discover, learn and explore this completely new sector with her trademark gumption and gusto.
Two years in, just as she was making strides in mapping out our internal strategy in energy transition, she saw an opportunity to, once again, get the ball rolling on her dream of moving overseas. “I knew they were going to grow the energy transition strategy and when the first phase was slated to progress in Australia and New Zealand, I knew my experience could be applicable to grow the business out Down Under,” Anouk shares.
“In general I would say I am someone who is quite determined. When I have a plan or want to achieve something, I can be very persistent. I’m a big believer in pursuing your own dreams, big or small.”
And pursue them, she did. In 2024, she took the initiative to reach out to key stakeholders in Australia to expand the opportunity further, and those proactive conversations successfully left the drawing board and became a reality in 2025, when Anouk officially stepped off a plane in Sydney to take on the Head of Energy Transition Coverage & Strategy Execution position.
Five years after her first attempt at moving out of Europe fell through, she was finally able to make that dream come true.
“Expressing my aspirations and development ideas to managers and stakeholders helped me a lot in getting my own ambitions clear. I could see more cohesively the steps that I needed to take to get there, and along the way, many people also helped me connect the dots,” Anouk looks back on her experience.
“By opening up and allowing myself to be vulnerable, it actually made me stronger. When you’re willing to be honest about what you’re struggling with, you create space for others to support you, challenge you, and help you grow. Yes, it can feel uncomfortable, but it’s also the most effective way to accelerate your development and build trusting relationships at the same time.”
Energy transition in Australia
Even after moving to Sydney, Anouk’s journey is far from over. Growing the energy transition franchise in Australia from scratch is challenging, but also exciting at the same time – combining a unique blend of entrepreneurship with a strong commercial growth strategy, and at the same time, working with a talented team to grow the business.
“I am surrounded by so many talented people who are very motivated to grow our energy transition portfolio and who also know local market dynamics very well. I’m able to take the lessons I learned from my previous experience in strategising for growth in the sector, and the wealth of expertise and support we have across the bank, to position ourselves well to achieve our ambitions,” Anouk says.
Living the dream
She doesn’t take lightly the almost ethereal fact that she is now living a dream she once had, as early as a decade ago: “Life can be unpredictable and there will always be reasons not to take a step. But by committing to your own plan and having the right support around you, it’s still possible to make things work. Eventually, the opportunity came back around, and I’m very grateful Rabobank provided me with the opportunity.”
“Moving to this part of the world was a long-desired dream of mine and it has been fantastic so far,” she says. “I’ve had to adjust a little – our Dutch directness and unique sense of humour don’t always land the same way in English! But at the same time, I’m really enjoying picking up some Aussie slang and all the creative, head-scratching abbreviations that come with it!”
Anouk shares that she loves the dynamic energy of Sydney and the beautiful nature that surrounds them in Australia. Building new routines and making fresh core memories are things she greatly treasures – like commuting by ferry, and seeing Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and famed Opera House glide by, “it feels special every single time,” Anouk says.
“Embracing the early morning lifestyle of the Australians, starting the day with a workout that is followed by a dip in the ocean and a coffee – it often still makes me feel like I am living a dream.”
Indeed, living the dream, she is. A dream she created, held in her hands, nourished with determination and persistence, and that she continued holding on to, even when the path to it faltered and meandered. And here she is today, having come full circle, living her dream.