• Oct 2019 - Present

StartLife is driving innovation in the food & ag sector through supporting startups, corporates and investors. Responsible for shaping and managing StartLife's team and business, corporate and investor partnerships, venturing, investor dealflow and new business models, impact strategy, finance.

• Oct 2019 - Oct 2022

I coach a few of the most innovative early-phase startups in the field, e.g.: > Inolux (enzymatic in-gut sugar conversion; UK) > MicroHarvest (microbial protein; D)> Healthycrop (ag biotech; DK) > Mylium (mycelium-based alt-PU; NL)

Columnist

• Dec 2022 - Present

• Oct 2015 - Sep 2019

- Responsible for generating leads and acquiring new business;- Building (open) innovation consortia with new clients;- Extensive experience with contractual / IP licensing negotiations;- Achievements: I set up numerous research collaborations with chemical / bioplastics / food industry (e.g. Eastman, DuPont, Avantium, Nouryon, Covestro, Diversey, DSM, Kemira, Corbion), brand owners in the food industry (e.g. Unilever, Heineken), start-ups, and knowledge institutes.

• Jan 2014 - Sep 2015

- Built new value chains to realise bio-based innovations such as lignin-based bitumen, sugar beet pulp refinery to e.g. detergents, and biodegradable 3D printing support structures;- Connected SMEs to relevant technology provider as Innovation Advisor to DPI Value Center;- Together with start-up incubator StartLife, supported bio-based start-ups to advance their technologies.

• Sep 2012 - Dec 2013

- Managed a newly set up international team of sustainability experts; - Developed and implemented the team’s business development growth strategy; - Responsible for project portfolio management, managing collaborations and key stakeholder management in sustainability-related B2B and B2G projects for the European Commission, public private partnerships and private sector clients.

• Jan 2009 - Dec 2013

- Advisor to international clients on effective and efficient aid financing in developing countries and emerging economies. Responsible for business development, acquisition, implementation, and management of international project-teams, subcontractors and freelancers. Clients: European Commission, World Bank, Swiss Ministry of Economic Affairs, Inter-American Development Bank, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.- Manager of sustainable aid financing training portfolio. Experienced trainer to Australian government officials on financial aid management in Canberra, Bangkok, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Show less

• Feb 2007 - Dec 2008

Advisor to international clients on how to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the projects they finance in developing countries and emerging economies. Projects include an evaluation of Public Expenditure Tracking Studies in Cambodia and Rwanda for the World Bank (2008), and evaluating the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique for the Dutch government (2008).

Project manager

• Jun 2006 - Jan 2007

Managed inner-city redevelopment projects (Wonen boven winkels) in Arnhem and Zwolle, for municipalities and housing corporations. By reaching agreement between stakeholders (private and institutional owners, stores, municipalities, provinces, housing corporations), Binnenstadsperspectief implements projects from planning to realisation. Managed inner-city redevelopment projects (Wonen boven winkels) in Arnhem and Zwolle, for municipalities and housing corporations. By reaching agreement between stakeholders (private and institutional owners, stores, municipalities, provinces, housing corporations), Binnenstadsperspectief implements projects from planning to realisation.

Trade advisor

• Nov 2005 - May 2006

Organised participation of Dutch companies to the international trade fair in Khartoum. Organised networking events for representatives of Philips Medical Systems, Hyva, VDL, GEA, HTM, Xantec. Explored market opportunities in South-Sudan for Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (handelsbevordering.nl). Organised participation of Dutch companies to the international trade fair in Khartoum. Organised networking events for representatives of Philips Medical Systems, Hyva, VDL, GEA, HTM, Xantec. Explored market opportunities in South-Sudan for Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (handelsbevordering.nl).

Economist

• 2002 - 2005

Journalist

• Mar 2002 - Jun 2002