Nationality: Dutch
Academic qualifications: 1968 – 1972: Graduated in Dutch Constitutional and Public Law at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam
Professional experience
in the European
Institutions:
January 2011 to date: Director-General of Directorate-General “Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion” (EMPL)
February 2001 to December 2010: Director-General of DG AIDCO and DG Development
Professional experience
before joining
the European Institutions:
- 2000 – 2001: Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour; Project Director- General for the Change Management in the field of Social Security
- 1995 – 2000: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Director-General for International Co-operation
- 1985 – 1995: Ministry of Welfare and Health; since 1987 as Director- General for Welfare
- 1981 – 1985: City of Leiden, co-ordinating director and deputy town clerck
- 1972 – 1981: Ministry of Education and Sciences: various functions, from policy staff member to Deputy director for the directorates “Adult Education” and “Vocational Education and Training”
- 1970 – 1972: Assistant to a professor in constitutional and public law at the University of Rotterdam
Other professional activities:
- 1983 – 2002: Chair of the Board of various private institutions and charities in the Netherlands; Vice-Chair of the UN-Preparatory committee of the Social Summit (Copenhagen 1995); Chair of the UN Commission for Social Development
Language skills:
- Dutch (mother tongue)
- English
- French
- German