The Economic Board
The Economic Board drives innovation in the Arnhem – Nijmegen, with Wageningen region. As a Triple Helix collaboration among government, knowledge institutes and the business community, we encourage and connect economic activity and innovations in the key sectors of Food, Health and Energy and their cross-overs. We communicate about the exceptional potential of this region and we connect parties.
We can provide information about the innovative strength and regional economy and on subsidies and permits. Furthermore, we encourage (international) parties to get to know our region and we use our vast network to bring parties into contact with each other. Get in touch.
The members of The Economic Board have backgrounds in education, government and business. They have an extensive and unique network not only in the Arnhem – Nijmegen - Wageningen region, but also throughout the Netherlands and beyond. We would like to introduce them to you:
Rob Verhofstad
Chair of the Executive Board of the HAN University of Applied Sciences
Rob Verhofstad is the Chair of the Executive Board of the HAN University of Applied Sciences. The HAN helps meet societal challenges in the region by educating the professionals of the future and by doing practically oriented research for and with the region.
Bertine Lahuis
Chair Executive Board Radboudumc
Bertine Lahuis is the chair of the Executive Board of Radboudumc. She wants to make Radboudumc a forerunner in shaping the healthcare of the future; for instance, by collaborating with partners on establishing a robust network that runs through healthcare, education, and research.
Rens Buchwaldt
Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research
Rens Buchwaldt has been a member of the Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research since 2017. He returned to the Netherlands in early 2002 after having worked in the US, England, and Sweden. After his return he took up the role of financial director at Koninklijke Ahrend and was a member of the Board of Directors of flower auction Royal FloraHolland.
Jan van Iersel
Chair of the Executive Board of the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Science
Jan van Iersel is the chair of the Executive Board of the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences. He applies his years of expertise in management roles in education and research to promote the further development and growth of the 'greenest university of applied sciences' in the Netherlands.
Jeroen Lotgering
Board member NXP Netherlands and site director NXP Nijmegen
Apart from being a board member for NXP Netherlands, Jeroen Lotgering is the site director of the production location in Nijmegen and responsible for the facility organisation of NXP worldwide. The production location in Nijmegen is a high-tech working environment in which production and innovation go hand in hand.
Christianne van der Wal
Deputy of Gelderland Provincial Executive
Christianne van der Wal has been a deputy for the Gelderland Provincial Executive since 5 June 2019, on behalf of the liberal VVD party. Her portfolio comprises economy and innovation, mobility (excluding public transport), aviation, regional agenda 'Gelderse Corridor en FruitDelta', project Rail Terminal Gelderland and project 'Beter Bereikbaar Wageningen'.
Maarten Otto
CEO Alliander
Maarten Otto became the CEO of Alliander on 20 May 2020. He started working at the company in 2017, starting off in the role of Director of Corporate & Social Affairs. As Alliander is one of the largest employers in the region, Maarten wants to collaborate on societal issues surrounding the execution of the energy transition with other board members.
Monique Esselbrugge
Alderman Municipality of Nijmegen
Dr Monique Esselbrugge has been alderman for the Municipality of Nijmegen since 2018. One of her core activities is connecting entrepeneurs, knowledge institutions and governments. She has been member of The Economic Board since November 2019.
Marco Timmers
CEO Byondis
Dr Marco Timmers has been CEO at Byondis since November 2019. This Nijmegen-based company concentrates on the development of precision medicines for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Byondis is one of the region's biggest employees in the field of Life Sciences & Health.
Bernard de Graaf
Chair VNO-NCW Arnhem - Nijmegen and Managing Director Rupro beheer B.V.
Bernard de Graaf is Managing Director at Rupro B.V. and Chair of VNO-NCW Arnhem – Nijmegen. He feels very strongly about cooperation with local entrepeneurs and governments, in which he considers the job market, mobility and sustainability to be crucial issues.
Hubert Bruls
Chair The Economic Board and mayor Municipality Nijmegen
Hubert Bruls is chair of The Economic Board. As mayor of Nijmegen he has access to the political network in the region and in the Netherlands. Nijmegen is the 2018 European Green Capital which earns it attention from international and national business communities.
Ben Geerdink
Chair of the executive board of Rijn IJssel
In his role as chair of the executive board of Rijn IJssel College, Ben Geerdink is committed to educating genuine professionals. He sees the social task of Rijn IJssel to educate students sustainably: to a position in today and tomorrow’s employment markets and for active participation in society.
Carol van Eert
Mayor of Municipality of Rheden
Carol van Eert, mayor of the Municipality of Rheden, is also closely concerned with the Arnhem - Nijmegen regional administration. As vice-chairman, he works on the development of the regional economy.
Jan van Dellen
Alderman Municipality of Arnhem
Jan van Dellen is alderman for Economic Affairs at the Municipality of Arnhem. He is also chair of the regional assembly of portfolio administrators who make agreements on regional economic development.
René Verhulst
Mayor of the Municipality of Ede, Chair Triple Helix, Chair Foodvalley Region
René Verhulst is mayor of the Municipality of Ede. Ede is part of the FoodValley Region, a first-class European region and international home base for companies and knowledge and research institutions focusing on sustainable and healthy food and heathy people.
Daniël Wigboldus
Chair of the board of governors of Radboud University
Daniël Wigboldus is chair of the board of governors of Radboud University in Nijmegen. Wigboldus is closely involved with the development of and innovations in education. Radboud University offers various partnership opportunities for businesses, organisations and institutes.
Enny van de Velden
CCO CCV Group
Enny van de Velden is the chairman and CCO of family business CCV Group. She has years of experience in branding, change management and experience marketing.About the region
The Arnhem – Nijmegen region consists of eighteen municipalities working closely together on various spearheads, such as sustainability, the housing market, the economy and logistics. The region’s top sectors are Food, Health and Energy. The urban network Arnhem – Nijmegen is an economic powerhouse in the east of the Netherlands.
Should you like to know more about The Economic Board, or you wish to connect with the Arnhem – Nijmegen region or you have any other questions, please contact us.
Matthijs Kop
Program Manager The Economic Board
Matthijs Kop works as programme manager for The Economic Board, appointed by the Municipality of Arnhem. He is the right person for more information for a smooth landing and about making contacts in the region.
Sigrid Helbig
Director of The Economic Board.
Sigrid Helbig is director of The Economic Board. She has vast experience in the services sector. Helbig is committed to supporting women at the top of the Dutch business community.
Richard Dobbelmann
Business associate The Economic Board
As business associate of The Economic Board, Richard Dobbelmann, like no other, knows his way round the business community in the region of Arnhem – Nijmegen, with Wageningen.- +31 (0) 850409980
- bureau@theeconomicboard.com
- The Economic Board
Mercator II
Toernooiveld 300
6525 EC Nijmegen, the Netherlands
