Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 25 years of experience, the expert is a seasoned innovator and change leader in international business development, innovation management, and agriculture. With more than 17 years dedicated to managing innovation projects at the academic-business interface, the expert excels in identifying business opportunities under technical and economic uncertainty. Career highlights include roles such as Business Development Manager at Fraunhofer Chile Research, where leadership in projects related to agricultural ecology and biotechnology was demonstrated. Additionally, the expert served as Programme Director for a regional bee health initiative, successfully managing multimillion-dollar budgets and building multidisciplinary teams across international and cultural boundaries.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as Bayer A.G. and the European Commission. In partnership with Bayer, the expert executed a regional program focused on bee health across Latin America. Additionally, responsibilities have included advising on internationalization strategies for the agri-food sector under the AL-Invest Economic Development Programme by the European Commission. These projects involved capacity building, stakeholder dialogues, and strategic development, primarily in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Costa Rica.

Sectors and geographic focus

Background includes positions at various sectors including fundraising, food processing and safety, science and innovation, SME and private sector development, program and resource management, research, and agriculture. Previously held roles such as business development manager, program director, and international consultant, with responsibilities spanning strategy development, project management, and technology transfer. The expert's interdisciplinary expertise includes digitalization in agriculture and sustainable development practices. The geographic scope of work is extensive, covering Latin America, Europe, and India, with a focus on regional and international initiatives. Extensive geographic experience across Latin America, Europe, and India includes professional engagements in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany, Honduras, India, Netherlands, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay. This broad distribution of work has provided deep familiarity with local governance and cultural dynamics, particularly in Latin America. The expert's recurring involvement in projects within these regions underscores a strong understanding of regional development issues and cross-cultural management.

Languages and education

With a background in language proficiency, the expert is a native Dutch speaker with excellent proficiency in English and good proficiency in Spanish and German. These language skills have been utilized extensively in international work environments, facilitating communication in multilingual teams and across diverse cultural settings. The expert's linguistic capabilities have supported roles in various countries, including Germany, Chile, and other Latin American nations, enhancing cross-cultural management and collaboration. The expert holds a Master of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Business-Society Management from the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands. Additionally, the expert earned a Master of Science in International Management from the Community of European Management School (CEMS). The educational background also includes a Bachelor of Science in International Agriculture Trade from Van Hall - Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, also in the Netherlands.