Board of Trustees

This division ensures that the interaction between the day-to-day management and the trustees is efficient and effective.

The Board of Trustees is composed of the following members:

Bert van der Zwaan (1952) was the Rector Magnificus of Utrecht University from 2011 to 2018, when he was awarded emeritus status. Previously, he studied Geology at VU University Amsterdam, gained a PhD from Utrecht University and was appointed professor of Biogeology at Radboud University in Nijmegen in 1991. This was followed by his appointment to the position of full professor of Biogeology at Utrecht University. He became the first scientific director of the Darwin Center for Geobiology and was dean of the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University. In 2008, he stepped down from his position as professor of Biogeology at Utrecht University; he then focused on management.

During his time as Rector, Van der Zwaan launched various initiatives to strengthen the university's ties with primary and secondary education in the region, such as the 'Meet the professor' programme. He is a strong advocate of the internationalisation of education and also recognises the dangers faced by the educational sector throughout the world. Van der Zwaan has strong views about the future of universities and education in general. He wants to attract the very best students, is in favour of diversity and is not averse to preselection.

Van der Zwaan’s views are set out in Haalt de Universiteit 2040? (which translates as ‘will universities make it to 2040?’), a book that he published in 2015. In his book, Van der Zwaan concludes that the future of universities is not guaranteed and should be rethought and that the development of individuals continues to be their most important role. At the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (Universiteiten van Nederland (UNL)), Van der Zwaan heads the system reform taskforce (taskforce Stelselherziening).

In the following quote, Bert gets right to the core of the matter: "International relations are crucial for the Netherlands as a trading nation. Accordingly, it is essential that the entire education spectrum, from primary school to university, pays attention to international citizenship and the opportunities that internationalisation offers. Nuffic is a wonderful organisation which plays a major role in this effort due to its extensive knowledge and expertise."

Bert van der Zwaan is the chair of the Board of Trustees and also a member of its Remuneration Committee.

Ancillary positions:

• chair, Advisory Board, NESKO
• member, Quality Evaluation Panel, Universities Singapore
• independent chair, the Dutch Platform Geothermie, the province of Utrecht
• member, International Advisory Board, Studyportals
• member Academic Advisory Council Heidelberg University
• chair, Committee Dutch Research Agenda (NWA)

Term of appointment (1st): from 27 September 2019 to 27 September 2023.

In 2020, Bert van der Zwaan shared his thoughts on the impact the corona crisis will have on universities. Read the interview: "Universities around the globe are really proving their worth"

Peter Arnoldus (1965) is a member of the Council for the Judiciary and also its CFO. The Council for the Judiciary is the management body of the judicial organisations of the Netherlands (courts, tribunals and special courts). The Council fosters the high quality of the judiciary, it is responsible for the funding of the judiciary and it ensures that all courts receive appropriate support. In addition, the Council represents the interests of the judiciary in the political sector.

Peter studied Law and Political Science at the University of Leiden. After graduating, he worked at various departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, interspersed with several years as a consultant at KPMG. At the Ministry of Finance, he set up the National Academy for Finance and Economics, and between 2007 and 2014, he was the Director of Financial and Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, he helped to reform the budgetary policies of the ministries of finance of Bulgaria and Turkey. He is also involved in the collaboration between European councils for the judiciary.

Peter Arnoldus is a member of the Board of Trustees of Nuffic.

Ancillary positions:

• Lecturer at the National Academy for Finance, Economics and Management
• Lecturer at the Dutch School for Public Administration

Term of office (1st): from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025.

Read the interview about his ambitions for internationalisation: New member of Nuffic’s Board of Trustees: ‘Internationalisation for everyone’

Beatrice Boots (1967) is a director of Platform Bèta Techniek (PBT). This foundation ensures that science, technology and engineering education is more aligned with the labour market. It engages with all education sectors – from primary to higher education – and the private sector.

At PBT she set up Jet-Net (Jongeren en Technologie Netwerk Nederland). She also developed EDK (Eerst De Klas), a trainee programme which trains academics to become top lecturers, with a special focus on the development of leadership skills.

Before joining PBT, she worked at the Jakarta Liaison Office of the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, the University of Groningen and Leiden University. She was also responsible for the internationalisation policy of the Faculty of Economics and Econometrics of the University of Amsterdam.

Within the Board of Trustees Beatrice Boots is Head of the Remuneration Committee, member of the Quality Committee and charged with focusing on the works council.

Joyce Walstra (1978) is director at Oranjewoud Export Academy. A group of entrepreneurs and professionals who use their knowledge and experience to increase the export and sales opportunities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the north of the Netherlands.

Joyce studied Business Administration, International Business and Higher Hotel School. In her previous position she was director of Stenden professionals. A division of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, where she was responsible for creating customised educational offerings geared to the labour market.

From 2014 to 2016, she worked as a programme manager at Nuffic. In addition, she is actively committed to increasing international opportunities in SMEs through various side activities.

Joyce Walstra is a member of the Board of Trustees of Nuffic.

Ancillary positions:

• chair, Supervisory Board Landscape Triennial 2023
• chair, MKB Noord
• member, Executive Board of MKB-Nederland
• member of the Executive Board of VNO NCW Netherlands
• member, SER Noord Nederland
• member, Board of Noordelijk Cultuur Fonds

Term of office (1st): from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025.

Ewout D. West (1968) is CFO and member of the Executive Board of Ecorys. Ecorys is a research and consultancy agency for local and national governments, the European Union and other international institutions. It advises and implements social, spatial and economic issues.

Originating in Rotterdam, more than 90 years ago, Ecorys is now active in a large part of the world.

He studied Business Economics at the University of Limburg, followed by the post-graduate course Register Controller at the VU in Amsterdam.

After starting at KPN, he has worked at various companies including Stork Aerospace, Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer and the Dutch Railways.

He was also an advisor to start-ups and scale-ups and supervisor at a number of public transport companies. For work and study, Ewout lived in France, the UK and the United States – last mentioned as an exchange student.

Within the Board of Trustees Ewout West is member of the Audit Committee.