In the last decades, I had the opportunity to work on a number of long-term projects that involved the implementation of modern food safety standards and management systems in several Eastern European Countries.
Both governmental and non-governmental organisations were the beneficiaries of these projects, aiming to level them up to the EU Legal standards. Especially inspection services (Sanitary and Veterinary) had to make a change in order to adapt to aforementioned standards (ISO 9001, 14001, 17020, 17025, 19011, 22000, etc.). Also, I was able to help companies in the food, feed, and rendering sector to implement new (quality) management systems.

During the last five years, I was involved in several institutional developments and organisational capacity-building projects for the top management of Agriculture Universities and Colleges in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Rwanda. Concerning the relation between food security and water, I was involved in the IWRM and aquaculture project with SEKU University in Kenya and a livestock and water project with Pwani University in Kenya. As a project manager, I am coordinating 4 EP-Nuffic projects at this moment. Recently I was engaged in the implementation of Global G.A.P. Fish, ASC, and HACCP at 3 Dutch sea fish aquaculture companies and HACCP at Anna Royal Dutch Caviar Company. The most recent food safety implementation is HACCP at a Dutch trout company and GMP and ISO 9001 in an algae company.

The aforementioned projects always dealt with changing. I deliberately use the word “changing”, because it never stops.
Showing people what phenomena accompany change processes and what they can do to be successful is what drives me nowadays.

It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.
– Charles Darwin