The Netherlands Water Partnership Advisory Board takes office

The first ‘live’ meeting of the Netherlands Water Partnership’s (NWP) Advisory Board was held on 4 July 2023. The Advisory Board is an important body in the governance structure of NWP that supports the foundation to carry out its mission of promoting and serving the interests, needs, and priorities of the Dutch water sector in the international community.

NWP supports the Dutch water sector to help solve global water challenges in a societal, just, and environmentally resilient way, whilst growing their global reach and impact. The Advisory Board will meet four times a year to provide strategic guidance and advice to NWP on the needs and priorities of the Dutch water sector. All the key sectors in the wider Dutch water sector are reflected in NWP’s Advisory Board. These range from private companies to government agencies, NGOs, and knowledge institutes, whose perspectives are represented by individual members. The Board Chairman is Henk Nieboer.

Representing the interests of the Dutch water sector internationally

Henk reflects on this first formal meeting of the Advisory Board. "NWP represents the interests of the Dutch water sector in the international water community. The members of the Board comprise a cross-section of the broad Dutch water sector. For NWP, the Advisory Board is a crucial senior-level platform that advises it on the strategic direction and requirements of the water sector. We want to help the NWP members connect their daily business to the international water arena.”

We want to help the NWP members connect their daily business to the international water arena.

Henk Nieboer

The Board Chairman of NWP's Advisory Board

Caroline Bäcker, the Director-Chair of NWP is pleased to welcome the members of NWP’s Advisory Board and is looking forward to a fruitful collaboration that will enable NWP to serve the sector and address cross-cutting water themes. “NWP’s strength is its wide network and ability to link organisations and individuals in the water sector who may not always find each other in their immediate circles. Fostering collaboration in the Dutch water sector in the Netherlands and abroad is at the core of NWP’s mission. The appointment of the Advisory Board will have a strong impact and will benefit collaboration within the wider water sector to build Partnerships for a Water Driven Future.”

The appointment of the Advisory Board will have a strong impact and will benefit collaboration within the wider water sector to build Partnerships for a Water Driven Future.

Caroline Bäcker

Director-Chair of NWP

Board members represent sub-sectors

Ms Katja Portegies, represents the Central Government (Department of Waterways and Public Works)
Ms Luzette Kroon represents the Water Authorities
Mr Jelle Hannema represents the Drinking Water Companies,
Mr Johannes Boonstra represents the Knowledge and Research Institutes
Mr Michel Riemersma represents the Consulting Engineers
Mr Boaz Neugebauer represents the Building Contractors
Mr Yousef Yousef represents the Technology SMEs.

The Board will soon be expanded with representatives of Non-governmental organisations, the Dredging Contractors, and Spatial Planners and Architects.