Erwin van Geenen PhD (1971) has been appointed member of the Executive Board at HAS University of Applied Sciences. His arrival on 15 August 2019 will mean that, with fellow board member, Liz Chermin and chairman, Dick Pouwels, the board is now complete and ready for the future. Erwin is currently Director Business & Operations at the University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht. His responsibilities at HAS University of Applied Sciences will include the operational management portfolio.
Considerable development
Over recent years, HAS University of Applied Sciences, has gone through a period of considerable development: growing to over 3,800 students in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Venlo, and is now one of the top 3 universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. The education and research are firmly focused on every-day practical, real-life issues. This leading university of applied sciences combines the knowledge and experience of professionals with the fresh perspective of its students, who come from the Netherlands and from across the globe. Our clear ambition is that we expect everyone associated with HAS to contribute towards solving social issues related to the agrifood sector and the living environment. We will continue to focus on realising this ambition in the years to come. Sustainability is key in all we do: not only in our education and research, but also in our operational management.
Stronger and more sustainable operational management
These developments, combined with our ambitions have made it increasingly important for HAS University of Applied Sciences to complete the Executive Board. This is why we welcome Erwin in his new role. Hans Huijbers, Chairman of the Supervisory Board: “We’re delighted with Erwin’s appointment. Over the coming years, we will not only be focusing on maintaining and further developing the high level of education and research at HAS University of Applied Sciences, but also on making our operational management stronger and more sustainable. With Erwin onboard, we’re gaining someone with considerable experience when it comes to both strategic and operational management. And we’re confident that he has the skills and experience to take our organisation to the next level.”
Strong identity
Erwin is looking forward to taking up his new position: “HAS University of Applied Sciences has a strong identity. It’s the university of applied sciences for agrifood and the living environment in the south of the Netherlands. It has a personal approach and a high intrinsic motivation to find innovative, real-life solutions to concrete problems. Over recent years, HAS University of Applied Sciences has experienced considerable growth. So, there’s now a need for further professionalisation. That’s where I see the challenge: how can we further develop the organisation and prepare for future challenges, without losing our unique identity. I see it as a privilege to be able to contribute to these efforts and to be part of such an impressive institution.”
Getting started together
Dick Pouwels is enthusiastic about Erwin’s pending arrival: “With Erwin on the board, we once again have a complete and complementary team. We can now go full steam ahead and work together to further develop our HAS University of Applied Sciences. This is important, not least because our sector is going through such an amazing transition. This is happening across various tracks: the circular agrifood system, healthy food, climate & energy, and healthy living environment are all areas where there’s lots of work to do. HAS University of Applied Sciences is playing an important role in these transitions: by educating students who understand what needs to be done and who feel a sense of responsibility towards contributing to these transitions; and through our research, helping companies with their innovations.”
About Erwin van Geenen
Erwin van Geenen’s qualifications include a first-class master’s in Cognitive Artificial Intelligence from Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, a first-class master’s in International Economics from the Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C. in the United States and a PhD in Business from Nyenrode University, the Netherlands.
Education Centre of the UMC Utrecht
After a brief career at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Erwin moved to the Care business unit of Achmea health insurance as an academic researcher. Since 2004, he has held various positions at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, and in 2012 was appointed Director Business & Operations. For the past 2 years, he has carried out this role within the Education Centre of the UMC Utrecht, where he was also Director of the Medical Faculty of the University Utrecht. He has been active for over 10 years on the boards of trustees of various educational institutions and currently at the Educational Foundation for Independent Grammar Schools and at Medez music school.