Inspiration
The greatest source of joy in my life is my wife and our family. Marta has connected me with the Spanish-speaking community and the creative world of Barcelona.
My own roots go back to The Netherlands (Delft), the French Huguenots and wonderful Africa. I was born and raised in South Africa, the Cape Province, a fruit and wine-producing region.
I grew up seeing society evolve from an undemocratic system with racially discriminating laws to an open, non-racial democracy and an emerging market economy. Like many of us involved in anti-apartheid initiatives in the 1980s, I have a deep appreciation of the value of diversity, openness and transformative change.
Recent experience
Since late 2011, I operate as an independent consultant based in Geneva, Switzerland, and External Senior Lecturer with Stellenbosch University Business School in Cape Town, South Africa. I collaborate with network partners based in Zurich, Berlin, Paris, Cape Town, Melbourne and elsewhere, doing project work with companies, business organisations and international (including UN) agencies in the terrain of sustainable finance and the Green Economy.
Experience in research, diplomacy and management
While doing international doctoral research in the 1990s, I served as diplomat and Deputy Director in the South African Goverment, Department of Foreign Affairs, specialising in environmental and socio-economic affairs. This included the combination of advanced research and first-hand experience, analysing the regulation of acid rain in the European Union while at the same time representing South Africa in the Kyoto climate negotiations.
During the 2000s I worked for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), leading private sector engagement in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and operating as focal point for the UN Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative. Working with leading analysts and recognised intitutions in the CSR field, I was deeply involved in normative work, practitioners dialogue and the development of guidance reports on topics such as green marketing, greening value chains, climate strategy, partnership development and sustainability reporting. This included working with the manufacturing, building, power generation and professional service industries.
During my last two years at UNEP, I served as Coordinator of one of its six Sub-Programmes. This provided valuable experience in applying principles of business management in the public sector, including the introduction of results-based management in a matrix organisation approach.
Education
I studied in South Africa, Germany, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and France. This prepared me for international research and collaboration, operating in dynamic and multicultural environments. Especially exciting in recent years was my course work in leadership and strategy at Said Business School (Oxford) and Tsinghua University (Beijing).
I have an extensive academic and research background, including a PhD in International Relations (EU, Stellenbosch University) and an Executive MBA (HEC Business School, Paris).
During my early years as a student, I developed a strong ability for interdisciplinary thinking and analysis, having studied and researched in the areas of philosophy, economics and management.