Cooperatively yours.

I have a thing for cooperatives. Ever since 1992, in the final phase of my economics studies in Wageningen. At the time, I thought: if thousands of entrepreneurs can organize themselves and thus withstand significant (market) powers, then you have a fantastic business model. But more than that: it's actually also a way to organize economic and social justice from the heart of the community.

Over the past 30+ years, I have been intensively involved with cooperatives in many different ways: as a researcher, advisor, trainer, confidant, start-up coach, and also as a founder and director myself. I started at Wageningen University, Rabobank Nederland, and Nyenrode Business University, where I obtained my PhD in 2001 with a dissertation on the strategy and structure of the world's largest dairy cooperatives.

Since 2010, I have been working from my own agency for cooperative development. I have done a lot for the long-established cooperatives and, since the UN Cooperative Year 2012, a lot for cooperative start-ups, in the economic and social domains. Since 2022 I'm part of ONE Cooperative."