30 years in IT.
An equally long
inner journey.
Two worlds that are closer than they seem. Both revolve around understanding complex systems, and translating what is complicated into something that works.
With 30 years of experience in IT, I connect users, processes and technology. I quickly get to the heart of complex issues and ensure a stable, secure and future-proof application landscape.
My analytical eye and communication skills make me a natural bridge between users, management and technology. Alongside my technical skills, I have a keen eye for design and user experience, thanks in part to my background in graphic design.
Work experience
Seconded to Cito in Arnhem as a Functional Application Manager.
The GPS Orbit Team is responsible for developing and maintaining a wide range of products and services used throughout Alliander. ORBIT stands for the Dutch words for Design, Calculate, Manage, Inform and Display.
Within this team of five, I shared responsibility for:
- Managing the applications used to design our networks
- Monitoring and licence management
- Annual migration projects (upgrades) for all Autodesk 2D and 3D software
- Technical management of FME Flow (Server) and FME Form (Desktop)
- Maintaining custom application menus in Visual Studio / GitHub
- Troubleshooting second-line incidents
- Providing documentation for packaging the desktop applications
- Carrying out risk and impact analyses for changes and new applications
- Helping to shape and implement new technologies and security measures
- Setting up a new structure for documentation and knowledge sharing within the team
- Designing a new approach to lifecycle management
TenneT operates the high-voltage grid in the Netherlands and Germany. Within the Business Technology Organisation I worked as a Technical Application Manager in the Shared Systems and Markets NL team. The team manages in-house and purchased applications used within the TSO community. The applications run on both Linux and Windows systems and are mainly used to safeguard the stability of the grid.
- Installing the applications and keeping them operational
- Technical configuration of systems and management of parameters for databases, applications and interfaces
- Supporting the organisation with security compliance and audit requests
- Technical point of contact, translating requirements for the various IT departments
- Mapping technical dependencies across the application landscape
- Setting up and maintaining application monitoring
- Documenting work instructions
- Windows 2012 → 2022 migration projects
- 24/7 on-call duty one week in every five
- Setting up a new documentation structure in the Confluence wiki
Buurtplein provides youth care and social support services (under the Dutch Social Support Act, Wmo) for the municipality of Doetinchem. (Alongside my 24 hours a week at Buurtplein, I worked two days a week as a freelancer.)
After years of working mainly as a technical application manager, I welcomed the challenge of going deeper into functional application management. I translated KPIs, management information and other data into reports that I built in Power BI. I also advised the management team on which applications to use and which steps to take to improve work processes. In addition, I trained internal, non-technical users and reported to management with concrete proposals for improvements, changes and opportunities.
- Creating management reports in Power BI
- Migrating SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint Online
- Managing WIZportaal with its link to the OneGov case management system
- Functional management of the Visma HR Payroll application
- Drawing up the IT budget
- Drawing up the information security policy and code of conduct
- Overseeing the move from fixed desktops to flexible workstations with docking stations
- Setting up a new Teams / SharePoint environment
De Connectie is a shared services organisation. Until 2026 it was owned by the municipalities of Arnhem, Renkum and Rheden, after which it was merged into the municipality of Arnhem.
As a Technical Application Manager in a team of 16, I was the intermediary between the functional administrators, the technical (infrastructure) administrators and the suppliers of (web) applications and services. As a team we handled the operational management and monitoring of around 1,600 municipal applications of Arnhem, Renkum, Rheden and Rozendaal, as well as De Connectie's own applications, delivered through Citrix.
- UNIT4 Financials with integrations to OnBase, Kofax & Cognos
- LIAS Enterprise (planning and control software)
- Taking part in an improvement programme for long-standing case management system issues
- Managing Windows 2008/2012/2016 servers
- Managing integrations with Oracle (10g, 11g, 12c, 19c) & MSSQL databases
- Management and transition work across various DTAP environments
- Taking part in migration and upgrade projects
- Producing infrastructure architecture diagrams in Visio
- Compiling and reviewing technical operations manuals
Oculentis made intraocular lenses for eye surgery, mainly for the German market. The company went bankrupt during the COVID pandemic, when eye operations could not go ahead. It was later relaunched as Teleon.
As Application Manager I focused mainly on the functional and technical management of the ERP system Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016. I was also responsible for:
- Functional and technical management of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016
- The Microsoft Azure cloud environment
- Managing Office 365, SharePoint & Exchange Server
- Managing Windows 2012 & 2016 servers
- Managing Qlik Sense
- Transitions and validation of the TAP environment
- Migration projects
- Documentation & manuals
As a public authority, the Province of Gelderland is responsible for a wide range of tasks and policy areas at provincial level, such as spatial planning, traffic and transport, the environment, the economy, culture, recreation and the supervision of municipalities. (Seconded through Brunel.)
As a Technical Application Manager in a team of 18, I was the intermediary between the functional administrators, the technical (infrastructure) administrators and the suppliers of the GEO/GIS (web) applications and services.
- Managing and monitoring all core GEO/GIS applications and (web) services
- Managing Autodesk AutoCAD 3D & Civil3D
- Managing 60+ non-core applications in a Citrix environment
- Managing Linux and Windows 2008/2012/2016 servers
- Experience with Oracle, MSSQL and PostgreSQL databases
- Management and transition work across various DTAP environments
- Taking part in migration and upgrade projects
- Compiling and reviewing technical operations manuals
- Preparing monthly reports
Reed Business Information (RBI) was an international, publicly listed company that provided business information and data services to a range of sectors worldwide. Following a reorganisation, it became part of RELX / LexisNexis.
As a Corporate Systems Analyst (Technical Application Manager), I was the intermediary between the functional administrators, the technical (infrastructure) administrators and the suppliers of (web) applications and services.
- Managing and monitoring 30+ back-office applications and 100+ services
- Working in global teams alongside colleagues in the UK and US
- Managing Linux Red Hat and Windows servers (2003, 2008, 2012)
- Server management in a VMware environment
- Experience with Oracle, MSSQL and MySQL databases
- Managing reporting tools: Business Objects, QlikView, AWS Big Data platform
- Management and transition work across various DTAP environments
- Installing and managing WebLogic middleware (Oracle Service Bus 10g, 11g, 12c)
- Managing and monitoring the Redwood (Cronacle) job scheduling tool
- Writing maintenance scripts in Linux Bash and Windows Batch / PowerShell
- Taking part in migration and upgrade projects
- Compiling and reviewing technical operations manuals
Bureau Jeugdzorg Gelderland was a Dutch public body responsible for the care and welfare of children and young people in the province of Gelderland. I joined BJZG as a helpdesk employee, grew into the role of application manager after a year, and became an application developer a year later.
- Developing various intranet sites
- Application management and development of IJ (the youth care information system)
- Application management and custom modifications of the Topdesk helpdesk system
- System and network administration (Novell / Microsoft WAN environment)
- Telephone helpdesk, first and second line
- Writing queries and scripts for management reports (SQL)
- Developing complex Word templates (VBA script)
- Documenting work instructions and user manuals
- Taking part in hardware and software migration projects
Alive is a wholesaler of natural remedies. It also ran courses and training programmes in personal development and trained therapists. (Alongside my 32 hours a week at Alive, I spent one day a week building websites as a freelancer.)
As IT officer I was responsible for all IT and graphic design work.
- Developing the website with an online shop system
- Application management of Exact for Windows
- Network administration (LAN), data management and backup procedures
- Designing promotional material and advertisements
- Developing custom solutions in MS Access
- Designing new products (DTP)
- Email campaigns
- Documenting work instructions
IBN Groep operates in North Brabant and specialises in creating jobs for people who face barriers to the labour market. As technical system administrator I was responsible for the day-to-day management of the technical infrastructure and the IT and telecommunications equipment at IBN's four locations.
- Telephone helpdesk, network administration (WAN), office software
- Application management of Exact, Paymate and Compas
- Designing and maintaining the website
- Setting up a new helpdesk system
- Developing custom applications in MS Access
- Documenting work instructions and user manuals
Computer Company had several shops where consumers could buy mainly Compaq computers, as well as a consultancy arm for small and medium-sized businesses. It later became part of Computer Services Solutions (CSS). I joined them to develop my IT skills further.
- Telephone helpdesk, first and second line
- Resolving issues for both internal colleagues and external Compaq customers
- Setting up a new helpdesk system (Marval)
- Installing hardware and software
- MS Office user support
Sleco is the metal construction company where my father was operations manager and machine builder, and where I helped out on Saturdays and during holidays from the age of 14 to 19. When they were looking for someone to support the operations office, they offered me the job.
- Preparing quotations and orders, producing workshop drawings in AutoCAD
- Developing a product management system in MS Access
- Export management for a production company in Poland
- Advising on the purchase of new hardware & software
- Network administration (LAN), backups
- Designing promotional material and advertisements
IDG Electronica Hardwarereiniging was part of Randstad Holding. In this project, Olivetti equipment was collected from every ABN AMRO bank branch across the Netherlands. As line supervisor I oversaw and supported the decommissioning, cleaning and testing of cash machines and computer equipment. Because the systems could contain confidential banking data, I made sure that every disk was completely wiped on arrival.
- Resolving technical problems and faults
- Checking the records of incoming and outgoing equipment
- Leading a cleaning team of about ten people
- Ensuring work instructions were carried out correctly
Royal Ahrend specialises in office design and furniture. As AS/400 operator I was responsible for the correct distribution of data flows to the invoicing, finishing, order processing, assembly, distribution, planning, purchasing and accounting departments.
- Managing the IBM AS/400 B20 & D60 systems
- Data management and (tape) backups
During my national service I was the armourer of the 108th Light Transport Company. Because I had time to spare and the 112th Medium/Heavy Transport Company had no armourer, I managed both armouries. The commanding officer presented me with a letter of commendation for the enthusiastic and skilled way in which I carried out second-echelon maintenance of the small arms. This was especially evident during the MEO inspection of 24 and 25 April 1995, where I was rated ‘good’ on every aspect inspected. Rank: Private First Class.
- Repair and maintenance of all small arms of the Royal Netherlands Army
- Supervising the issue and return of weapons and ammunition
- Active as a branch committee member of the VVDM (the association for conscripted servicemen)
From the age of fourteen to nineteen I worked every Saturday and every holiday as a metalworker at this construction company, where my father was operations manager.
- Working with stainless steel: welding, shearing, sawing, punching, bending and folding
- Working with plastics: sawing, pressing
- Producing workshop drawings in AutoCAD
Education & certificates
- Azure Fundamentals AZ-9002023
- Cloud Architect (higher professional education) Module 1 - LOI2023
- ITIL4 Foundation - Exin2019
- ASL2 Foundation - Exin2017
- ITIL Foundation - Exin2010
- Application Management (secondary vocational) - Ecabo Eindhoven1992–94
- Graphic Reproduction (secondary vocational) - Grafisch Lyceum Eindhoven1991–92
- Mechanical Technology (lower vocational) - LTS Veghel1988–91
- '25UX Design
- '24FME Flow Authoring
- '24FME Form Basic
- '23Azure AZ-305
- '23Azure AZ-104
- '23OBM
- '23Jira
- '23Power BI
- '21Database Design
- '21HTML5/CSS3
- '21JavaScript ES6
- '19ITIL4
- '18ASL2
- '11SonicMQ 1
- '11SonicMQ 2
- '10Linux/Unix
- '10Business English
- '10ITIL
- '10Oracle DB11g
- '10Linux
- '08BEA AquaLogic
- '08Oracle AS10g
- '08WebLogic Server
- '04Topdesk Design
- '04PL/SQL Oracle
- '04OSQL Oracle
- '04Topdesk Basics
- '00Novell NetWare
- '99Citrix WinFrame
- '99MS Windows NT
- '98Intel LANDesk
- '88Programming in BASIC
Alongside my IT career I have travelled an equally long path in energy work and the exploration of consciousness. It is also the source of my creative work, the books and the reflection cards.
Practice & training
- 1997 - First introduction to Zhineng Qigong through Roy Martina
- 1998–2000 - ChiNeng Qigong Level 1 training, including two weeks in Thailand
- 2006 - Three-week intensive Qigong retreat, Ossendrecht
- 2007–2009 - Weekly Level 1 & 2 classes with Arianne de Zwart, Arnhem
- 2008 - Training with teacher Luke Chan (Tai Chi, Daoism), Nijmegen
- 2008 - Training with teachers Li & Liu Hongshi (special abilities), Arnhem
- 2009 - Training with teacher Yuantong Liu, Epe
- 2010 - Two-week silent retreat with Yuan Tze in New Zealand
- 2011 - Certified Level 1 Yuan Tze Ren Xue / Zhineng Qigong Teacher
- 2011 - Certified Level 2 Yuan Tze Ren Xue / Zhineng Qigong Teacher
- 2015 & 2018 - Training with teacher Xie, Witteveen
- 2020 - Certified Level 1 Yuan Gong Teacher
- 2023 - Training with teacher Li Hongshi, Arnhem
- 2024 - Started Level 3 Teacher Training (ChiNeng Institute)
- 2025 - Weekly online Level 3 classes with Arianne de Zwart
- 1987 - 1989 Drawing & painting lessons, Instituut Pieter Bruegel, Veghel
- 2003 - Drawing, modelling and bronze casting, Arnhem
- 2020 - Māori bone carving workshop with Toroa Aperahama (Māori elder)
- 1999–2001 - Reiki Master training, Alive Vitality for Life, Schaijk
- 2000–2002 - Deep Field Relaxation with Clif & Galina Sanderson (Thailand / the Netherlands)
- 2009 - Touch of Matrix training with Günther de Jong, Feel Balanced, Enschede
- 2001–2005 - Sweat lodge ceremonies from various traditions
- 2003 - Member of OBOD Netherlands (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids)
- 2004 - Shamanic training with Māori shaman Wai Turoa Morgan, Roodeschool
- 2008 - Inca shamanism, Munay-Ki initiations with Gwen Floch, Zutphen
- 2011 - Shamanic training with Māori shaman Wai Turoa Morgan, Roodeschool
- 2014 - Shamanic training with Māori shaman Wai Turoa Morgan, Roodeschool
- 2007 - Glastonbury & Avalon, England · On-site study of early Christian and Celtic traditions.
- 2009 - Glastonbury, England · A second visit, going deeper into the local mythology and ritual landscape.
- 2010 - South Island, New Zealand · A journey to Māori wāhi tapu (sacred places) and natural places of power.
- 2013 - England: Glastonbury · Cornwall · Avebury · Stonehenge · Study of Neolithic sacred sites.
- 2017 - Glastonbury, England · Visiting sacred springs and historic sites with my partner Hadewich Gerlach.