Anouk Op het Veld

My roots lie in Limburg, near Venlo, but I have now been living in the Randstad for over 30 years. I studied Public Administration and Macroeconomics and began my professional career at the Ministry of Finance, at the Directorate-General for the National Budget. After five years in public service, I became increasingly drawn to the corporate world and joined the consultancy firm Andersson Elffers Felix (AEF), where I worked with great pleasure for 16 years, 11 of which as partner/co-owner. AEF is a strategy consultancy focused on societal challenges, and I was responsible for the health and welfare sector. This meant that I carried out numerous assignments — from change programmes to major system reforms — for hospitals, elderly care organisations, youth services, mental health institutions and disability organisations, as well as major programmes for the Ministry of Health (VWS), the Healthcare Authority (NZa), municipalities and health insurers. I know the health and welfare sector well, and it is where my passion lies. While at AEF, I also completed an MBA in Change at Oxford University & HEC Paris. This opened my eyes to the complexity of major change processes and what is required to create real movement. It provided invaluable insight for working in the health and welfare sector.

After many years of consultancy in cure, care and prevention, I wanted to move to the more disruptive side of healthcare transformation — health technology. I transitioned to Philips — now a fully medtech company — as Director of Strategy for the Benelux market. There, I discovered the fascinating world of medical technology and digital health. Unfortunately, after 1.5 years, Philips entered the sleep apnea crisis, and as one of the few people in the company with connections to the Dutch government, I became deeply involved in managing this crisis in collaboration with the IGJ, VWS, NZa and ACM. It was quite an adventure, but not the innovation-driven path I had been seeking.

After three valuable years at Philips, I co-founded the GelijkGezond Foundation with two partners. Our mission: “to help people with a minimum income gain more healthy years of life.” I can speak about this with great enthusiasm, but it is quicker to visit www.gelijkgezond.nl. After the initial strategic years, we gradually entered the next phase as a start-up — the operational phase. That was the moment I transitioned from the core team to the Supervisory Board of GelijkGezond. I remain proudly involved, but now in a different role. And that was exactly when conversations started about my current, wonderful position as Director of Vitality, Care & Welfare.

In my free time, I enjoy baking cakes, acting, visiting the theatre frequently, and dining with friends. I live in Utrecht with my son Flip and my partner Ellen. In addition to my work at PGGM and my supervisory role at GelijkGezond, I also serve on the Supervisory Board of VVT organisation Omring, on the Supervisory Board of Stichting Else (a small health-related foundation), and I teach in the MBA Health programme at Erasmus University.