Governance
World Water Academy has one statutory board member, director Gabriëlle Knufman. As CEO, she is ultimately responsible for the policy and daily operations of World Water Academy and Wateropleidingen. Additionally, she maintains contacts across the entire water sector and promotes innovation in our training programs.
Supervisory Board
World Water Academy has a Supervisory Board. This board oversees the management and daily operations of the foundation and its organization. The board also provides guidance and support to the executive management on the organization’s strategic direction. This includes approving major strategic decisions and ensuring they align with the organization’s mission and goals.
The Supervisory Board of World Water Academy and Wateropleidingen consists of: Gerhard van de Top, Henrike Branderhorst, Bas Tammes, Joyce Nelissen, Peter Jansen and Erik Mostert
Gerhard van den Top
Experience:
- Mayor, Municipality of Hilversum
- Water Board Commissioner, Water Board Amstel, Gooi and Vecht
- CEO, Vitens Evides International (VEI)
- Executive Strategy Consultant, Shell Global Solutions
- Director of Conservation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- University Lecturer, Leiden University
Additional Roles:
- Chair, Advisory Board, Staatsbosbeheer
- Jury Member, Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, Public Utility Board, Singapore
- Member, Supervisory Board, Deltares
- Ambassador, Stichting Muziekids Utrecht
- Ambassador, Stichting Meer Muziek in de Klas Amsterdam
Henrike Branderhorst
Experience:
- Co-CEO, TAUW Group
- Various management roles at Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier
- Senior Policy Officer, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
- Project Leader, Rijkswaterstaat
- Project Leader, Province of North Holland
Additional Roles:
- Member, Top Team Water & Maritime – Representative of Dutch Engineers
- Top Sector Water & Maritime
- Chair, VVE, Block 6-GWL Area Amsterdam
- Member, Innovation Council, Water Board Vechtstromen
- Member, Supervisory Board, Saxion
Bas Tammes
Experience:
- Secretary-Director, Water Board Noorderzijlvest
- Head of Operations, Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland
- Various management roles, Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland
- Water Management Consultant, Ethiopia
- Program Manager, Bolivia
Additional Roles:
- Chair, VVE Amsteldijk 108
Joyce Nelissen
Experience:
- Director, WML
- CFO/CIO, Province of Limburg
- Various roles in Consultancy and Accountancy
- Municipality of Maastricht
Additional Roles:
- Chair, Supervisory Board, Elisabeth Strouven Fund
- Vice-Chair, Supervisory Board, and Chair of the Audit Committee, Vista College
- General Board Member, VEWIN
- Chair, VEWIN Steering Group Efficiency, Transparency, and Water Chain (DTW)
- Administrative Representative, VEWIN, National Crisis Management Provision
- Chair, RIWA Maas
Peter Jansen
Experience:
- COO, Wereld Waternet
- Program Manager, WaterWorX Laos
- Various management roles at Waternet
- Project Manager, Wissenraet Van Spaendonck and Oranjewoud
Additional Roles:
- Board Member/Treasurer, Stichting Wetskills
- Member, Sustainability Committee, VVE Warmondstraat 163-187, Amsterdam
- Member, Advisory Board New Curriculum, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Public Administration and Spatial Development
Erik Mostert
Experience:
- Lecturer, TU Delft, Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences
- Expertise in water law and ethics, social learning, and collaboration processes
- Researcher, focuses on innovation processes, long-term institutional developments, and underlying values
Additional Roles:
- Associate Editor, International Journal of River Basin Management, International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)/Taylor & Francis
