‘Every child in the Netherlands deserves equality of opportunity. And school is where the foundations for this are laid. Mastering skills like reading, writing and arithmetic puts the world at your feet. At the ministry, we work hard every day to ensure the best education and increase the number of great teachers. So that all children can become their best selves.’
1985-1991
Degree in international law, Leiden University
1991-1997
Various positions, including management roles, British Petroleum
1997-1999
Group Director for Corporate Communications, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
1999-2000
Marketing & Communications Director, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
2000-2004
Co-owner and consultant, Principal Communications
2004-2013
Various management roles in marketing, communications and HR, ABN AMRO
2013-2015
Corporate & Sales Communications Director, Sanoma Media
2015-2016
Interim Global Communications Director, Porticus
2016-2017
Sabbatical, freelance consultant, member of the 2017 parliamentary election campaign team of the Amsterdam branch of the VVD
2017-2021
Global Communications Director, Royal BAM Group
2021 - July 2023
Member of the House of Representatives for the VVD; party spokesperson on primary and secondary education and the childcare benefit redress process, chair of the permanent parliamentary committee on Kingdom relations and of the temporary parliamentary committee reviewing coronavirus policy
21 July 2023
Appointed Minister for Primary and Secondary Education in the fourth Rutte government
1991-1996
Member of the advisory and supervisory board of the Professor B.M. Telders debating society
2004-2008
Member of the communications strategy committee, Association of Certified Mortgage Advisers (SEH)
2007-2016
Cofounder and member of the organising committee, Hill+Knowlton alumni organisation (‘Stay Connected’)
2009-2010
Course for aspiring housing association supervisors, including a one-year work placement on the supervisory board of Elan Wonen, Haarlem
2010-2013
Volunteer, ABN AMRO Foundation
2016-2018
Member of the permanent campaign committee of the Amsterdam branch of the VVD
2017-2021
Deputy chair of the Amsterdam branch of the VVD, focusing on recruitment and retention of members
2020 - July 2023
Member of the supervisory board, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam
