I was born in 1949, attended grammar school at the former St. Michiellyceum in Geleen, now the Graaf Huyn College, and studied law at Utrecht University. I began my career with fifteen years as an executive secretary, before going on to be deputy director, at a medium-sized national construction firm. In both roles, I was responsible for the company's legal affairs.
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I then spent nearly twenty years in the practice of law, specializing in civil real estate law, with a principal focus on civil construction law.
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In addition to my law practice, I have held a number of ancillary positions, including board member of "Progressbouw" (a legal predecessor of BouwNed, the Dutch Construction and Infrastructure Federation), board member of the Stichting Waarborgfonds Koopwoningen (Homeowner Guarantee Fund Foundation), the underwriting institution for larger construction companies and project developers in the Netherlands, and chairman of the supervisory board of housing cooperative Zo Wonen and its legal predecessors, as well as chairman of the school board for Special Education for Geleen and environs. I am currently chairman of the complaints committee for the Weller Housing Cooperative in Heerlen.
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I left the practice of law in 2007 and am now an 'emeritus lawyer.' However, I still enjoy doing (legal) consulting work, particularly in the areas of real estate and (civil) construction law, and in that context I am associated with SPEE advocaten & mediation.
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My personal style is best described as a sharp intellect with a pragmatic approach, drawing on years of invaluable knowledge and experience gained in both the corporate and the legal setting.