Board and management
The Utrecht University Fund board is made up of six board members (alumni of Utrecht University), including one member of the University's Executive Board. The board is made up of the following people:
Dr. René Kuijten, Chairman
Dr René Kuijten, physician, MBA (1964) is a medical school alumnus (1983-1991), partner at EQT and head of EQT Life Sciences (formerly LSP), a company that invests globally in innovative life sciences companies. After completing his medical training, he obtained his PhD from the University of Amsterdam for his research into the development of brain tumours in children, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania as a WHO fellow (1988-1992). He then spent eight years as a consultant at McKinsey, during which time he obtained his MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau (1994). In 2001, he began investing in life sciences.
In addition to his main position, he is founder and board member of the supervisory board of the Oncode Institute and the Oncode Accelerator, both based in Utrecht; member of the advisory board of Health~Holland/Top Sector Life Sciences & Health; fellow of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (NAE); and member of the Royal Dutch Society of Sciences (KHMW). He was previously chair of the Emma Children's Hospital Support Foundation/Amsterdam UMC, treasurer of the Rembrandt Association, jury member of the Agnites Vrolik Prize (UU), member of the Utrecht Life Sciences Advisory Board and, during his student days, member of the University Council.
Maurice Unck LLM, Vice Chairman
Maurice Unck is an alumnus in Dutch law. Since 2024, Maurice Unck has been Managing Director Mail Nederland, Koninklijke Post NL. Previously he worked as Managing Director/CEO of transport company RET. He has held numerous management positions in the public transport sector, among which member of the Board of Directors of NS. During his career, he completed executive programmes at INSEAD and Nyenrode Business University.
“I am proud to be a board member of the University Fund and a 1636 member, so that I can stay connected and give something back to the University where I enjoyed studying so much.”
Caroline Oosterloo - van 't Hoff LLM
Caroline Oosterloo - van 't Hoff (1965) studied Dutch Law at Utrecht University (1984-1989). She built her career in the banking sector, working at ABN AMRO Bank, Standard Chartered Bank (London), and Deutsche Bank. Over the past 10 years, she has held various executive positions, particularly in risk management, with a keen interest in climate risk, including as CRO for Deutsche Bank Netherlands and CRO a.i. at ABNAMRO Bank, where she is now Head of Regulatory Risk and Transformation. She is also a member of the Supervisory Board of the Dutch Water Authority Bank.
“The role of university education and science is becoming increasingly important in a world where democracy and freedom of thought can no longer be taken for granted, and where the challenges posed by climate change are enormous. The University Fund plays an important role in supporting these values, and I am delighted to be able to contribute to this in this way.”
Prof. José van Dijck
Prof. José van Dijck (1960) is a university professor of Media and Digital Society at Utrecht University. Her research is about media, social media and media technologies. Van Dijck studied literature and Dutch at Utrecht University (1985) and obtained her PhD in 1992 at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In 2001 she was appointed professor at the University of Amsterdam. From 2015 to 2018 she was president of the Royal Academy of Sciences (KNAW).
Prof. dr. ir. Hans Brug
Hans Brug (1963) is President of the Executive Board of Utrecht University since January 1, 2026. Prior to this, he served as Director General of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) from 2018, and as Professor of Health Behaviour at the University of Amsterdam since 2019. He studied human nutrition at Wageningen University & Research and obtained his PhD in Health Sciences at Maastricht University. He has also held various scientific and administrative positions at the Open University, Maastricht University, Erasmus MC, Amsterdam UMC, and the University of Amsterdam.
Drs. Paul Stamsnijder
Paul Stamsnijder (1968) studied Dutch language and literature. He is the founder and managing partner of the Reputation Group, a strategic corporate communication agency. He advises directors, supervisors and (communication) directors on strategic changes and cooperation processes. He is also active as a healthcare regulator. He has written various books, including one on stakeholder management.
“I believe in the promise of the Utrecht University Fund: Generous for Generations. It's wonderful that previous generations are making room for new generations, so that all the great work done by the university can continue. I studied here myself since the late 1980s; thanks in part to the university fund, you maintain a lifelong connection with Utrecht.”
Management: drs. Annemiek Vermeulen
Annemiek Vermeulen studied art history and archaeology in Amsterdam and Leiden. She has worked in public administration for over 30 years, including 18 years as mayor. She then decided it was time for a change and, after completing a course in Social Philanthropy at VU University Amsterdam, she joined Utrecht University as head of relationship management and director of the Utrecht University Fund. Annemiek is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Stichting Omroep Muziek.
“Utrecht University is a very inspiring place to work. Together with our team and the board, I am committed to the growth and prosperity of the University and ensuring optimal connections with our alumni and donors. It is wonderful to see the increasing involvement that benefits successive generations of students, researchers, and academic heritage such as the Botanical Gardens.”