Lead Enteprise Architect

What I do:

I lead the enterprise architecture team that helps Utrecht University make smart, future-proof decisions about our organization, technology, and digital transformation. My role is to connect the university's long-term goals with practical, innovative solutions, ensuring our digital tools, systems, and strategies support education, research, and societal impact.

How I Do It:

• Bridge strategy and execution: I work with leaders, architects, and teams to turn ambitious plans into actionable roadmaps, using business architecture and clear guardrails that keep us on track.
• Guide digital change: From modernizing core systems (like our university-wide ERP transformation) to designing our hybrid cloud strategy, I help build the digital foundation UU needs.
• Strengthen digital autonomy: I lead UU's efforts to gain greater control over our data, systems, and digital choices. This means reducing dependency on single vendors and strengthening our ability to innovate independently.
• Manage our EA platform: As product owner for LeanIX, our enterprise architecture platform, I ensure we have the right tools to bring clarity and data-driven insights to our architectural processes. LeanIX helps us visualize our organizational and digital landscape, track dependencies, and make strategic decisions about where we're going and how to get there.
• Build collaboration: As chair of the Architecture Governance Board and our Architecture Community of Practice (CoP), I bring people together to align technology with UU's strategic priorities.
• Advise and coach: I provide strategic guidance to senior leadership and mentor architects across the organization.
• Drive sector innovation: As a member of the national Architecture Board for Higher Education (AB-HO), I help shape digital advancements across Dutch and European higher education, sharing knowledge and learning from peers.

Shaping UU's Future:

• Strategic Plan 2030: I contributed to developing the university's long-term vision, with a strong focus on digitalization and cross-border collaboration.
• Digitalization Strategy: I lead the creation and implementation of UU's digital strategy, covering critical themes like digital autonomy, artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital skills, high-performance computing, FAIR data, and future-proof infrastructure.
• Digitalization Board: I initiated and serve on this board, working closely with executives to align and guide digital transformation across the entire university.

Why It Matters:

Technology isn't just about IT. It's about enabling better education, research, and meaningful societal impact. My team and I ensure UU's digital future is strategic, sustainable, and aligned with our mission. We translate complex tech decisions into simple, actionable insights that help everyone across the university make the best choices for our future.