Name: HZ University of Applied Sciences
Price range: $

From 1 January 2023, Ab Smit will become the new member of the Executive Board of HZ University of Applied Sciences. The HZ is delighted to welcome him. "In Ab we find an experienced and knowledgeable Zeeuws administrator who is in place at our personal university of applied sciences," said Barbara Oomen, chairman of the Executive Board.

A people-oriented director
Ab Smit currently works as managing director at Province of Zeeland. There, he is ultimately responsible for the administrative organisation, which consists of 600 professionals. He is also secretary of the executive board, formed by the Provincial Executive. He has broad knowledge and extensive experience in strategy, organisational development, operational management and regional cooperation. Education experience he gained as director at the municipality of Nijmegen - of the education portfolio, among others. He currently chairs the Supervisory Board of Christelijke Scholengemeenschap Walcheren. Ab is known as a result- and people-oriented director.

Good sense of social issues
"On behalf of the Supervisory Board, we are delighted that Ab Smit will join the HZ Board of Governors and Management Team in the position of member of the Executive Board. In particular, his knowledge of and experience in leading large public organisations - with focus areas such as operations and change processes - give us confidence that we have found the right candidate," said Toine Poppelaars, chairman of the Supervisory Board. "Ab Smit is an experienced director and strategic thinker. He has a good feel for the social issues at stake and he feels very involved in them," says Barbara Oomen, chairman of the Executive Board. "As HZ, among other things, we have great ambitions to strengthen the knowledge infrastructure in the region, including the further development of the Kenniswerf in Vlissingen. Ab's experience in and knowledge of Zeeland come in very handy for this. Moreover, his personal and accessible leadership style suits our personal university of applied sciences."

Heart for Zeeland
"As a born and bred Zeeuw, I feel a strong connection with Zeeland. It really appeals to me to work in higher education and in particular at HZ University of Applied Sciences," says Ab. "I enjoy working on the future with young and enthusiastic people. HZ's institutional plan and vision, 'Contributing to a better world', inspire me. I want to give substance to that together with staff and students. Through education and practical research, we thus work together to find solutions to the issues we face as a society." Ab appreciates the high quality of education and research and the small-scale, personal character of HZ. "I already feel welcome. Participating in everyday practice, tasting the atmosphere and meeting the people: I am looking forward to it."

Ab succeeds John Dane, who will step down as a member of the Executive Board from 1 January 2023.