Chairman: Sander Maarleveld.
Sander lives in the beautiful Dutch picturesque town of Wijk bij Duurstede, with his wife Monique and 2 young boys. Sander is someone with never-ending positive energy and a big heart for the less fortunate in the world. He has a wide experience, e.g. as consultant on strategy, Helicopter Pilot, program manager and IT Manager. He worked for international companies such as SHELL, ABN AMRO, EDS and IBM and now enjoys an important role in the digital transformation within DSG as IT Manager. With his experience and competences and working for international companies, Sander has developed a skill to organize and manage complex relationships. He is a driver of change and innovation, from the bottom up, using hands-on experience to motivate and challenge all participants. As chairman, Sander is ultimately responsible for all activities within the foundation. Together with the other board members, he sets a vision, mission and a strategy to get there.
Medical Officer: Anne Driessen.
Anne is the youngest board member of the Smarter Hospital Foundation in several respects. Graduated from Leiden University in 2017, moved to Sierra Leone in september 2020 and currently working at the Emergency Department in Zoetermeer, with the vision of becoming a specialist in tropical medicine. “I spent a large part of my studies in Global Health and Public Health, especially in the field of sexual health. After graduating I worked mainly in this sector, and I wanted to gain more experience abroad to to see if a specialization in International Healthcare would be something for me. Via Smarter Hospital I came into contact with City Garden Clinic, where my partner and I worked in 2020-2021. Besides being a doctor, I am mainly a creative person and I love working with the colourful ‘lappa’s’ , a dancer and a violinist, with very green fingers.”
Secretary & Treasurer & Data Protection Officer: Gert Kroon.
Born in 1971 and living in IJhorst in the Netherlands, co-founder of the Smarter Hospital Foundation together with Bouke and Erdi. The story behind the purpose of the Foundation touched me personally, because not only is it easy to send money, but it is about knowledge, sending useful goods, teaching the local people to work with and maintain.
Something about myself; I live with my wife Sibel in IJhorst Netherlands. I have three daughters and a grandson who is 13 years old. I am an active runner and enjoy playing tennis with friends and trying to gain skills for scuba diving during the summer.
Currently I work at NTTDATA an IT company with roots in Japan. Together with my wife Sibel I also run a Business and IT Consultancy for Global Small and Medium companies in the Netherlands. In the past, I worked +15 years for IBM in a global role and was responsible for a team of 30 technical sales associates doing additional business in IBM outsourcing contracts with global players in the financial and public sector.
In the Smarter Hospital Foundation I am treasurer and secretary and responsible for finding new funds, communication, finance, ordering and contracts, and project leader for educational projects.
Country- and Facility-Manager in Sierra Leone: Ruurd van Rooijen
Ruurd van Rooijen was born in 1951 in The Hague. In 1969 he joined the Royal Netherlands Navy for a career which turned out to last for almost 40 years. After being commissioned officer, the first 20 years he served with the Submarine Service and commanded two submarines. After transferring to the regular navy he alternated between wall and sea going jobs. In that period he took command of three frigates and his last seagoing job was in command of a large naval supply vessel. He also served in a peace keeping mission in Sudan and his last job in the navy was Deputy Head of the Netherlands Coastguard in the Caribbean.
After leaving the navy he joined the Lion Heart Foundation and went to Sierra Leone in April 2009. He was general manager of the Magbenteh Community Hospital in Makeni, in-country advisor for Lion Heart and since 2014 facility manager and country director in the Lion Heart Medical Centre in Yele were he took part in the fight against Ebola. During that period he also was project manager of the Smarter Hospital School Renovation Project in Yele.
In January 2018 he started work as facility manager in the City Garden Clinic, Makeni and as project manager for Footprint Mission Sierra Leone, completing the construction of a child care centre in Yele for Ebola orphans.