Prof. Paul Van der Heijden
Prof. Van der Heijden is Rector Magnificus and President of the Executive Board of Leiden University. Prof. Van der Heijden studied law at the universities of Amsterdam and Leiden, where he earned his PhD in social law. He still fulfils several Board positions and is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and Honorary Member of the Social Economic Council (SER). On Monday Prof. Van der Heijden will officially open the AC-GA Conference.

Mr. Gerard Doornbos
Mr. Doornbos is dijkgraaf (executive officer) of Hoogheemraadschap Rijnland. In the capacity of dijkgraaf, Mr. Doornbos heads the executive and general administration of the ‘waterschap’ Rijnland (region of water management). Moreover, as a liaison and representative, he closely cooperates with other divisions of government, private business and Dutch citizens. During his lecture on Monday, Mr. Doornbos will speak about the relation between the Netherlands and water from both an historical perspective and with a brief look on the future. What does the phenomenon ‘water’ mean to the Netherlands and in what sense is the country a product of its struggle against water?

Rabbi Mr. Awraham Soetendorp
Mr. Awraham Soetendorp is Rabbi of the Liberal Jewish Community in The Hague and is an inspiring personality always eager to stand up for freedom and fundamental rights. As commissioner of the ‘Earth Charter’ of the International Green Cross, he sets out to build a better future through cooperation with various spiritual and political leaders. Mr. Soetendorp received the prestigious Peace Builders Award of the Alliance for International Conflict Prevention and Resolution in 2005. More information can be found at www.soetendorpinstitute.org.

Mr. Bart Parmet
Mr. Parmet is currently Director of the Deltaprogramme. This programme was the result of a special committee set up by Prime-Minister Balkenende in order to examine the long-term safety of our country and its freshwater supply. Mr. Parmet is charged with implementing this programme and its recommendations. As Secretary to the Deltacommittee, Mr. Parmet was closely involved in writing the report. During his lecture on Monday, Mr. Parmet will point out what the Deltaprogramme sets out to achieve and how governments implement policy flowing from the recommendations.

Mr. Nico Wegter
Mr. Wegter is former Director of the Permanent Representation of the European Commission in the Netherlands. He spent almost three decades working amidst the dynamics of the European Union. As spokesman and adviser he gained experience in nearly all policy fields in the EU. On Tuesday, Mr. Wegter will talk about EU policies and cooperation in order to combat water conflicts within and outside the European Union.

Mr. Jozias van Aartsen
Mr. Jozias van Aartsen is currently Mayor of The Hague and member of the Liberal Party (VVD). In the period 1996-2002 he served as Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Foreign Affairs respectively. In addition, Mr. Van Aartsen was parliamentary leader in the Tweede Kamer (Lower House of Parliament) for the VVD. On Tuesday, Mr. Van Aartsen will speak during our closing reception in The Hague where he will shortly talk about internationalisation projects and the image of the city as ‘Legal Capital’.

Ms. Elsa van de Loo
Elsa van de Loo is Dutch Youth Representative for the United Nations. She actively promotes the ‘right to water’ in UN’s headquarters in New York. Ms. Van de Loo is also a law-student at the Free University of Amsterdam. On Wednesday, Elsa will talk about her personal experience in promoting the human right to water.