Meet Willem — Building bridges between Defence and Industry from a new perspective

After a long career within Defence, Willem now brings his experience to Unified International. Where he previously operated from within government, he now works at the intersection of Defence, industry and private partners. With both operational and governance experience, he helps organisations translate complex challenges into practical solutions. We spoke with him about his motivation, experience and what energises him in his work.

Unified operates at the intersection of Defence and industry. Through my experience within Defence, I believe I can contribute to further strengthening Dutch Defence and supporting the development of the defence industry. What particularly appeals to me is the different perspective: no longer working purely as a government official, but acting as an intermediary between multiple stakeholders.

After an operational career with the Royal Netherlands Navy, both at sea and in aviation, I further developed myself in governance and management roles. I know the Defence organisation well and have worked in finance, procurement and portfolio management. Managing complex governance processes within a political context has been an important learning experience throughout my career and those skills are highly relevant in my current role.

One key lesson is that diversity within teams is crucial: the more perspectives involved, the greater the chance of success. I have also seen that risk management often remains underdeveloped in many organisations, particularly within government. Furthermore, as a leader, you must be a steady anchor while ensuring people do not follow you uncritically. Listening carefully and weighing decisions thoughtfully remains essential.

By untangling complex problems and presenting them clearly. That means analysing situations, identifying possible solutions, and working them out further with teams. In addition, I use my knowledge of Defence and defence procurement processes to support potential suppliers in navigating tenders and partnerships.

Colleagues, entrepreneurs and suppliers who are motivated and driven. People who see opportunities rather than threats and who are willing to take calculated risks without losing sight of reality.

As a team player who does not hesitate to take the lead when necessary. I am always willing to help others and usually manage to find a compromise or solution that also gains broad support.

The rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, where the influence of the United States is shifting while China’s role continues to grow. At the same time, tensions between the US and Europe are putting alliances under pressure, forcing Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. Fortunately, awareness of this necessity is growing rapidly.

Making more funding available for Defence is one thing; translating that funding into actual capabilities has historically proven more difficult. Unified can play an important role here by acting as an intermediary between industry, private capital, and Defence organisations, helping to accelerate capability development and strengthen security.

Strengthening Defence was always my number one priority during my military career. That remains the case today, only now from a different perspective.

That I have broad interests and am always willing to help or think along, regardless of the topic. Outside work, I spend a lot of time on the water: I enjoy offshore sailing and also teach sailing on the Kaag lakes, so perhaps we’ll meet there this summer.