Joachim Westerveld has worked and lived in Africa for many years. There he build a strong and wide network and a wealth of knowledge about the socio-economic developments in the region. Joachim combined his theoretical knowledge and practical experience of entrepreneurship and development in The Blue Link Approach. He is co-founder and director of The Blue Link. Joachim's main responsibility is ProFarm Pakistan. Joachim holds a master degree in History from the University of Amsterdam.

Previous experience:

• Manager Refugee Reception and Project Development, Dutch Refugee Foundation Amsterdam
• Field Coordinator, International Rescue Committee, Guinea
• Field Liaison Officer, United Nations Offices for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Eritrea
• Head of Mission, War Child Eritrea
• Program coordinator, War Child Sudan (a.i.)
• Manager Operations, Westerveld Safari, Kenya

Jacco Brink has gained management experience in both the commercial and the development sector. Experience in Russia and Central Asia has enhanced his expertise in management of complex processes in intercultural settings. He is co-founder and director of The Blue Link. Jacco's main responsibility is the TBL Mirror Fund. Jacco Brink holds a master degree in economic geography from the University of Amsterdam.

Previous experience:

• As a development consultant Jacco has explored and started up a missions for War Child in Afghanistan and Georgia
• Coordinator of CPCD, a Russian-British NGO, Moscow, Russia, coordinating projects in the North Caucasus, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan
• Project manager of the Geomatics Business and Science Park, setting up and co-developing a high tech business park in Marknesse, Netherlands

The Blue Link is supported in its governance by a board of advise, comprising of:

• Carel van den Driest, former CEO Vopak NV
• Mirjam Sijmons, CEO Content BV
• Allard Luchsinger, entrepreneur and COO www.zecco.com
• jhr. J.E. van der Does de Willebois, founder and former partner of Clifford Chance Lawyers in the Netherlands.