Anka Mulder
"Twente boasts a beautiful natural environment on one hand, and a strong economic focus on technology on the other. We show that these elements can coexist harmoniously. I am proud of that."
As a board member, Anka Mulder represents the field of education. She works to establish Twente as a significant hub for higher education. She believes this is essential because universities of applied sciences play a pivotal regional role. She also values making a difference for others. “As we did, for example, with our support initiative for Ukrainian students,” she explains. "Other issues that are close to my heart include circularity, sustainable energy, circular textiles, and business models to transition away from gas and towards sustainable construction. Innovation and health are also key priorities for me, both within Saxion and the Twente Board."
Challenges
Anka highlights that demographic trends influence the challenges we face. “Economically, we have been experiencing strong growth. For years, we had more people than job openings, but now it’s the other way around. Therefore, we need to attract as many people to Twente as possible. A certain level of amenities is necessary for this. A fast train connection is part of that; with quicker train access, the pool of people we can attract broadens significantly. We are also witnessing a considerable centralisation of hospital care. I believe a good academic hospital and quality healthcare are critical to the region. In short, a well-rounded amenities package is a determining factor in whether people choose to live in Twente.”
Gross Twente Happiness
According to Anka, ensuring a high level of amenities also aligns with the concept of Gross Twente Happiness, which aims to make Twente a great place to live, work, and thrive. “Gross Twente Happiness is well-suited to our time and to Twente. I find it exciting that this idea originated with Young Twente Board. In the future, it will be about more than economic growth alone; we need to focus on work-life balance and the climate as well.”
Additional Roles | Anka Mulder
- Member, Twente Board
- Member, Founders’ Council, NovelT
- Executive Member, Dutch Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, portfolios on research, digitisation, SDGs
- Chair, Golden Eagle Committee
- Member, Steering Committee, Acceleration Plan ICT in Higher Education Netherlands
- Member, Board of TKI Construction & Technology
- Member, External Advisory Council, ARC NL
- Member, Supervisory Board, Quantum Delta
LinkedIn Anka Mulder