Janneke Ouwerkerk is an experienced R&D manager, driven to create a better future by accelerating innovations resulting in sustainable food and health solutions. She has most added value in a dynamic and challenging business environment where a strategic mindset is key. Janneke her leadership style can be described as courageous with openness towards new things, hereby realizing the full potential of people and organization. She achieves this with her teams by using the exceptional combination of a strong analytical mind, the ability to connect, and overseeing all connections.Janneke obtained her PhD at Wageningen University (NL) studying the anaerobic gut symbiont Akkermansia muciniphila. Hereafter she worked as managing scientist including both the process development and formulation development of several drug products including life biotherapeutics at J&J. Currently she is leading the Health & Microbiology Division at NIZO and recently transitioned into the NIZO board. NIZO leverages the integrated power of science and technology to support our customers in transforming food and nutrition more successfully, sustainably and faster; ultimately leading to better food and health. At NIZO Janneke passionately improves human health using amongst others beneficial microbes in R&D projects for the food, cosmetic and pharma industries.