What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?

Over the past year, I have been involved in numerous transactions on behalf of APG Asset Management N.V. as the asset manager of several Dutch pension funds. However, I take particular pride in our impact mandate investments for Dutch pension fund ABP.

At the beginning of last year, ABP formally announced its new investment objectives aimed at driving economic transformation while enhancing social and environmental impact. These impact investments include projects focused on affordable housing and sustainable energy solutions. ABP has set an ambitious target of allocating €30bn to impact investments by 2030. Specifically for the Netherlands, €10bn has been designated for impact investments, with €5bn dedicated to real estate initiatives that prioritise themes such as affordable housing. I believe we made significant progress last year in advancing this goal, particularly within a short timeframe. I was involved in the creation of two affordable and sustainable Dutch housing platforms, with ABP as the majority investor, with more on the way. As legal counsel, my primary focus was on getting the governance structure right. By securing strong governance rights for ABP on critical matters such as investments, business planning, and the impact framework, we ensured that ABP could actively influence the overall strategy. This was essential in enabling ABP to drive impact objectives and align these ventures with its broader impact mandate.

I am particularly proud to have contributed to the development of these platforms, through which APG and ABP aim to enhance both the quality and availability of the Dutch housing stock. By addressing the undersupply and improving housing standards in the Netherlands, these initiatives not only create a positive social impact but also generate a sustainable financial return.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

I believe it is important to have a pragmatic attitude, commercial acumen, a proactive approach, confidence in making quick and informed judgement calls, as well as an ability to organise and prioritize tasks effectively. These attributes will make the internal clients trust and appreciate the legal counsel, making the latter an integral part of the business and team.

As a member of the transaction team, I handle a lot of different projects – in parallel and simultaneously – each requiring attention and organisation. It is absolutely fundamental to clearly understand the business and the needs of our internal clients. It is key to keep a bird’s eye view, whilst not losing sight of the detail, staying calm, and not getting overwhelmed in order to efficiently and effectively prioritise the different workstreams.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?
I am dedicated to successfully completing projects by taking a pragmatic approach and identifying solutions that benefit both the team and the business. I enjoy collaborating with colleagues across various disciplines, as I believe teamwork fosters innovation and efficiency. Being involved in a project from inception to completion is highly rewarding, and I strive to make the legal workstream not only effective, but also an engaging and valuable process for all stakeholders.