Dennis van Peppen new Director International at the NCEA

13 September 2024

From 1 October, Dennis van Peppen will succeed Rob Verheem as Director International at the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA). Until recently, Van Peppen led the Climate and Water department at the Netherlands Enterprise and Development Agency (RVO).

"With the growing importance of issues such as climate, biodiversity, water and healthy environments, the importance of environmental impact assessments has grown too”, says Van Peppen. “There is a huge opportunity out there that I am looking forward to meeting with passion and enthusiasm. I am thankful for the great times I had at RVO. I was given the opportunity to work with a fantastic team towards solutions for international water, climate and biodiversity issues. I worked with governments, international businesses, NGO's and local communities. In doing so I learned that only in cooperation with all stakeholders you can reach lasting solutions. The environmental impact assessment is a great tool to make that cooperation happen.” 
 
The management and the board of Commissie mer are also happy with the choice made. Director Lourens Loeven: "Under the leadership of Rob Verheem, the work of our international department has grown and was consolidated. In the Netherlands and abroad, the NCEA has built a name as a reliable knowledge partner in the field of environmental impact assessment. That calls for a successor of stature and we have found one in Dennis van Peppen." 
Rob Verheem worked for over 30 years at NCEA, half of which as director. It is not a real farewell, however, as Rob will start on the Dutch side of the organization as a technical expert and working group secretary. "Having enjoyed leading the international team, I increasingly longed to return to doing executive work as a technical secretary. It is a great joy to hand over the baton to Dennis.”