This November, HealthNet TPO says farewell to the current Chair of the Board Carin Beumer and welcomes new Chair of the Board Peter Engelen and new board member Charles Gerhardt.
At the recent HealthNet TPO board meeting, we said farewell to Carin Beumer, who has lead the organisation as Chair of the Board for eight years. We are incredibly grateful to Carin for her huge contribution to HealthNet TPO over the last few years, during often turbulent and difficult times. She has made a lasting impact on the organisation and within each of our countries of operation.
Of her departure, Carin said:
“During my time in this role, I’ve had the privilege of gaining deep insights into our organisation, the development sector, and the vital importance of integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into basic healthcare services. I’ve been fortunate to witness the impact of our programmes firsthand and had the honor of meeting our dedicated teams and the beneficiaries we serve. These experiences have left an indelible mark on my mind and heart.
I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve this organisation and its beneficiaries. I’ve done so with unwavering passion and immense pride in HealthNet TPO’s mission, which I wholeheartedly believe in and support.”
New Chair of the Board: Peter Engelen
We are pleased to welcome Peter Engelen who will succeed Carin as Chair of the Board.
Peter brings a wealth of experience and insights gained from his leadership with healthcare management and as crisis management specialist with MSF in Congo, South Sudan and Ethiopia. His dedication and passion for public health and access to healthcare will enable us to continue our mission supporting people in fragile and conflict-affected settings rebuild their lives, health and wellbeing.
What makes HealthNet TPO’s mission meaningful to you?
After working in healthcare management for thirty-five years, I started looking for something new, a change in direction. It was then I began working for MSF (Médecins sans Frontières) as hospital director and consultant. I support the view of combining emergency and humanitarian support with after care, particularly psychosocial support. I have a holistic view on health and healthcare, and this is what HealthNet TPO delivers.
What are some of the challenges you foresee in this position?
HealthNet TPO is a large international NGO, with a range of activities across multiple themes. There are a number of challenges that must be addressed, namely: strengthening the small head office based in Amsterdam, improving the organisation’s visibility, and reinforcing communications within and between the board and management. The changing world of the humanitarian and development sector and the increasing need among vulnerable communities will continue to challenge and guide the organisations mission.
How do you envision you add value to the organisation?
The capability of the current board and management of HealthNet TPO is not questioned. I hope to be the oil in the motor that keeps things running. Management in my view means cooperation, and I will one of the team to keep the organisation concentrated on our mission.
What impact do you hope to make as the chair of HealthNet TPO’s board?
I hope that after my time as chair of the board of HealthNet TPO, the organisation will be stronger to confront the future and will be more visible in the world as a NGO that really makes a difference in the communities where we work.
What do you envision for the organisation in the coming years?
Needs are everywhere. HealthNet TPO has to concentrate on the mission and vision; strengthen its competences; diversify the regions and countries where we work. And, most importantly, empower the individuals and communities we work with and strengthen their independence from outside help.
Welcome new member: Charles Gerhardt
We also take this opportunity to welcome Charles Gerhardt as a new member of the Board, following the departure of Guus Eskens in June, 2022. Charles brings with him a wealth of experience spanning decades in the humanitarian sector, with a diverse background in health and project management.
What makes HealthNet TPO’s mission meaningful to you?
To me, HealthNet TPO is a “down to earth” programme implementing agency with a proven track record in strengthening the management and provision of basic health and mental health care, in fragile settings. Directly working with local staff on the ground, the organisation has often been able to demonstrate remarkable change while improving the quality of service for those seeking care.
What are some of the challenges you foresee in this position?
For HealthNet TPO, to eventually make a solid and sustainable contribution to the societies we operate in, country ownership is crucial. In the type of fragile states, where we are working, however, this often constitutes a challenge. We must continue to involve all actors impacting on health, ranging from the beneficiaries, private and public health care providers, to other sectors such as education, agriculture, the industry and alike. This may implicate the role and functioning of the different management layers within the organisation, shifting towards oversignt, coordination, competency development, in addition to programme support.
What do you hope to bring to HealthNet TPO as a new member of the board?
In my capacity of board member, I hope to provide necessary guidance and support in my areas of expertise, such as programme innovation, partnership and management development and knowledge management, in addition to my other statutory responsibilities. I will encourage that we will further evolve towards a pragmatic, people and programme focussed organisation, funding and technical partners are proud to work with.
