The Governing Board of Vewin has appointed Lonneke Löwik as its new Director. She will take up the position on October 1st. She succeeds Hans de Groene, who will step down in early October after almost ten years as director of the association of Dutch water companies.
The new director brings more than twenty years of experience in international leadership and board positions. For the past seven years, Lonneke has served as CEO of INREV, the European association for institutional investors in real estate. In this role, she gained extensive experience in advocacy, governance and sustainability, as well as in bringing together diverse interests around complex societal and economic issues.
In joining Vewin, she has deliberately chosen to work in a sector facing major societal challenges. Ensuring the availability of sufficient quantities of clean drinking water is becoming an increasingly prominent issue. Climate change, population growth, pollution of drinking water sources and growing pressure on spatial planning will require important choices and close cooperation in the years ahead.
“Drinking water is a basic necessity of life and is of great importance to society. At the same time, the drinking water sector faces complex challenges relating to sustainability, spatial planning, the economy and the quality of our living environment,” says Lonneke. “It is precisely this combination that particularly appeals to me. I look forward to bringing my experience to Vewin and working together with the drinking water companies, public authorities and other stakeholders to ensure a future-proof drinking water supply.”
Experience in advocacy and collaboration
The Governing Board of Vewin is delighted with her appointment. “Lonneke brings extensive leadershipand international experience and understands how to align common interests within an association and represent them effectively,” says Pieter Litjens, Chair of Vewin. “The drinking water sector faces major challenges. We are confident that, together with our members and the Vewin office, she will make an important contribution to representing the interests of the sector.”
Succeeding Hans de Groene
Lonneke Löwik succeeds Hans de Groene, who has served as director of Vewin since February 2017 and will step down in early October 2026 as he approaches retirement age.
The period ahead will focus on ensuring a careful handover. From the beginning of October, the new director will assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Vewin office.