River Innovation Support

Over mijzelf

Profiel

Ik ben Rik Verstijnen, een pragmatische probleemoplosser met oog voor de lange termijn, die werkt vanuit verbinding.

Wij mensen zijn maar tijdelijk te gast op deze mooie aarde en ik vind dat we ons hier bewust van moeten zijn en ons in dit kader best bescheiden mogen opstellen. Ik geloof dat wij als individuen allemaal onderdeel zijn van verschillende systemen of collectieven. Er moet altijd een balans zijn tussen wat we vragen van zo’n systeem en wat we eraan bijdragen.

Dankbaarheid, respect, vertrouwen en rechtvaardigheid zijn mijn kernwaarden. Ik ben bescheiden en rustig en wil anderen graag helpen door even terug naar de basis te gaan, structuur aan te brengen en ‘het grote plaatje’ te schetsen.

In mijn vrije tijd maak ik graag muziek en klus ik graag in en om het huis. Daarnaast is ons huis volledig geautomatiseerd mini-energie laboratorium, waar al heel wat uurtjes werk in zitten. En waar ik veel van geleerd heb!

Werkervaring

2023 – 2025

Head of Innovation & Technology Xemex, Rosmalen / Antwerpen (B)

  • Scale-up developing solutions for energy monitoring/management
  • Responsible for managing the R&D and technical support teams (15 FTE); part of management team
  • Responsible for strategic product/solution positioning and development; mainly residential energy management solution
  • Shift from product (hardware/firmware) to end-to-end solution (including software platform and mobile apps) focus
  • Responsible for IT: shift from server to fully cloud-based infrastructure

2021 – 2023

Manager Innovation & Realization Zelfstroom, ‘s-Hertogenbosch

  • Solar scale-up with 250 employees; market leader in solar systems rental for B2C market in Netherlands
  • Responsible for IT development and maintenance with a team of 11 direct reports
  • Procurement and contract management for all software license and outsourcing contracts
  • Responsible for technical and strategic vision behind rolling out product innovations like home batteries, energy management systems and EV chargers
  • Joining the board of our shareholder in shaping and implementing their corporate venturing strategy on smart energy

2018 – 2020

Business development manager Zelfstroom, ‘s-Hertogenbosch

  • Solar scale-up with 40 employees when I started; market leader in solar systems rental for B2C market in Netherlands
  • Extension of current propositions: the selection and integration of an new energy partner and development of a solar monitoring and energy insight app for customers
  • Scaling the company with process automations, such as ERP and telephony implementations and the implementation of a BI stack (data warehouse).

2016-2018

Product manager Smart Society Services, Utrecht – Startup van Alliander

  • Dynamic startup in a conservative environment, which develops services for DNO’s based on an open-source IoT communication platform
  • Services include: substation digitization, flexibility markets, controlling public lighting and reading out smart meters
  • Very broad role: product owner in scrum teams, but also supporting business development with workshops together with potential customers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany

2015-2016

Senior consultant Capgemini Nederland, Utrecht

  • For Eneco Consumenten: Aligning internal processes for combined installation of Eneco Toon EMS and EV charger
  • For Eneco Zakelijk: Preparing the IT system landscape for offering “non-commodity” products and services; improving operational excellence of current processes
  • Trainer and initiator for an internal training program about the Dutch energy sector.
  • For Engie: As subject matter expert involved in a program for decreasing the cost-to-serve.

2011-2015

Consultant KeyStone Business Solutions, Woerden

  • For Greenchoice: Functional design and business alignment for building a new back office system; focus on metering data and invoicing.
  • For Itineris N.V. (B) at GDF Suez Energie Nederland: As functional consultant involved in the implementation of UMAX: energy market messaging; collection and validation of meter readings; calculation of energy consumption.
  • For Itineris N.V. (B): Supporting the product management team of UMAX for adapting their product to the Dutch energy market model. Gathering requirements based on market documentation; discussing scope and requirements with customers; supporting the SCRUM development teams.
  • For PTI: Product owner for several new services amongst which reading out smart meters. Discussing requirements with customers; functional design; implementation and testing.

2010-2011

Consultant VCS Group, Loosdrecht

  • For Endinet (currently Enexis): Supporting the asset management team by making risk analysis, improving processes and information management.
  • For Stedin: Test engineer for a new release of Generis, the software which supports the allocation and reconcilication processes.

2009-2010   

Technical Commercial Advisor Mansveld Groep, Eindhoven

  • Setting up the renewable energy business for an installation company: Development and implementation of a vision and strategy for renewable energy; gathering knowledge about solar systems, battery systems, LED lighting, etc.
  • Providing technical commercial advise to customers; developing a framework for the business case for investing in renewable energy solutions
  • Board member of energy saving corporation “E.nu Zuidoost-Brabant”

2006-2009

Project manager Mansveld Groep, Eindhoven

  • Project manager for large or complex projects with many stakeholders, such as Heineken Experience Amsterdam (audio-visual services and show lighting), as part of an international project team and DMG Waalwijk headquarters (ICT, building automation and audio-visual services)
  • Internal project manager for the implementation of a new ERP system, followed by an internal restructuring of the company.

2006

Trainee Mansveld Groep, Eindhoven
Research on knowledge sharing in SME’s

2005

Junior software designer industrial automation Hoppenbrouwers Elektrotechniek, Udenhout

2003

Trainee software designer Telezorg, Son

2002

Trainee software designer Mobile Network Operations Sint Maarten Telephone Company, Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Opleiding

2025

Digitalization of Intelligent and Integrated Energy Systems TuDelft via EdX platform

2023

Ontwerp en installatie van energieopslagsystemen BDA Dak- en Gevelopleidingen

2019-2020

Young Executive Professional compact De Baak Noordwijk

2017  

Design thinking Design thinking center Amsterdam

2017

Grid operator Electrotechnical basics Alliander
4-day course: grid design, grid calculations, grid switching practice in low-voltage/medium-voltage installations, safety and security

2016

Professional Scrum Master I Scrum.org

2015

Leading SAFE – SAFE Agilist Scaled Agile

2013 – 2014

Energy MiniMBA Nyenrode Business Universiteit Breukelen

2012

Prince2 practitioner APMG      

2012

Lean SixSigma Orange Belt UNC Plus Delta

2010

TMap Next foundation (testing methodologies) EXIN

2003 – 2007    

Msc. Business administration Rotterdam School of Management / Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Master in Business Information Management

1999 – 2003

Bachelor Electrotechnical engineering Fontys Hogescholen Eindhoven
Direction technical informatics

1993 – 1999

Gymnasium Maurick College Vught Dutch, English, German, Classical Latin, Mathermatics B, Physics, Chemistry, Economics