Innofest

About us

Behind every Innofest test is a team that believes innovation only creates real value when proven in practice.

They create the conditions where ideas meet reality: where users respond, where logistics are tested, where behavior unfolds in unexpected ways, and where assumptions are either validated or challenged. They listen, measure, analyze and keep asking critical questions until it becomes clear what works and what does not.

What they learn in the field is translated into direction. Into improvements in product or service. Into sharper decisions about business models or implementation. Into a well-founded go or no-go. Thanks to them, testing is not a standalone pilot, but a meaningful step forward.

Our team

Team Innofest

Tom van Wijk

Managing director

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Tom is responsible for the overall strategic direction, partnerships and programmatic development of Innofest. He builds and strengthens the national network of living labs and ensures that real-world validation is firmly embedded as an instrument within the innovation and transition ecosystem. With 14 years of experience in the events industry (including ID&T/Air Events), he brings extensive expertise in large-scale production, stakeholder management and safety. This experience forms the foundation of the professional testing environments in which Innofest validates innovations under real-life conditions. Tom connects public and private partners around shared transition challenges and ensures that programs are strategically sharp, operationally feasible and impact-driven. His ambition is to make real-world validation accessible to every impact innovator with scaling potential.

Elisha Weeber

Senior Project Lead, Scout & Finance

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Elisha is responsible for the substantive and financial coordination of Innofest projects. She leads validation trajectories from selection through completion, safeguarding both quality and progress across programs. As a scout, she identifies innovations with transition potential and assesses which solutions strategically align with program objectives and policy goals. Within projects, she translates frameworks into concrete trajectories, develops project plans and budgets, and oversees financial accountability and subsidy compliance. With experience as a former entrepreneur, she combines strategic insight with practical realism. She ensures that projects are not only well executed but also financially sound and transparently reported. Her role is crucial in aligning content, execution and financial governance, ensuring that real-world validation is professional, reliable and scalable.

David Waterdrinker

New Business & Partnerships

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David is responsible for new business development and strategic partnerships. He builds collaborations with governments, funds and organizations seeking to use real-world validation as a tool to accelerate transitions. With a background as a social entrepreneur and business developer, he connects societal challenges to concrete programs. He translates policy ambitions into actionable validation trajectories and ensures that partnerships lead to measurable results. David ensures that partners gain not only exposure to inspiring innovations, but also access to substantiated evidence and clear decision-making insights.

Kjel Kuypers

Innovation Test Expert & Scout

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Kjel is responsible for the substantive design and guidance of real-world tests. He supports innovators in sharpening their assumptions, translating them into testable hypotheses and developing robust test designs. With a background in strategic entrepreneurship, marketing and consultancy, he brings analytical precision and structure to every trajectory. He supports innovators in making strategic decisions and ensures that tests are feasible, measurable and relevant. His strength lies in translating complex ideas into concrete and professional test setups that generate actionable insights.

Neeltje Joekenel Leloux

Community Lead & Innovation Test Expert

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Neeltje strengthens Innofest’s network of innovators, partners and test locations and supports validation trajectories. She ensures careful alignment between stakeholders and safeguards that tests are conducted in a safe and well-organized environment. With a background in sustainability projects and community building, she combines connective capacity with organizational precision. She ensures that participants and end-users are actively involved in tests and that feedback is systematically collected. Within programs, she contributes to quality assurance, collaboration and professional execution.

Cher Osinga

Head of Communication

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Cher is responsible for the strategic positioning, communication and public visibility of Innofest. She develops the communication strategy, leads campaigns, manages budgets and maintains press relations, ensuring that projects and programs are presented professionally, consistently and impactfully. Within Innofest programs, she translates test results into clear and credible narratives for partners, funders and stakeholders. As part of the Test Like The Best methodology, she delivers a session on positioning and storytelling, enabling entrepreneurs to communicate their test cases and results effectively. Her focus lies on strategic coherence, reputation and responsible use of resources, ensuring that real-world validation is not only conducted, but also visibly contributes to systemic transitions.

Benthe Valk

Project Lead

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Benthe is responsible for the operational organization and execution of validation trajectories. She ensures that planning, coordination and logistics are managed with precision and that all stakeholders clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. With a strong interest in social entrepreneurship and innovation, she safeguards that projects run smoothly and contribute to societal impact. She supports innovators in their preparation and ensures that tests are executed in a professional and structured manner. Her strength lies in oversight, organization and reliable execution.

Robin Noordenbos

Producer

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Robin is responsible for the production and on-site execution of real-world tests. He ensures that all technical, logistical and organizational conditions are in place so that innovations can be tested safely and effectively. With a background in Creative Business and event management, he brings experience in production, planning and coordination. During test days, he oversees execution, liaises with locations and ensures that operations run smoothly. His role is essential in translating test designs into professionally organized real-world environments.

Friso Visser

Writes the method

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By day, the enthusiastic critic Friso is a communication strategist and by night, he is the innovation enabler. Because he often collaborates with education partners both by choice and by accident, he is the right person to scour the education sector for innovations to bring to the festivals. Friso also co-developed the Innofest testing method.

Founders

Anna van Nunen

Director Eurosonic Noorderslag

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Bianca Pander

Partner BKB | The Campaign bureau | founder Welcome to The Village

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Ferry Roseboom

Founder Excelsior Recordings + proud member of team Into The Great Wide Open

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Dago Houben

Previous managing director Eurosonic Noorderslag

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Sjoerd Bootsma

Artistic director LF2028

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Supervisory board

Innofest has a (unpaid) Supervisory Board consisting of 5 members. The Supervisory Board has a supervisory, advisory, and employer role in relation to the director/CEO. Additionally, the Supervisory Board leverages its network to make connections with relevant organizations and Innofest.

The Supervisory Board has two committees: the audit committee and the remuneration committee. The Supervisory Board has a chairperson and four general members. The composition of the Supervisory Board is aimed at being diverse in terms of competencies, experience, and network. Members of the Supervisory Board are appointed for a period of 4 years, with the possibility of extending this for another 4 years.

Members of the supervisory board

Anneke Sipkens

Directeur-bestuurder ANBO

Arnout de la Houssaye

Hoofd Productie Into The Great Wide Open

Bertwin Kampman

Programmamanager Founded in Friesland

Barbara Vos

Creatieve lead Ambassy of Food

Sander Peltenburg

Start-en scale-up financiering Rabobank

Compensation

The foundation consists of a Supervisory Board, a director-manager, employees on a permanent contract, and freelance staff. Innofest also works with one or two interns per internship period. The Supervisory Board performs its function on a voluntary basis and does not receive a salary or any other compensation for the work carried out. Members of the Supervisory Board are entitled to a statutory expense reimbursement for costs incurred in the performance of their duties.

The foundation employs staff. Additionally, the director-manager, along with some other colleagues, is hired on a freelance basis. The compensation provided should be reasonably proportionate to the responsibility carried, the requirements of the position, and the time commitment. All rates are in line with the market.

At least once a year, all employees have an individual performance review. Based on this discussion and the possibilities provided by the budget, a new salary proposal is made. The chair of the Supervisory Board, together with another general member, is responsible for evaluating the manager within Innofest. The manager is responsible for evaluating the remaining employees.