Delta Commissioner speaks at Practical Conference on Regional Development
The Practical Conference on Regional Development, organised by the Chair in Regional Development of Delft University of Technology (TUD), took place on Thursday 5 March. The venue was the Galgenwaard football stadium, home of FC Utrecht.
Under the direction of day chair Prof. Hans de Jonge (Chairman of the Board of Brink Groep and Professor of Real Estate Management, Delft University of Technology), Friso de Zeeuw (Professor of Professional Practice in Regional Development) and Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken kicked off with presentations on the trends in the area of regional development and, among other things, the organisational power it requires. The Delta Commissioner discussed the experience gained in the water domain by pursuing the working methods of the Delta Programme, involving a clear goal, opportunities for joining in and making efficient use of the available resources.
The Delta Commissioner emphasised that, when major developments are concerned, a coordinator who can take the interests of all parties concerned into consideration in achieving the goal, may smooth people’s ruffled feathers while boosting collaboration and decisiveness. Friso de Zeeuw presented a transparent overview of competencies currently required for project leaders in order to make regional development a success.
Pitches from Dennis Straat (Executive Committee, city of Zaandam), Yvonne van Mierlo (Blauwhoed Studio), Kristian Korema (ZUS) and Jeroen in 't Veld (Rebel Group) provided insight into examples of collaboration with an energetic civil society leading to successful regional development, in which public and private go hand in hand.
In the years ahead, the Delta Commissioner’s staff will be participating in the Professorship of Professional Practice at Delft University of Technology.