On Thursday 6 November, the University of Twente will host the Steering for Safety conference. This anniversary event marks 15 years of the post-initial Master’s in Risk Management and 35 years of the post-initial Master’s in Public Management. The conference brings together academics, professionals and policymakers around one central question: how do we turn risks into action?
Keynote Mart de Kruijf
Mart de Kruijf, former Lieutenant General of the Royal Netherlands Army, will take the audience into the world of defence, crisis leadership and geopolitical tensions. How do wars and international power shifts affect our national and economic security? And what does this demand from leadership in both public and private organisations? Drawing on his extensive experience in international missions and strategic leadership, De Kruijf offers a sharp and realistic perspective on today’s world – and how we can anticipate it.
Keynote Roelof Bleker
The second keynote will be delivered by Roelof Bleker, Mayor of Enschede. Safety used to be relatively straightforward: streetlights worked, waste was collected, the police and mayor carried out their duties and the city was considered safe, as if insecurity barely existed.
In recent decades, this has changed significantly. Safety is no longer a given but requires continuous cooperation. And this extends beyond the well-known ‘triangle’ of mayor, police and public prosecutor. New forms of insecurity, ranging from football violence and healthcare fraud to drug crime and sexual offences, demand a broader coalition of institutions that leave nothing to chance. Bleker will explore how this cooperation has evolved and what lessons can be learned.
Alumni panel discussion
One of the highlights of the conference is the panel discussion. René Torenvlied, Professor of Public Administration at the University of Twente, will provide the opening reflection, outlining the challenges organisations, both public and private, face in managing risks and maintaining public trust.
The panel will feature mayors and risk managers who are all alumni of the part-time Master’s in Risk Management (MRM) or Public Management (MPM). They combine theoretical knowledge and practical experience in their current roles as leaders and decision-makers. How do their perspectives on risks and safety differ? Where do responsibilities collide, and where do they reinforce each other? This panel offers a unique opportunity to learn from leaders who navigate daily between political pressures, societal expectations and organisational realities.
