Ron van Manen (Delft University of Technology Aerospace Engineering – 1987) started his career in at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and fulfilled several management positions in the Engineering & Maintenance Division before joining British Airways in a senior management position. After 4 years in the UK, Ron returned to The Netherlands to take the position of Vice President Business Development at KLM Engineering and Maintenance, and leading all commercial operations in this €1bn per annum MRO business. In 2003 he joined QinetiQ in the UK as Programme Director Civil Aeronautics, directing its contract research and development projects with industry, UK Government and EU. In 2008 he was appointed MD Aerospace Consulting. In 2011 he joined the Clean Sky JU as Technology Evaluation Officer. In 2014 he was appointed Programme Manager for the Clean Sky 2 Programme under Horizon 2020. From 1 May 2019 he has assumed the post of Head of Strategic Development in the JU, concentrating inter alia on the preparations of a continued partnership under Horizon Europe. Other experience includes non-executive directorships in the aerospace sector including the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium [FAC], committee roles for the UK Trade Association ADS and European Aerospace & Defense Trade Association (ASD), chairmanship of the UK Aerospace Manufacturer’s Sustainable Aviation Board during 2007-2010, and vice-chairman of the joint UK Government/Industry Aerospace Technology Strategy Group during the same period. He is married, with two adult sons, and divides his time between Brussels and Bergen N.H., NL