Special Envoy for International Waters Affairs, The Netherlands

Mr. Henk Ovink has been appointed as the first Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands by the Ministries of Infrastructure and the Environment, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and Economic Affairs. In his capacity as thematic ambassador, the Special Envoy for International Water Affairs reinforces Dutch ambitions in the water domain; he contributes to boosting the international market position of Dutch know-how and expertise.

Mr. Ovink was senior advisor for Secretary Shaun Donovan of Housing and Urban Development, for the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force with responsibility for the long term planning, design and innovation strategy, the regional design competition ‘REBUILD BY DESIGN’, the connected planning conference and the follow up National program on ‘regional resilience by design’.

Before joining the Task Force Mr. Ovink was both Director General of Spatial Planning and Water Affairs and Director for National Spatial Planning for the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in the Netherlands.