Sandu Niessen is a seasoned professional in urban planning and local governance, currently serving as a Strateeg at Rijkswaterstaat since October 2024 and as a Raadslid for Gemeente Asten since March 2018. Previous experience includes leading the De Neerlanden II housing project at a local government office and various roles in spatial planning and tourism policy. Sandu has also contributed to initiatives at Provincie Noord-Brabant and interned at Erfgoedvereniging Heemschut. Educational qualifications include a Master's degree in Urbanism and Spatial Planning from KU Leuven, a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning from Wageningen University, and a minor from Delft University of Technology. Early career included roles in team leadership and tutoring.