Sander van der Waal

Sander van der Waal has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Sander began their career as a Quality Engineer at Exact Software in 2003. From 2004 to 2006, they worked as a Software Engineer at GX, where they focused on developing Java software components and configuring WebManager for prominent websites. Sander then joined Sogeti Nederland B.V. as a Java Technology Specialist from 2006 to 2009. At Sogeti, they honed their skills in Java technology. In 2009, they moved to OSS Watch, University of Oxford, where they served as a Development Officer, assisting open source projects in the UK academic sector. Sander also took on the role of Service Manager, leading a team that provided advice to the academic sector on the use and development of open source software. Sander's next position was at the Open Knowledge Foundation, starting in 2012. During their tenure, they held various roles, including Head of Unit for Long Term Projects, Projects Director, and Head of Programmes. Their responsibilities included leading projects, fostering open data communities, and promoting the use of open information. Sander then joined Waag in 2019, initially serving as the Lead of the Future Internet Lab. In January 2021, they transitioned to the role of Research Director. Sander's broad experience in research, open source software, and project leadership has prepared him well for their current role at Waag.

Sander van der Waal completed their Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the University of Amsterdam from 2003 to 2008. Prior to that, they obtained their Master's degree in Computer Science from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) between 1997 and 2002.