Co-Founders I Executive Committee
Jan Goesaert (PT/BE) has a long and broad experience in international cross border M&A and fund raising, related strategic consulting for both corporates and SME as well as operational experience as CEO, CFO and COO.
He was amongst other a Senior Vice President and Exco Member for Agfa’s Healthcare, Managing Partner for EY’s Corporate Finance and Geschäftsführer of Rameder, Europe’s largest Tow Bar distributor.
Further CEO in the service packaging industry, as well as Executive Director in a family held private equity fund. Multilingual with NL/FR/EN/DE.
Sector experience includes Healthcare, IT, Automotive (IAM), Packaging and Financial and Consulting services.
Peter Buytaert (BE/CN) builds on thirty years of cross-cultural leadership of which half in corporate and half as entrepreneur. After his studies in Belgium (law, engineering and business management), he lived 25 years successively in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Shanghai.
He founded GLO (Good Leaders Online), a fully online executive search and mentoring platform, as well as CGL Management Consulting, which has assisted more than 50 SME in their startup of China.
Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Peter was President Agfa Graphics Asia and Chairman of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
Partners
Daniël de Blocq van Scheltinga (HK) is founder of Polarwide and based in Hong Kong. He was formerly Head of Chemical Sector Advisory in Asia Pacific from 2001 to 2006 and Head of Asset Based Finance in Asia between 2006 and 2008 at ABN AMRO. In 2008 he became the founding CEO of ChemChina Finance Co. with responsibility for centralising the capital management and acquisition strategy of more than 460 subsidiaries for the group.
In doing so, he became the first non-PRC citizen to manage the finance arm of a State-Owned Enterprise in China. Regular speaker at chemical conferences across Asia and advisor on China related matters. Author of articles in China Daily, Financial Times, etc. and guest lecturer on M&A and corporate finance at universities in HK, Shanghai and Beijing. Speaks some Mandarin.
Full Partner
Werner Vanderhaeghe (BE) is one of Belgium’s most senior international business lawyers and a director of companies with broad experience in domestic and international business transactions, complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration, corporate governance and compliance.
During the past 45 years, he has advised clients both as a private practitioner in Brussels with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and with White & Case, where he was a Partner, and as General Counsel of the Bekaert Group and the Agfa-Gevaert Group. Werner has represented clients and advised on transactions throughout Europe and in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
Dr. Martin Hinoul (BE) has a doctorate and post doctorate in physics and a postgraduate business degree from KU Leuven. He has also done research at Stanford University, M.I.T. and at several other laboratories in Europe, the U.S. and Japan.
He was closely involved in the Bell Telephone expansion into China and the development of the System 12 digital switch. He was also a technology attaché for the Belgian government in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. He then became business development manager for R&D at KU Leuven, with an interruption of 3 years as chief of staff of the Flemish Minister of Economy.
He is now an independent consultant to governments and companies, giving many international lectures and a prolific writer, among others.
Strategic Partners
Richard Valenti (FR) is a French – Australian senior executive with more than 30 years’ experience at top executive level in Information Technology within leading European banks and insurance groups: BNP Paribas, Generali and BPCE (Banque Populaire & Caisse d’Epargne) in France as well as in Australia and South Korea.
He is renowned for his strong expertise in strategic IT projects (Merger & Acquisition, Restructuring, Turnaround, Start-up, Transformation etc.).
He is a strategic adviser for several companies in Europe, US and China. He is also a professional mediator for business disputes.
Kian Beng Low (SG) was formerly Executive Director of Memiontec Holding Ltd, a total water technology provider and listed by him and the founder on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) in 2020, until he switched his role to Senior Board Advisor recently.
He is also founder of Zero-Energy Habitat Pte Ltd (ZEH), an integrated environmental solution & consulting company. Before that he was the DCEO of ecoWise Holdings Ltd, CEO of SP Corporation Ltd and CEO of Envipure Pte Ltd, an IPO aspirant.
His focus is mainly on the environment, resource recovery, renewable energy, infrastructure (PPP model), water treatment, air pollution, petrochemicals, construction & plant engineering. He holds an MBA from Texas (USA) and a B.Sc. (Eng.) from Imperial College (UK).
Mustafa al Sehli (UAE) is both a Saudi Arabian and British national and scion of an influential Saudi family. He was educated at the University of San Diego (double degrees in Political Science and International Relations). He has more than thirty years of experience in advising companies and leaders across the globe on their strategy, most notably regarding the Middle East and its international connectivity.
As a global thinker being able to bridge Western and Middle Eastern viewpoints, he has advised members of the royal families of Kuwait, Oman, KSA, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaimah and Dubai.
For over a decade now, he advises the government of Japan, as well as several African governments. He is a partner in the House of Börse and in a number of conglomerates in real estate and precious metals. He currently lives in the UAE.
Khai Meng Ang (CN) has vast experience in Healthcare industry with focus on Pharmaceuticals and Medtech across Asia and USA for 35 years. He was most recently with Roche Diabetes China. He currently serves as Board member of listed and private companies, as well as being in-house advisor to Chinese MedTech companies.
He started his career in Finance with Eli Lilly (18y) and assumed GM positions in Malaysia, China and Southeast Asia. He then assumed GM role for BD for Taiwan and Hongkong, based in Taipei. Since 2007, he is based in Shanghai as China and Regional GM for Medtronic, UCB, Hospira prior to Roche.
He has significant experience in China health care industry and responsibility for full commercial value chain from regulatory to commercial excellence and customer focus.
Chris Xiao Ma (CN) possesses 40 years of experience working in China, USA and internationally as C- level executive in and with various industries: semiconductor, chemical (industrial gas), renewable energy (solar PV), automotive and steel industry. Previously worked for Philips, Air Liquide, Bekaert and as a founding member of a start-up company in US.
He has hands on experience in managing companies, JV’s in China, M&A projects and Sustainability. With comprehensive understanding of cultural differences, China market dynamics, government relationship, HR complexity and competition landscape, he successfully managed company turn around, JV negotiations and execution, dispute settlement, M&A projects, restructuring & business scale up.
He graduated from Fu Dan University (physics/semiconductor) and received diploma from INSEAD.
Vincent Lui (HK)
as a HK Chinese Vincent has been bridging for Western investors coming across to Asia and vice versa. Graduated from universities in the UK he has been working in HK and mainland China serving industrial sectors from automotive to electronics, precision metal and plastic. He was former Asia head of German automotive cable harness company LEONI and a global management board member. He has been assigned to the BOD of several JV in China, managing operations and business development.
He has hands-on experience in China automotive industry, and in-depth exposure to JV establishment, operating and M&A projects in China. He is experienced in negotiation with Chinese SOE and bridging well with the foreign counterparts. He provides strategic analysis and initiatives to help publicly listed and private companies, particularly in their business development and cross-border investments.
Svein Nodland (NO/TH)
is a Norwegian senior executive with more than 40 years’ experience at top executive level in Oil and Gas, leading European largest Oil Service (drilling) company and experience from Shipping, Renewable, E&P, Energy transition with companies such as Dolphin Drilling, Fred. Olsen Energy, Mermaid Drilling Ltd, Ocean Rig and Kencana, Romco Group and some other companies. He is renowned for his strong expertise in Oil Service, Tech and Energy Transition Segments (Carbon, Carbon cement-coal-steel-bio-gas-consumer products Mineralization, Gas to Electricity, Solar, Wind, Water, Hydrogen, Metal).
He is a Board advisor and Board member for several companies in Europe, Africa and Asia.
He studied at the university of Stavanger and the Stavanger Offshore technical College of (Stavanger Maritime)
Guy Hallet (BE) is a senior advisor specialised in relations with China. He was Special advisor to former Belgian Minister for Economy and Foreign Trade, Jaak Gabriels to promote the cooperation between Belgium companies and China.
He is the organizer of over forty missions Belgian (royal) missions to China and initiated the twinning of several Belgian municipalities, cities with resp. district Yangzhou, city of Changzhou, city of Nanjing, and Jiangsu Province.
He was advisor to the Municipality Government of Yangzhou as official representative in Europe 2000 – 2015. He is well acquainted with the successive Chinese Ambassadors to the Kingdom of Belgium in Brussels.
Dr. Patrick Allman-Ward (UAE) is an accomplished international energy executive with over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, in many senior positions in locations all over the world. Dr. Allman-Ward started his career at Shell in 1982 becoming Vice-President Exploration for Asia-Pacific, CEO and Director of the South Rub Al Khali Company, Vice-President of New Business Development in Saudi Arabia and New Ventures Execution Manager for Europe.
After a successful 30 year career with Shell International, Dr. Allman-Ward joined Dana Gas in August 2012 as the General and Country Manager of Dana Gas Egypt and then as CEO of the Dana Gas Group from 2013-2024. He currently holds two NED roles in the energy and mining industries as well as running a successful consultancy business.
Our growing ranks of WISE Consultants
Lex Huurdeman (NL)
TNO, Shell, The World Bank Oli & Gas, energy transition, decarbonisation, Hydrogen, government negotiations
Peter Wilde (DE)
SGL Carbon, BMW
6 sigma black Belt Energy Systems, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Batteries, Supercaps
Ken Salter (PH/AU)
30+ years of Asia wide automotive and Lighting industry experience, scaling and restructuring for sustainability
Lothar Schuh (DE)
ABB, Technology transfer, acquisition of energy optimization projects, BD Fuel cells applic., Hydrogen, clean tech
Stephane Odasso (FR)
Tech Institute Tokyo, start-up & hydrogen consultancy , Inst. Avarap, Hydrogen, Advanced Materials, nano technology
Felicity Than (SG)
Healthcare and IT experience, presently focus on VC funding and IT, Renewables, Green Energy and HC start-ups
Frank Schulz (DE)
Marubeni Energy DE/ EU
Solar, Hydrogen, Recycling, Renewable energy, energy transition, decarbonisation , JV’s
Johannes De Groot (IT)
+25 years exec. Operations experience in Hi-tech and product development in EU and silicon valley semi con companies.
Thierry Gaudet (FR)
+35 years of international supply chain, ERP systems and operational management experience, EU and Asia
International Advisory Board
Elco van Grotenhuis van Onstein (BE) is a Dutch entrepreneurial CEO and M&A consultant with around 30 years of international experience. Former CEO/VP of Allibert/Keter Europe and SVP of Huhtamäki and Ziegler Logistics.
He also founded and successfully sold his own company as well as those of others. Multilingual NL/FR/EN/DE and with a creative and problem-solving spirit. He holds an MSc. from the Technical University of Delft and a financial MBA from EMLyon Business school and is a former winner of a Worldstar for Packaging.
Sector expertise: Household durables, FMCG, plastics, consumer packaging (plastics, paper & metals), composites/technical textiles, pharma, consumer electronics and logistics.
Prof. Alan Barrell, DBA, FRSA (UK) is Chairman of Cambridge Learning Gateway. Alan has worked in Health Care and Medical Research as Chairman and CEO of large multi-national companies and technology start-ups.
He teaches at Universities in UK, Europe, North America and Asia with Professorships in European and Chinese Universities. He has raised and managed a Venture Capital Fund, is a Business Angel Investor and Trustee of charities. He has been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion in the UK and is a Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland for services to Education.
His recent work focusses heavily on the commercialisation of research, technology start-ups and the development of UK-China Trade and Relationships including cross-continental investments.
Raf Decaluwé (BE) Since 2002, he is independent consultant on strategy formulation and strategy implementation, advises companies that are starting up in China and served on Boards of public and private companies, as member or chairman, in Europe, the USA and the Far East. Today he is active on three boards. In 1986 he joined the Executive Committee of Bekaert NV as Corporate Vice-President Finance. In 1991 he became General Manager of the BU Steelcord ( tyre reinforcement). His team implemented a major transformation of the business and entered the Tyre reinforcement market in China. In 1994 he was appointed CEO and Board member of the Bekaert Group until 2002.
Before, he held different positions in the financial area in various companies in Belgium, and abroad: Black & Decker Corporation, Maryland USA, Fisher-Price Toys Europe, Samsonite Europe, Arthur Andersen & Co and Continental oil Co, New-Jersey, USA.
He is Commercial engineer from KULeuven, Belgium and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Karel Bos (MC/UK/FR) is a Dutch businessman, who is the CEO of the Bosal group, third generation of this family business which was founded by his grandfather.
He previously held several roles in plant management, supply chain, operations, R&D, general management and chairman in USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, with plants and distribution centers in Europe, ME, Africa and North & South America, as well as Asia.
Presently the focus of Bosal is high temperature heat exchange systems and reformers for Fuel Cells, Electrolysers Microturbines, next to global automotive OEM and aftermarket.
He is an economist from KULeuven, with an MBA from Boston university. He held several board positions in professional organisations and did a spin in management consulting and private equity and as Geschäftsführer in a German IAM company.
Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri (UAE) is a futurist, thought leader, author and a public keynote speaker. He is a veteran of the UAE technology industry and was the founder and former Director General of the Emirates ID Authority, as well as former member of the scientific advisory committee of the UAE Space Agency and former Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on information technology.
Currently, he is a Director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai and adjunct lecturer of public policy science & technology track at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government.
He is also on the advisory board of several universities in the UAE, as well as advisor to several well-known start-ups including Virtual Rehab Inc., Network Development Hub (NDH) and 01Gov. Dr. Saeed earned his PhD in biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA in 1994.
Andrew K.P. Leung, SBS, FRSA (HK) is a prominent international China specialist and Chairman of Andrew Leung International Consultants Ltd. In his 38-year career he has held many senior government positions in Hong Kong, including commerce, industry, banking, finance, social welfare, and overseas diplomatic representation. His last post was as Hong Kong’s chief representative for the UK and 10 other EU member states, plus Russia, Norway and Switzerland.
He holds degrees and certificates from University of London, Cambridge University, Law Society of Hong Kong and London and PMD from Harvard Business School and has been included in UK’s Who’s Who since 2002. He is a member of several think-tanks such as: The Evian Group, Gerson Lehrman Group, Reuters Insight Community, etc, as well as a visiting professor to several international universities and a regular author of articles at: www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com/all/aboutme.htm
Prof. Dr. Vincent Yip (US/SG) is currently Advisor at the Cambridge Learning Gateway, instructor at Stanford Continuing Studies, Adjunct Professor at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and former Visiting Professor at Kellogg School of Business.
He was the founding Executive Director of Singapore’s Kent Ridge Science Park and served as Deputy Ambassador to the EC and the Vatican. He was also an Advisor to the Chinese Academy of Science and the Dunhuang Academy and is widely recognized as a China expert and consulted for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and UNDP.
He received the French “Palmes Academiques” for significant contribution to the Singapore-French relationship in culture and technology. Born in Singapore, Prof. Yip received his PhD (Materials Science) from the University of Southern California and then an MBA (International Business).
Patrick Nijs (CN) is the former Belgian Ambassador to China. He was also Belgian Head of Mission in Osaka, Shanghai and Hong Kong and Director General for Consular Affairs from 2007 to 2009. After retiring, he focused on his great passion: an organic farm house in Yunnan, where he still resides.
He is specialised in handling international matters in a practical way and was previously an Adviser to: Beaulieu International Group, Dragone Entertainment Group, Senior Assist International, Media Participations, Vlerick Business School, U-Leap education, Air Time Magazine, the City of Dujiangyan, Rubber Valley in Qingdao, as well as non-executive director of Nagelmackers Bank in Belgium – owned by Anbang Insurance.
In 2017 he co-founded EUCJIC, an NGO focused on innovative projects between EU and China. Since 2022, he is also a guest Professor at Zhejiang University of Technology, focusing on joint innovation.
Professor Jay Mitra (IN/UK) is Professor of Business Enterprise and Innovation and Director of the Venture Academy at Essex Business School, University of Essex, UK. He is a Visiting Scholar at Luneburg University in Germany and has held Visiting Professorships at prestigious universities in India, China, Italy and Colombia.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK and a board member of INSME (International Network of SMEs). He also leads the International Entrepreneurship Forum (IEF) and sits on the Advisory Board of the International Network for SMEs (INSME), the European Business Angels Network and the Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics.
He has acted as a Scientific Adviser to the OECD in Paris and worked with various other institutions around the world such as UNCTAD, UNIDO, ASEAN, EU and other government agencies and private sector organisations.
Prof. Dr. Harry Commandeur (NL) is a full time professor of industrial and business economics at the Erasmus School of Economics and CEO of the Erasmus School of Accounting & Assurance. His research examines the relationship between market structure, corporate strategy and firm performance – with particular emphasis on “moral markets” today.
He was CEO of Erasmus University Rotterdam Holding (2006-2020) and Dean of the Erasmus School of Economics (2003-2006). He has held faculty positions at Nyenrode University (The Netherlands, 1998-2014), the Vlerick School of Management as well as the University of Ghent (Belgium, 1995-2001).
He is a member of several supervisory boards in both the public and private sector and acts primarily as academic advisor to SRP.