Our Team

Dr. Wouter Jacobs

Dr. Wouter Jacobs is the Academic Director of the ‘Executive Programme Leadership in Commodity Trade and Supply Networks’ and the ‘Undergraduate Study Abroad Programme Maritime Studies from Nanyang Technological University’. He has a substantial history as a senior research fellow and lecturer at Erasmus UPT. Wouter has published widely in international academic peer reviewed journals and offers business intelligence with over 250 in-depth interviews with senior managers and business leaders in commodity trade, shipping and related maritime business service industries in Europe, USA and Asia.

Reinette Sluijk

Reinette Sluijk is the Programme Manager of the ‘Executive Programme Leadership in Commodity Trade and Supply Networks’ and the ‘Undergraduate Study Abroad Programme Maritime Studies from Nanyang Technological University’.

Maarten Frowein

Maarten Frowein has extensive professional experience in the industry with senior positions at VTTI (Vitol), BHP Billiton and ING Trade & Commodity Finance. Maarten currently advices boardrooms and HR departments with training and recruitment policies.

Robert Horster

Robert Horster leads global trading, origination and sustainability for Cargill's Edible Oils group. He has been in this position since 2016. Prior to his current role, he held a regional trading role in the same group. Between 2007 and 2012, Robert headed up Cargill's grain and oilseeds trading for Greater China and coal trading for Asia. Before relocating to Asia, he was the commercial manager for the company's oilseeds crush and feed ingredients activities in the Benelux. In this capacity, he was involved in setting up responsible supply chains for soybeans and a member of the Kramer-commission, an advisory body to the Dutch government on sustainable biomass. Robert holds a master's degree from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam in monetary economics and fundamental economic theory. He has lectured on food security and commodity risk at Singapore Management University and the Erasmus University and has a special interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Walter Vollebregt

Walter Vollebregt brings more than 25 years of experience in commodity trade finance, the last 7 years as Global Head TCF Metals and Minerals at Rabobank. Walter is currently Chief Risk Officer at Twinco Capital, a fintech specialized in supply chain finance solutions, based in Madrid.

Daan Vriens

Daan Vriens has been the CEO of BayWa Agri Supply & Trade (BAST) since September 2016. He has over 20 years of international experience on the front lines of the commodity trading industry, in feed and food, with senior positions at Cargill and Cefetra (since 2013 years as CEO) in Singapore, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Sacha Konan

Sacha Konan brings over 25 years of experience in commodity trading. He has led, built, grown, transformed, sold and integrated businesses across energy, metals, shipping and agriculture with Cargill, Macquarie and currently with Paramount Energy SA. Starting in various agricultural trading roles in Amsterdam he moved in 2000 to Cargill’s global trading headquarters in Geneva. In the early 2000’s Sacha built out the Capesize business in the Ocean Transportation Division where he was running at its peak a 70mio metric ton shipping book. From 2009 to 2014 Sacha went on to lead Cargill’s Global Metals business from Singapore where he was instrumental in transforming Cargill’s iron ore and steel trading business into a global leader. In 2014 Sacha returned to Geneva to lead and integrate Cargill’s Petroleum and Petrochemical businesses, which under his leadership were eventually sold to Macquarie group. He subsequently led and integrated the petroleum business into Macquarie’s commodities platform after which he provided strategy and leadership support to Macquarie’s Metals & Bulk businesses. Earlier this year Sacha embarked on new avenues as investor, advisor and interim manager for various commodity businesses.