« Back Travel Daily Media Boost your business & benchmark against your competitors with TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 – start your entry here » TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 – start your entry here » Don't have an account? Register Enter your details below to create your account and get started Already have an account? Login Enter your new password below to complete the reset process The rebranding focuses on redefining the guest experience Multi-Property Vice President Vietnam and General Manager of JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon on his goals for the property and competitive innovation Travel Daily Media (TDM): Can you share the vision and strategic goals behind the rebranding of JW Marriott Saigon Mark Van Der Wielen (MVDW): The vision behind the rebranding of JW Marriott Saigon is to create a sophisticated luxury experience that resonates with both local and international travellers The strategic goals include enhancing brand recognition and fostering a deeper connection with the local culture This aligns with JW Marriott’s overall aim to position itself as a leader in the luxury hospitality sector particularly in emerging markets like Vietnam TDM: What new offerings or changes can guests expect under the JW Marriott brand that differentiate it from the previous iteration How does the new brand align with the evolving hospitality landscape in Vietnam MVDW: Our latest offerings redefine the guest experience Each guest will enjoy tailored services that cater to individual preferences Our signature restaurants present a curated international and local cuisine selection offering a sophisticated dining experience that celebrates diverse flavours Our comprehensive wellness programs also provide spa treatments and fitness options designed to promote relaxation and well-being These enhancements reflect our commitment to the evolving hospitality landscape TDM: How is JW Marriott Saigon positioning itself as a key player in the MICE space to attract international and domestic business events MVDW: JW Marriott Saigon positions itself as a premier MICE (Meetings and Exhibitions) destination by emphasising its strategic location and commitment to service excellence Situated in the heart of Saigon’s central business and cultural district the hotel offers unmatched convenience for both domestic and international guests The property features state-of-the-art facilities continuously upgrading its meeting spaces with advanced technology to enhance the attendee experience Versatile event spaces accommodate various group sizes ensuring flexibility for diverse gatherings JW Marriott Saigon delivers personalised services to create enriching well-organised experiences that leave attendees feeling connected the hotel strengthens its brand as a destination that combines quality with a deep focus on guest satisfaction TDM: How has the MICE industry evolved in Vietnam and Southeast Asia in recent years what key MICE trends are you noticing for 2025 and beyond especially in luxury hotels like JW Marriott MVDW: The MICE industry in Vietnam and Southeast Asia has evolved with a significant focus on innovation and sustainability TDM: How is technology reshaping the MICE industry in Vietnam What role do you see innovations like hybrid events or automation playing in your hotel’s operations MVDW: Technology is significantly reshaping the MICE industry in Vietnam in several impactful ways and enabling the MICE industry in Vietnam to become more flexible I can list down some factors such as hybrid and virtual meetings AI solutions or sustainability solutions and technology updates for event venues We are embracing these changes to enhance our operations and guest experience TDM: Which markets (domestic or international) are you targeting most aggressively for MICE and business travel Has there been a shift in target demographics MVDW: We are targeting both domestic markets focusing on regions with strong business ties to Vietnam there is an emphasis on local businesses and corporations within Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam JW Marriott Saigon is strategically adapting its approach to meet the demands of a shifting demographic landscape within the MICE (Meetings Recognising the growing interest among younger professionals and millennials the hotel emphasises experiential travel and networking opportunities tailored to these groups with the rapid growth of Vietnam’s tech ecosystem there is an increased focus on tech companies and startups that prefer innovative event formats and collaborative spaces JW Marriott Saigon is also broadening its outreach to diverse industries to attract a varied portfolio of conferences and events By targeting a balanced mix of domestic and international clients and embracing new event formats JW Marriott Saigon is positioning itself competitively to remain a top choice for contemporary MICE offerings TDM: With Vietnam’s growing economy and booming tourism sector what factors make Saigon an attractive destination for business travellers and how do you see Vietnam’s infrastructure (transport etc.) evolving to support increased business tourism and modern infrastructure make it an attractive destination for business travellers The city is enhancing its transport systems and technological infrastructure such as new airport expansions and improved public transport These evolving factors position Saigon as a competitive destination for business travellers supporting the growing demand for MICE tourism while fostering an environment for business growth TDM: How does the rebranded JW Marriott Saigon integrate local Vietnamese culture into its guest experience particularly for international MICE events MVDW: We integrate Vietnamese culture into our guest experience through carefully curated art Our newly renovated Grand Ballroom and meeting spaces reflect the elegance of Vietnam’s national flower as well as the dynamic flow of the Mekong River creating an environment that embodies both sophistication and local heritage we offer cultural programming designed to immerse guests These elements combine to provide a unique culturally enriching experience that connects our guests with the spirit of Vietnam TDM: Where do you see the future of the luxury hotel industry in Vietnam especially in a market as dynamic as Ho Chi Minh City MVDW: The luxury hotel industry in Vietnam Guests are increasingly seeking personalised luxury experiences emphasising bespoke services tailored to individual preferences Sustainability has become a crucial factor with eco-friendly initiatives and wellness programs gaining importance among travellers such as culinary classes or cultural tours and hosting unique events like themed culinary nights or private gatherings The rise of business travellers is another key factor as Ho Chi Minh City solidifies its position as a leading MICE destination in the region the integration of smart technology is revolutionising the guest experience enabling seamless interactions through mobile apps and enhancing service delivery through data analytics This comprehensive strategy not only supports the rebranding of luxury hotels but also aligns with the evolving trends and future opportunities in the hospitality industry Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Connect with your clients by working with our in-house brand studio using our expertise and media reach to help you create and craft your message in video and podcast Sign up for free newsletters and get more TDM delivered to your inbox and more info about our products and services ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " announces the addition of renown Australian executive John Van Der Wielen to Board of Directors Van Der Wielen will focus on Australian expansion programs for all three entities Van Der Wielen brings a wealth of global experience and strategic insight to the Board His extensive accomplishments in corporate strategy across diverse industries plus his proven track record of driving growth and innovation makes him a valuable asset to the company's leadership team "John's appointment to our board marks a significant milestone for Bridgewest Perth Pharma," said Dr "His expertise will be instrumental as we continue to expand our operations and explore new opportunities within the pharmaceutical sector We are thrilled to welcome John to our team and look forward to his contributions in guiding our strategic direction." Van Der Wielen is currently the Chair for Orthocell Ltd he was Chair of the Future Health Innovation and Research Fund WA Director at Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) and CEO of one of Australia's largest health insurance funds  "I am very excited to be involved with Bridgewest Group and Bridgewest Perth Pharma," said Van Der Wielen the private equity company behind Bridgewest Perth Pharma has been a major life science and biotech investor globally Among its recent investments in Australia is the Pfizer Perth facility which is bringing about new pharma manufacturing jobs to Perth as well as needed drug supplies to the region "I share their passion to grow this important sector The potential for Bridgewest Perth Pharma to play a critical role in broadening Australia business economy adding leading global exporter of quality medical products With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation Bridgewest Perth Pharma will push the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare," added Van Der Wielen About Bridgewest GroupBridgewest Group is an innovative and privately held global investment firm with over $3B in private capital the global firm has earned a long-standing reputation for creating and scaling transformational businesses to achieve outsized success Bridgewest Group leverages its expertise and global eco-community in key sectors where it can have the greatest impact including Life Sciences Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence/Deep Tech Customized financial investment services and diverse real estate holdings augment equity assets and support portfolio companies as they grow Media Contact: Jenny Bourbiel, [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: Perth’s billionaire set is piling into this little-known medtechThe value of West Australian nerve repair biotech Orthocell has doubled since September as it beefs up its shareholder bases and prepares to break into the US SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Western Australia is better known for producing mining magnates than medical breakthroughs, but Perth-based nerve repair company Orthocell has global ambitions for its collagen patches made from Australian pigs As Orthocell prepares to break into the United States the ASX-listed company is attracting some high net-worth interest Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. The American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program is a highly selective nonpartisan program devoted to expanding knowledge and awareness of Congress it has brought select political scientists and other professionals to Capitol Hill to experience Congress at work through fellowship placements on congressional staffs Ryan Vander Wielen is Professor of Political Science and (by courtesy) Economics at Temple University His research and teaching interests are in the areas of American political institutions Much of Ryan’s research examines how legislators strategically navigate their electoral circumstances and whether voters hold elected representatives accountable for their behavior in office His work has been published in the American Journal of Political Science He is the co-author of Taming Intuition (Cambridge University Press) Lane Award from the APSA Political Psychology section and the 2018 Best Book Award from the APSA Experimental Research section His is also the co-author of Politics Over Process (University of Michigan Press) The American Congress (Cambridge University Press/Rowman & Littlefield) and The American Congress Reader (Cambridge University Press) in Political Science from Washington University in St in Music Performance (classical guitar) from Lawrence University He has served on the editorial board of Legislative Studies Quarterly Ryan has held visiting fellowships at Duke University and Sciences-Po Lyon and is a Faculty Affiliate with the Behavioral Foundations Lab at Temple University Learn more about the Congressional Fellowship Program. Theme Panel: The American State’s Retreat from Civil Rights Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday evening son of the late Albert and Rosemary (Wolf) Vander Wielen He was a 1971 graduate of Appleton East High School after which he entered into the service of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War It was during his time in the Air Force that he came to love aviation and computers He returned to Appleton and attended Fox Valley Technical Institute (FVTC) and received an Associate Degree in electronics John had been employed at Midwest Imaging in Menasha they remained the closest of friends and nurtured a loving family They cared for and successfully raised two wonderful sons and they shared sixteen wonderful years together They were married at their home on Veteran's Day A small church ceremony was held a few weeks later John loved photography and took great pride in documenting life's events His family will treasure all of the photos and memories John leaves behind He also had an expansive knowledge and enthusiasm for technology that he willingly shared with others John was a founding member of Appleton's Apple Computer Club and passed on to his children a lifelong love of learning Aviation played an important role in John's life and was recently recognized as an honorary lifetime member of the EAA who enjoyed frequent visits to High Cliff with Nancy John also visited each of Wisconsin's state parks and enjoyed vacationing in Michigan One of John's personal goals was reached this past August when he was blessed to be present at Blaine and Jenn's wedding John is survived by his wife: Nancy Theiler of Sherwood; two sons: Ryan (Samantha) Vander Wielen of Philadelphia and Blaine (Jennifer) Vander Wielen of Darboy; two sisters and two brothers: Alice Fara of Appleton who was also one of John's unconditional caregivers; Michael (Karen) Vander Wielen of Woodstock Georgia; Paul (Carol) Vander Wielen of Oshkosh; and Diane (John) McHale of Waldorf Maryland; and his former wife: Gail (Steve) Bruce of Neenah Friends are welcome to visit at the funeral home on Saturday 2011 from 11:00 AM until the time of the memorial service at 2:00 PM Full military honors will follow the service The family would like to offer their thanks to the many family members coworkers and all others for their love and support during this difficult time Nancy would also like to offer a special thank you to the staff and students at Maplewood Middle School in Menasha He always placed the needs of others before those of his own and he could be counted on for – well He will be missed by all who knew and loved him Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors A leading University of Limerick academic has been conferred as a fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering Bernal Professor of Biosystems Engineering and Design was one of nine new Fellows welcomed at a conferring ceremony Awarded alongside Professor van der Wielen – the only Dutch fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) - were Eamonn O’Reilly The aim of the IAE is to advance the wellbeing of the country by marshalling the expertise and insights of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to policy makers on matters involving engineering and technology The IAE is an all-island body concerned with issues where the members based on their wide and diverse experience can make a unique contribution to economic a short citation was read out by Academy Honorary Secretary Joe Harford and parchments were presented by Academy President Seamus McKeague President Seamus McKeague said: “It is a pleasure to welcome the new Fellows to our Academy and we are in awe of their contribution to the Engineering profession.” Professor van der Wielen was the first Director of the Bernal Institute UL and continues as Bernal Professor of Biosystems Engineering and Design A Distinguished Professor in the Bio-based economy at TU Delft he is also a member of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce and was specially tasked with the development of the focused RD&I program in the Taskforce’s Final Report which was launched last July 75 Engineering Doctorates and over 100 MSc students have graduated under his supervision Tel: +353 61 202700 Doctorates& over 100 MSc students have graduated under his supervision Oversight Board of the Global Sustainable Bioenergy Project and advisor to several European and international industries He was in Boards of Commissioners of Dutch Greentech Fund he joined (part-time) Royal Dutch Shell as a Principal Scientist Biotechnology Luuk van der Wielen is married, has 3 children, and has an active and passive interest in jazz music; see here 2010, 2011 and 2018 [1] such as Delft Advanced Biorenewables https://dab.bio/ and others [1] Bernal Institute [2] such as Delft Advanced Biorenewables https://dab.bio/ and others [3] http://www.be-basic.org/news-center/news/bioport-holland-appoints-luuk-van-der-wielen-as-chairman-of-the-board.html This Premium article is exclusively available for subscribers Obtain insights from exclusive interviews Dive into articles covering trending industry topics Get a glimpse into poultry farms worldwide Already subscribed? Click here to login to highlight the location and attract citizens of all age groups.  all images courtesy of neostudio architekci the main intent of neostudio architekci‘s intervention was to create a universal space with reference to the history of the city’s urban planning which encourages people of all backgrounds to spend their free time within it it was also important for the new design to form a multifunctional place that can accommodate a variety of recreational and commercial activities the new marketplace serves as a public venue for festivals concerts and local cultural and historical events generating a point of connection and interaction for everyone.   functionally and formally the marketplace has always been divided into three parts the first northern part is a large square with a smooth floor shaped as a place to strengthen local traditions by organizing cultural city events such as harvest festivals and occasional concerts – there is available space for a stage set up neostudio designed and added a floor with traces of the foundations of the local evangelical church that burnt down in 1977 the second part of the marketplace area comprises the central city square which had to be fit successfully within an arrangement of growing 100-year-old linden trees no trees were cut for the project completion and all sick specimens that could not be saved were replaced with new plantings this central square space features an asphalt floor on top of which a collection of games for children is installed and separate store areas are marked the main part of the project is the modular steel shed arrangement that has been constructed on a rectangular plan with a U-shaped cut and spans finished with sheet metal in the pattern of an origami drawing the fifth elevation has been finished with a standing seam sheet and partly made of glass on aluminum profiles as a natural illumination of the exhibition stands the third part – the southern square is the space around the residential building which historically divides the square into parts and the southern part name: the market in wieleń architecture office: neostudio architekci lead architects: bartosz jarosz paweł świerkowski collaborating architects: adrianna fiącek tomasz sołtysiak location: wieleń poland site area: 11 286,70 m2 building area: 1121,70 m2 designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style APPLETON - When authorities issue a sex offender bulletin, the response from the community is predictable “This is the kind of folk that should be on death row!” blared a Facebook comment on a recent story in The Post-Crescent about a 47-year-old man with a history of sex crimes against children who was heading to Appleton “Place him in Siberia,” another person wrote on social media The convicted felon is one of 300-plus registered sex offenders living in Appleton Some are under supervision; others are free of restrictions there were 587 registered sex offenders — living either on or off supervision — in Outagamie County; including 403 who are residing in Appleton or at a residence with an Appleton address The total in the city of Appleton alone is 342 Blaine Vander Wielen of the police department who oversees the sex offender registry compliance program for the department say they understand why citizens react strongly to news that a person with a sexual assault conviction is moving into their neighborhood But they both point out that those negative feelings won’t prevent sex offenders from eventually returning to the communities where they have ties “There’s no scenario where we ship them off to an island,” Kuether said RELATED: Sex offender to be placed in housing on S. Memorial Drive in Appleton RELATED: Sheriff's department to hold community meeting in Deer Creek on sex offenders' release RELATED: Convicted sex offender moves from Appleton to Kimberly There are different layers of supervision and compliance for registered sex offenders, Vander Wielen said. In the case of a community notification, the offender is often placed, at least initially, in a halfway house and remains under the supervision of a probation or parole agent. The offenders also are subjected to GPS monitoring in some cases. The decision to issue special bulletin notifications is made by a team that includes police, corrections officials and representatives of other agencies. The intent is to assess whether an offender poses a risk to reoffend, based on the seriousness of the offense, the number of prior incidents, the extent of treatment the offender has received, whether the offender knew the victim and the level of support an offender has in the community. Of the 403 registered offenders who have an Appleton address, 225 are on supervision with the Department of Corrections, Vander Wielen said. The remainder, he said, have completed their time on supervision, but are still listed on the registry. The police department checks in with these offenders periodically to ensure that their information on the registry — including their address — is up-to-date. Vander Wielen said the department’s policy to have officers stay in touch with offenders who aren’t on active supervision has been successful. “It’s voluntary for them,” he said. “We have nearly 100 percent compliance.” At the other end of the spectrum are offenders who pose a potential risk to reoffend. Those cases usually prompt a public response when they are published in the media. But Vander Wielen and Kuether stress that while the community should be aware of sex offenders in their midst, they should also be wary of living near a convicted thief or burglar. “You have to be cognizant of everyone,” Kuether said. Merkle,  a leading technology-enabled has hired Stefan van der Wielen to lead the further expansion of its EMEA Pega alliance van der Wielen will help clients adopt and integrate Pega which provides automated customer engagement and next-best-action decisioning Van der Wielen joins Merkle from Pegasystems responsible for leading a group of expert consultants throughout EMEA and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Since its first major European acquisition in 2015 Merkle has rapidly expanded to 1,400 employees in EMEA It is continuing to aggressively build its offering in the region to help brands practice people-based marketing (PBM) In 2016 Merkle and Pegasystems united to deliver real-time personalisation between digital advertising the two companies launched a marketing technology integration capability to unify adtech and martech to enable more effective and relevant digital ad campaigns and omni-channel experiences Pegasystems is now the technology of choice for many of Merkle’s biggest clients Van der Wielen will report to Sam Taverner who said: “Stefan has a strong background in programme management and organisational change as well as second-to-none experience in developing tech capabilities and growing talent This makes him well placed to lead and grow our Pega practice in EMEA and I look forward to working with him at a pivotal time for Merkle.” Van der Wielen added: “I am proud to be joining such a talented team at Merkle whilst being able to continue working with Pegasystems In a time where many of our customers and partners are changing their customer approach to personalised it is great to be able to contribute to the changes they need to make.’’ APPLETON - Two registered sex offenders will be residing in Appleton Neither man is wanted by police at this time "This notification is not intended to increase fear," Appleton police said in the statement. "Rather it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public." is residing in the 2600 block of North Richmond Street "has recently come into this community and will be residing temporarily at a residence in the 500 block of North Superior Street," police said in the statement.  Litscher was convicted of six crimes between 1959 and 1997 involving boys between the ages of 12 and 15 Five were acquaintances of Litscher and one was a stranger He was discharged from a civil commitment denoting him as a "sexually violent person," Outagamie County Sheriff's Sgt Shawn Oligney told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin he was supervised by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Department of Corrections he is still a registered sex offender for life with lifetime GPS monitoring and is subject to the same requirements as any other sex offender.  Questions regarding Litscher can be directed to Vander Wielen at 920-832-5500 or the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry at 888-963-3363 RELATED: Sheriff's department to hold community meeting in Deer Creek on sex offenders' release RELATED: Police: 'Higher-risk' sex offender won't be placed at Telulah Avenue residence Vandenboogart was convicted in 2005 of second-degree sexual assault of a child, according to police His offense happened in Outagamie County and involved a 13-year-old acquaintance He is being supervised by the Department of Corrections and will be monitored by GPS for a period of time.  "His interaction with the community will be restricted by the standard rules placed on sex offenders and specific rules regarding the times of day that he can leave the residence," police said Additional questions regarding Vandenboogart can be addressed with State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections Agent Jessica Day at 920-997-1480 or Appleton police Sgt Amid the widening scandal in the financial-services sector WA’s biggest health insurer has offered a shining example of transparency by disclosing the pay packets of its top executives as it reported an increased annual profit of $60.81 million revealed in its annual report that chief executive John Van Der Wielen earned $1.43 million in total remuneration in the year to June 30 with chairman Tony Crawford pocketing $259,636 and other non-executive directors up to $150,481 but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have the highest standards of corporate governance,” Wielen said in a West Australian report The groundbreaking move reflects Der Wielen’s push for more transparency at HBF since he became the Perth-based health fund’s head honcho in April last year HBF also disclosed for the first time a broad breakdown of its investment portfolio as Der Wielen revealed the company’s plan to improve its performance by assessing its investment allocations HBF saw a 3.9% return in its investment portfolio reducing investment income by $21.2 million due to low-interest rates which led to a 2.1% surplus lift from FY 2016-17’s $59.54 million Also contributing to the result was a drive on costs by Der Wielen who set out to wind up HBF’s sponsorships and rationalise the group’s insurance products The move led to reduced operating expenses for the company Crown Perth chair John Van Der Wielen has spoken bluntly about the ‘appalling’ failures of the besieged casino but has avowed the Blackstone-owned organisation can and will be turned around The former HBF boss and company director fielded questions in a wide-ranging Business News interview this morning the first since being recruited by Crown’s new owners US investment firm Blackstone as part of a major overhaul at the top end of the embattled business Mr Van Der Wielen was made chair of casino licensee Burswood Limited in July 2022 and today spoke frankly on the business’ damaged reputation labelling the culture and past behaviours as appalling “I wish I could I tell you...I read the Royal Commision papers and they got it wrong - they didn’t,” he told the audience “And the culture and the past behaviours…apalling and pretty shameful a lot of the things that took place.” the 994-page document found Crown Perth and its subsidiaries unfit to hold the state’s only casino licence but stopped short of recommending the licence be revoked Crown Perth and Melbourne recently agreed to a $450 million fine as part of an agreed penalty for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism breaches following a 15-month investigation by AUSTRAC He said that one of the advantages of coming into a business following a royal commission was that it provided a rulebook and pointed to new leadership as areas of change.  He also flagged the imminent announcement of a chief financial officer.  "We've got David Tsai..our new CEO of Crown Perth is someone that's run global resorts...we're not too far off announcing a really high-powered CFO for the business.  Crown was acquired by investment giant Blackstone in mid-2022 for approximately $9 billion Mr Van Der Wielen also took a veiled swipe at the organisation's former leadership.  "[I'm] a great believer in the saying 'the fish rots at the head' and there was a few fish that were here "That needs to be taken out of an organsiation to take it forward and we’ve done that." He also maintained that Crown was a vital tourism asset to the state.  "This thing has to be run well and it will be run well and we'll do it ethically." Crown Perth also made headlines after a valet driver damaged two Lamborghinis in February earlier this year.  Mr Van Der Wielen said the first thing the team did had been to apologise and contact the owner of the cars which was revealed at the time as WA billionaire Laurence Escalante He said he had spoken to 'the customer' several times since and had expressed the group's apologies indicating there were no hard feelings following the incident.  John Van Der Wielen is a finance and insurance sector executive with broad international experience in the insurance industry he was chief executive of not-for-profit health fund HBF Mr Van Der Wielen has also chaired ASX-listed fintech startup Kyckr Mr Van Der Wielen began his career in the State Government Insurance Office In 1998 he was recruited by Bank of Scotland to establish insurance group which he grew to encompass wealth management and life insurance He moved to London with HBOS (the successor to Bank of Scotland) and was appointed CEO Halifax Life & Heidelberger Leben and promoted to the insurance executive board of HBOS parent Lloyds Banking Group In 2010 he returned to Australia to lead the wealth management business for ANZ Banking Group and accepted the group executive role Mr Van Der Wielen returned to London after being recruited for the insurance acquirer Resolution plc He returned to Perth in 2016 with a portfolio of advisory and non-executive board positions including as chair of the advisory council at the Western Australian Government's Future Health Research and Innovation Fund from November 2020 to February 2024 Mr Van Der Wielen has been a senior advisor for Blackstone and Appian Capital Advisory LLP He has also been the chair of Crown Perth and Orthocell and non-executive director of Crown Resorts and the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA Mr Van Der Wielen holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia has studied at London Business School and Oxford University and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Access to our data for John Van Der Wielen is only available to paid subscribers with Data & Insights access To see the data you will need to Subscribe University of Limerick is to collaborate with Trinity College Dublin and Aircraft Leasing Ireland on an exciting research project focusing on the production of sustainable aviation fuel the Ibec group representing the aircraft leasing industry announced funding for the new research project during the sector’s second Global Aviation Sustainability Day Conference at the Convention Centre Dublin a collaboration between UL through its Bernal Institute and Trinity College will examine realistic avenues for manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Ireland The primary focus of the study will be to identify how Ireland can establish a sustainable and viable supply chain for SAF raw materials while also proposing scenarios in which a substantial quantity of SAF can be produced efficiently on the island The study is set to commence in 2024 and will run for four years It will be led by Associate Professor Stephen Dooley and Assistant Professor Mohammad Reza Ghanni of Trinity College Dublin along with Professors Luuk Van der Wielen and Vivek Ranade of the Bernal Institute The project builds on engineering and energy systems’ work under the direction of Professor Van der Wielen on the development of sustainable aviation fuel manufacturing in various jurisdiction with leading SAF developers He explained: “We believe that Ireland has significant potential to develop a competitive SAF supply chain especially when it embraces the Atlantic Offshore Renewable (Wind) Energy Plan and a proactive Circular Bioeconomy Agenda as set-out by the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce in its July 2023 Report conducted in partnership between Aircraft Leasing Ireland will aim to help realise this potential by analysing realistic SAF production scenarios on the island of Ireland.” said of the project’s launch: “Increasing SAF supply is a critical global challenge that is key to unlocking a sustainable future for the aviation sector Our members are determined to help position Ireland as a leader in the sector by investing in research initiatives that will identify what’s needed for the scale-up of SAF This research will give Ireland the opportunity to establish this leadership position in SAF production by mapping out the key data needed to establish effective supply chains.” added: “Ireland is well positioned to become a global centre of excellence for the production of SAF given our sophisticated agriculture industry and plans to harness large amounts of renewable offshore wind electricity Not only will this be vital from a sustainability perspective but it will also create significant economic opportunities for Ireland across the regions The question is whether the details add up in the right way to make SAF production in Ireland both sustainable and profitable.” Associate Professor Stephen Dooley of Trinity College Dublin added: “Sustainable aviation fuel is critical to delivering the industry's ambitious net-zero targets for 2050 we are facing a race to find locations and processes that can produce SAF – something that this research is committed to unlocking.” Several projects involving researchers at University of Limerick are to receive funding from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. and Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Development Martin Heydon have announced funding of 20 research grants worth just over €24 million to support research across 16 institutes Food and the Marine’s 2023 Thematic Research Call will support research across the agri-food with three projects coordinated by or involving UL researchers Professor Sean Fair Professor Achim Schmalenberger and Professor Luuk van der Wielen covering important areas such as food safety animal reproduction and circular bioeconomy development Welcoming the announcement UL Vice President Research Professor Norelee Kennedy said: “The agri-food and bioeconomy sectors are hugely important for Ireland as they continue to develop and innovate Some of our most innovative scientists are significant pillars under this important research initiative that furthers research in key sectors for the Irish economy as well as ensuring a continuous stream of highly skilled scientific talent coming through.” Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to announce funding of over €24 million for 20 research projects arising from the 2023 Thematic Research Call The work funded under our research calls is essential to equip farmers and the wider agri-food sector with the tools needed to improve their economic and social sustainability in the years ahead It is also pivotal to developing the next generation of cutting-edge technologies and innovations that will ensure we are globally attractive and competitive as a food island.’’ Minister of State Heydon said: ‘‘When I launched the 2023 Thematic Research Call earlier this year my objectives were to build research capacity expertise and reputation in critical areas of importance address research gaps and provide opportunities for early-stage researchers encouraging collaboration across institutions and across scientific disciplines In announcing this funding today of over €24 million from four research funders across the island I firmly believe that the twenty projects involved will fulfil those objectives.” Projects supported involving UL researchers are: ‘HeteroBull’ led by Professor Fair furthers artificial insemination which has driven genetic progress in the dairy industry by facilitating intensive use of elite sires in terms of economic and environmentally relevant traits Despite rigorous assessments of sperm quality by animal breeding centres before semen is released for sale significant variation in field fertility still exists among bulls used in artificial insemination There is anecdotal evidence internationally that mixing semen from more than one bull in the same semen straw (Heterospermic semen) can protect against this variation and increase pregnancy rates possibly due to sperm competition and/or allowing flexibility in timing of insemination relative to ovulation The HeteroBull project is a collaboration between researchers at University of Limerick Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation as well as industry partners Professor Fair explained: “The project aims to provide sound scientific evidence on the degree to which both conventional and sex-sorted heterospermic semen can influence fertility in lactating dairy cows and will establish the biological and molecular mechanisms underpinning this so that stakeholders can make informed decisions around its use.” UL’s Professor Achim Schmalenberger is leading the work package ‘Growth behaviour of L monocytogenes in RTE foods’ and is contributing to the work package ‘Novel control mechanisms to reduce the prevalence of L monocytogenes: Biocontrol agents’ as part of this project value generation and carbon emissions across the whole sector to identify opportunities for change and for scaling Professor Luuk van der Wielen of UL’s Bernal Institute will especially contribute to data and modelling strategies to include non-traditional sectors such as zero-emission foods mandated energy carriers such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) This project also includes researchers at University College Dublin