Alumnus of the Year

We are enormously proud of our alumni. That is why TU Delft has awarded an ‘Alumnus of the Year’ prize every year since 2011. This is the prize for alumni who have more than proven themselves in the world of innovation and research. These winners have been honoured with a plaque on the ‘Alumni Walk of Fame’ on campus in the Mekel Park. There is ample room for future stars, so why not drop by and let yourself be inspired?

Who becomes 'Alumnus of the Year 2023'?

A jury will decide who will win the award and you can nominate an alumnus. Perhaps there are alumni that we have lost sight of as TU Delft? Suggestions can be submitted until 26 April, 2023.

Nominate an alumnus
Jan-Maarten Geertman

Alumnus of the Year 2022

Jan-Maarten Geertman, Director of Net Zero Production at Heineken, has been elected TU Delft Alumnus of the Year 2022. Rector Magnificus and Chairman of the Executive Board Tim van der Hagen will present Geertman with the award during the TU Delft for Life | Xperience Day on 9 June. The event will take place live on campus for the first time since 2019.

Karin Sluis - Alumnus of the Year 2021

Karin Sluis studied Civil Engineering and specialised in Hydraulic Engineering. After graduating in 1989, she started working for Witteveen+Bos as a specialist in urban water management and became the CEO in 2013.

Francine Houben - Alumnus of the Year 2020

Francine Houben (1955) graduated cum laude from the Faculty of Architecture at TU Delft in 1984. She founded Mecanoo architects in 1984, that she manages as creative director.

Joop Roodenburg - Alumnus of the Year 2019

Joop Roodenburg (1950) graduated from TU Delft in mechanical measurement and control engineering in 1977. He is president of Huisman Equipment, which is one of the top 3 crane manufacturers worldwide.

Ionica Smeets - Alumnus of the Year 2018

Ionica Smeets was born in 1979 and graduated with distinction at the TU Delft in 2005. She received her PhD in 2010 at Leiden University, where she became Professor of Science communication in 2015.

Bart Reijnen - Alumnus of the Year 2017

Bart Reijnen graduated in 1995 at TU Delft, Aerospace Engineering. He has already made a great career at a relatively young age and is currently CEO of Satair.

Ronald Prins - Alumnus of the Year 2016

Ronald Prins graduated from TU Delft in 1994, in Applied Mathematics. In 1999 Prins founded Fox-IT with fellow TU Delft alumnus Menno van der Marel. The company would eventually be in the very first rank of internet security providers.

Adrian van Hooydonk - Alumnus of the Year 2014

Adrian van Hooydonk studied Industrial Design at TU Delft. He began his career with BMW in 1992, as a designer. Today, Van Hooydonk is Senior Vice President, BMW Group Design.

Daan Bruggink - Alumnus of the Year 2013

Daan Bruggink studied Architecture at the faculty of Architecture at TU Delft. In 2007 he founded ORGA architect – a modern and ecological architectural firm that is a leader in biobased construction.

Rinske Geerlings - Alumnus of the Year 2012

Rinske Geerlings studied Industrial Design at TU Delft. In 2006 she founded Business As Usual. She provides precautionary measures to ensure ‘business as usual’ in the event of a catastrophe or natural disaster.

Arnoud Greidanus - Alumnus of the Year 2011

Arnoud Greidanus combined studying Chemical Engineering at TU Delft with competitive rowing at the highest level. At the end of 2013 he ended his rowing career to focus on his PhD research.