Tjibbe Joustra
Encyclopedia
Tjibbe Herman Jan Joustra (born 6 February 1951) is a Dutch
civil servant. He is chairman of the Association of Private Security Organizations and Detective Agencies (Dutch: Vereniging Particuliere Beveiligingsorganisaties en recherchebureaus (VPB)) and of the horticultural
association (Dutch: Productschap Tuinbouw). He is the former chairman of the board of the UWV and the former National Antiterrorism Coordinator. Joustra is a former member of the party D66
, but he helped write the election program of the VVD
for the 2010 House of Representatives election
.
and studied law
at the University of Groningen
. He graduated in 1975, on a thesis
on United States antitrust law. He then joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
legal department. In 1987 he was made secretary-general
of the ministry, becoming the youngest secretary general of a Dutch ministry ever (aged 35). He remained in this post until December 2001, serving under five different ministers.
In January 2002 Joustra was appointed chairman of the board of the UWV, the government management organization for all aspects of unemployment benefits, re-employment and so on. He ran into political difficulty though, following a renovation of the head office. The renovation cost millions and decked out the directors' quarters with gold
, marble
and other luxuries — and came at the same time as a reorganization of the UWV in which hundreds of employees were fired. The RTL
television channel ran an expose on the renovation which led to questions in parliament. As it seemed at the time that Joustra had misinformed Aart Jan de Geus
(the ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
), the minister then demanded his resignation. They finally agreed upon a severance package in March 2004 (including the agreement that Joustra would be given a new position in the public sector within a year), after which Joustra resigned per 1 April 2004.
The new position emerged on 27 April, when Joustra was appointed National Antiterrorism Coordinator. He was the first person to hold this new position, advising the Ministers of Justice
and Interior on matters of terrorism
prevention. He also set up a coordinating council of the principals from the intelligence agencies
, customs
and the Royal Marechaussee.
Joustra resigned as NCTb per January 1, 2009. He then moved on to several other (simultaneous) positions in the public sector, including the chairmanship of the Association of Private Security Organizations and Detective Agencies and the Productschap Tuinbouw.
It was announced on September 18, 2010 that Joustra will succeed Pieter van Vollenhoven
as chairman of the Dutch Safety Board
per 1 February 2011.
, member of the board of the Groenfonds and a commissioner at ROI. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Food Valley Association.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
civil servant. He is chairman of the Association of Private Security Organizations and Detective Agencies (Dutch: Vereniging Particuliere Beveiligingsorganisaties en recherchebureaus (VPB)) and of the horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
association (Dutch: Productschap Tuinbouw). He is the former chairman of the board of the UWV and the former National Antiterrorism Coordinator. Joustra is a former member of the party D66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
, but he helped write the election program of the VVD
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
for the 2010 House of Representatives election
Elections in the Netherlands
Elections in the Netherlands are held for six territorial levels of government: the European Union, the state, the twelve Provinces of the Netherlands, the 25 water boards, the 418 municipalities and in two cities for neighbourhood councils...
.
Career
Joustra was born in HengeloHengelo
Hengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:...
and studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
. He graduated in 1975, on a thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
on United States antitrust law. He then joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality was formerly the ministry of agriculture of the Netherlands...
legal department. In 1987 he was made secretary-general
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the ministry, becoming the youngest secretary general of a Dutch ministry ever (aged 35). He remained in this post until December 2001, serving under five different ministers.
In January 2002 Joustra was appointed chairman of the board of the UWV, the government management organization for all aspects of unemployment benefits, re-employment and so on. He ran into political difficulty though, following a renovation of the head office. The renovation cost millions and decked out the directors' quarters with gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
and other luxuries — and came at the same time as a reorganization of the UWV in which hundreds of employees were fired. The RTL
RTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
television channel ran an expose on the renovation which led to questions in parliament. As it seemed at the time that Joustra had misinformed Aart Jan de Geus
Aart Jan de Geus
Aart Jan de Geus is deputy secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. He is a CDA Dutch politician and was the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment of the Netherlands in the first, second and third cabinet Balkenende.-Personal Life and Career:De...
(the ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is the Dutch ministry of social affairs: it is occupied with employment, relations between employers and employees, the system of social security, and emancipation...
), the minister then demanded his resignation. They finally agreed upon a severance package in March 2004 (including the agreement that Joustra would be given a new position in the public sector within a year), after which Joustra resigned per 1 April 2004.
The new position emerged on 27 April, when Joustra was appointed National Antiterrorism Coordinator. He was the first person to hold this new position, advising the Ministers of Justice
Ministry of Justice (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Security and Justice is the Dutch ministry of justice. Until 14 October 2010, the ministry was just called Ministry of Justice , but at the start of the Rutte cabinet, the name changed because it had taken over some public safety duties from the Ministry of the Interior...
and Interior on matters of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
prevention. He also set up a coordinating council of the principals from the intelligence agencies
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
, customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
and the Royal Marechaussee.
Joustra resigned as NCTb per January 1, 2009. He then moved on to several other (simultaneous) positions in the public sector, including the chairmanship of the Association of Private Security Organizations and Detective Agencies and the Productschap Tuinbouw.
It was announced on September 18, 2010 that Joustra will succeed Pieter van Vollenhoven
Pieter van Vollenhoven
Pieter van Vollenhoven, Jr. is the husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and a member of the Dutch Royal House.-Early life and career:Born in Schiedam, he is the second son of Pieter van Vollenhoven, Sr...
as chairman of the Dutch Safety Board
Dutch Safety Board
The Dutch Safety Board; Onderzoeksraad Voor Veiligheid , is based in The Hague, The Netherlands. The first chairman was Pieter van Vollenhoven, who served until February of 2011...
per 1 February 2011.
Other positions
Joustra is member of the Oversight Board of StaatsbosbeheerStaatsbosbeheer
Staatsbosbeheer is a Dutch organization founded in 1899 to control and conserve Dutch nature reserves.Staatsbosbeheer currently oversees over 250.000 hectares of land in the Netherlands. Usually this land is open to the public for recreational purposes, but restrictions often apply...
, member of the board of the Groenfonds and a commissioner at ROI. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Food Valley Association.