Jan Peter Balkenende

Jan Peter Balkenende provides strategic counsel on sustainability, corporate responsibility, and complex communication challenges, drawing on extensive experience in public service, academia, and business.

From 2002 to 2010, Balkenende served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, leading four successive cabinets. His tenure focused on economic reform, innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration. Before this, he was a member of the Dutch House of Representatives and a professor of Christian social thought on society and economy.

Balkenende’s academic foundation lies in law and history, with a PhD in law from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research explored the interface between government and civil society.

Following his time in public office, he transitioned to roles that merge his political and academic insights with corporate strategy. He served as a professor of Governance, Institutions, and Internationalization at Erasmus University and held advisory positions with major organizations, including EY and ING.

Passionate about sustainability, Balkenende chairs the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition, an organization of eight leading Dutch multinationals dedicated to balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.

He recently co-authored the book Capitalism Reconnected. Toward a Sustainable, Inclusive and Innovative Market Economy in Europe with Professor Govert Buijs.

In his work at FGS Global, Balkenende combines his commitment to ethical leadership and his strategic insights to guide clients navigating complex global challenges. Beyond professional endeavors, he continues to inspire as a speaker and thought leader on responsible governance and sustainable development.