Dunja Dreesens

199 About the author Born in Maastricht on 9th February 1972, the last day of carnival. And every eleven years, my birthday takes place on the last day of carnival. Carnival enthusiasts recognise the significance. I grew up in Maastricht except for a five year stint in Born and Sittard (’t Kleesj). After finishing Gymnasium ß at ‘t Stedelijk, I chose to start with the brand-new studies Commerce and Business Economics at Hogeschool Zuyd (1994). Because on the one hand I was dreading the ‘crowdedness’ of university, and on the other hand this new study offered the opportunity to spend a year abroad. During that year abroad, I did an apprenticeship at Douwe Egberts UK (London) and got introduced to techniques retailers use to influence buying behaviour of customers. Which was also the subject of my thesis. Triggered by the course ‘intercultural communications’, I decided to follow-up with a master study that was more human interest oriented: social cultural sciences at Vrije University in Amsterdam (1998). During my last year at university, I got employed by Boots the Chemist Ltd. A pharmacy/chemist chain that was seeking a foothold in continental Europe. As Merchandising & Marketing executive health care, this was my introduction in the world of (commercial) health care. After opening five shops in the Netherlands, I switched to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports where I was involved in the project pharmaceutical care. Still not having found my niche, I left the government after two years to start as a consultant with Accenture (2000). That was a rollercoaster ride, peeking into kitchens of very different organisations such as AkzoNobel, KLM, Child Welfare Council, Betuweroute (knowing quit early on that its deadline would not be met) and spending most my time with energy supplier Essent (regarding transition of the energy market). My project involvements were mainly change management. After five years, I decided it was time to return to health care as I wanted to make sure it is in tip top shape when I’m old. However, when applying for jobs I was told that my days in health care were too long ago, so I took up a new master study at Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (formerly iBMG) in Rotterdam (2005). And also starting a new consulting job with CQ-procesmanagement that mainly worked with mental healthcare organisations. The subject of this thesis concerned factors influencing people choosing home care. Preferring a job that sees to the end of the projects I was involved in, I applied with ZonMw (2006), Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. My terms and discussions negotiations took place on the shores of the peninsula Snæfellsness (Iceland) waiting for the ferry. I was programme manager for three programmes: Disaster management in hospitals (Ziekenhuisrampenopvang-plannen, ZIROP), Multidisciplinary guideline development (Kwaliteit, Kennisbeleid Curatieve Zorg) and Every day diseases (Programma Alledaagse Ziekten (PAZ); programme together with the Dutch College of General Practitioners) before I was outsourced to a new advisory board for the minister of health; Councill for the Quality of Care (2009). Finally finding my niche: knowledge tools, knowledge translation and quality of care. Some feats of the Council of which I am proud: Guideline for Guidelines (working group), Glossary of quality health care, and the new edition of the ‘manual’ for evidence-based guideline development. About