Erik Huizer is the CEO at GÉANT, a leading European collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for research and education. For over 30 years he has been involved in education and research networking, Internet standardization, and Internet governance. He was inducted into the “Internet Hall of Fame” for his contributions to the Internet in 2014. He was also honored with the title of “Dutch ICT Personality of the Year” in 2015.

He served as a part-time professor of Internet Applications at the University of Utrecht until 2015 and still continues as a research associate at the same university.

He has been teaching in various developing countries workshops on Internet policy and technology. He likes to experience different cultures, preferably on a bicycle.

In his key keynote address,  Erik will focus on fostering community spirit, promoting service, and encouraging innovation in the global REN community by adhering to the principles of doing good, doing right, and doing better.