Gert Jan Balster has more than 20 years experience in R&D, managing large IT changes, design of information system architectures, development of e-services and formulation and implemention of IT strategies and policies. He has acquired this experience through a number of directing and consulting positions within KPN and TNT, and subsequently through varioius assignments carried out as an independent consultant and interim manager.
Principal IT Consultant, Interim Manager and Owner at Balster IT Consulting
Dec 2010 – Present
Assignments:
- Exploring opportunities to enter the Dutch market for a foreign IT services provider (2017-2018)
- Architecture support for IT renewal program, Stichting Halt (2017)
- Interim Enterprise Architect, Centrum Indicatiestelling Zorg (2014-Present)
- Directing the migration to a new application landscape as IT architect and IT business consultant, Royal Auping b.v. (2014-2017)
- Advise on authentication for remote access, Tweede Kamer der Staten Generaal (2014)
- IT infrastructure assessment, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2014)
- Wide Area Network vendor analysis and bandwidth advise, Sanquin Bloedvoorziening (2014)
- Developing an IT strategy and architecture to support business growth, Royal Auping b.v. (2013-2014)
- Selecting an Enterprise Service Bus and advising on the implementation of this ESB, Cycleon B.V. (2013-2014)
- Review of an application architecture for online services, Huurcommissie (2013)
- Writing a technical whitepaper, HVR Software bv (2013)
- Advising an internationally operating logistics company on the setup of their application landscape, IT infrastructure and IT organisation. Guiding the migration of the IT infrastructure to the cloud, Cycleon B.V. (2013)
- Preparation of an audit regarding SOA implementation at a care institution (2012)
- Interim management of two Business Intelligence units, VGZ (2011-2012)
- Preparation of a Program of Requirements for the outsourcing of workplace services, Kadaster (2011)
- Advising a doctor’s office on the improvement and security of their IT infrastructure (2011)
- Advising a multinational company on the strategy for the introduction of a new IT service in the SME market (2010)
Interim Manager BI Regie & Architectuur at Coöperatie VGZ
Nov 2011 – Apr 2012 (0,5 years)
Responsibilities:
- Directing the Business Intelligence units “Regie & Architectuur” and “Dataverzameling”
- Development of BI strategy and policies
- Design, implementation and management of overall BI processes
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Implementation and resourcing of the new BI units R&A and DV
- Planning and advising regarding the implementation of a new BI architecture
Director CIO Office at TNT Post
2006 – Dec 2010 (4 years)
Responsibilities:
- Directing the TNT Post CIO Office
- Enterprise IT strategy and policies
- Enterprise IT architecture
- Directing the development of shared IT infrastructure and services
- Assessment of major IT proposals and projects
- Technology innovations at the corporate level
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Guidelines for, and development of application and identity integration components (SAP, Microsoft and other)
- Planning and development of various new end user services including IP telephony, WLAN, real time collaboration and public key infrastructure
- Renewal of the enterprise IT strategy 2011-2015
- Design and Proof of Concept for a new distributed print service Market research and strategic recommendations on public identity services
Manager IT Architecture at TPG Post
2003 – 2006 (3 years)
Responsibilities:
- Directing the corporate TPG Post IT architecture group
- Enterprise IT architecture
- Enterprise technology policies
- Directing the development of IT shared infrastructure and services
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Specification of the first overall TPG Post IT infrastructure architecture
- Management of IT infrastructure renewal program
- Formulation of IT technology strategy 2005-2010
- Planning and design of Windows 2003/XP workplace, Exchange Email and Sharepoint infrastructures
- Roadmaps for SAP application and middleware components
- Technical guidelines and policies for business applications Planning and selection of SAP hosting environment
Manager IT Infrastructure at PTT Post
2001 – 2003 (2 years)
Responsibilities:
- Directing IT infrastructure projects and operations units at the IT shared services organization of PTT Post
- Provisioning of shared infrastructure services
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Realization of a corporate data network
- Merging of business unit IT infrastructure departments into a corporate infrastructure unit
IT Manager Business Unit Document Handling at PTT Post
1997 – 2001 (4 years)
Responsibilities:
- Directing the Business Unit IT department
- Business Unit information planning
- IT development and operations for the print services provided by the business unit to external customers
- Workplace automation for business unit employees
- Provision of corporate internet and email services to PTT Post
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Implementation of a local data center
- Design and implementation of IT systems for Telepost services
- Design and implementation of IT systems for Keymail service
- In-housing of the PTT Post corporate website
- In-housing and rebuilding of the PTT Post corporate email backbone
Manager New Business Development at PTT Post
1995 – 1997 (2 years)
Responsibilities:
- Directing the New Business Development unit
- Planning, development, marketing and preliminary operations of hybrid and electronic mail services
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Development and launch of PC- and mainframe based hybrid mail services (Telepost)
- Development and launch of public certification and secure email service (KeyMail)
Manager Technology Strategy at PTT Post
1993 – 1995 (2 years)
Responsibilities:
- Technology assessments, strategies and roadmaps for PTT Post
- Planning and coordinating of R&D activities (contracted to KPN Research)
- Maintaining international contacts on postal technologies
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Strategy for hybrid and electronic postal services
- Business and implementation plan for Print and Mail services
- Participation in joint international development of hybrid mail software (ePost)
Deputy Manager at KPN Research
1991 – 1993 (2 years)
Responsibilities:
- Co-directing the KPN Research R&D group on Value Added Networks
- R&D in value added networks
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Intelligent Network specifications
- Recommendations on X.400 and X.500 service implementations at KPN
Researcher and Project Leader at PTT Telematics Laboratory
1987 – 1991 (4 years)
Responsibilities:
- R&D in telematics services
Specific projects and deliverables:
- Development of standards and testing systems for X.400 mail implementations, as part of the European CTS program