Dr. Meindert Van is co-opt member of ICOLD TC Levees. He is Expertise Manager Dike Technology at Deltares in The Netherlands and has 35 years experience in geotechnical projects. He was involved in more than 10 Dutch disaster reduction missions, such as to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He has been member of several national and international committees, scientific coordinator of European projects, expert witness in international court cases and chairman of TC201 'dikes and levees' of the ISSMGE. He published over sixty papers, three books and received two Dutch geotechnical awards.