Karel Vietsch
Karel Vietsch was born in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands, in 1952. He studied mathematics, computer science and economics at Leiden University . He then continued to work at the same university as a teaching and research assistant, and he obtained his Ph.D. in 1979. After doing military service as a systems analyst, Karel joined Delft University of Technology to become General Manager of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. In 1984 he was employed by the Ministry of Education and Science as a Senior Policy Advisor for Information Technology in the Science Policy Department. In 1992 he became Head of Unit for Information and Infrastructure in the Research and Science Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. On 1 March 1996, he took up the duties of Secretary-General at TERENA.