PETER J.M. VAN DEN BIGGELAAR

P.J.M. van den Biggelaar (born in Helmond, the Netherlands, on 25/3/1952), Master of Law, is the Executive Director of the Dutch Legal Aid Board. The Legal Aid Board is an independent management body (ZBO) that is responsible for organising and supervising government-funded legal aid. He studied law at the University of Nijmegen. During his study he worked as an assistant in the law clinic in Helmond. From 1976 to 1992 he worked for the Legal Aid and Advice Centre in 's-Hertogenbosch. In 1992 he joined the Legal Aid Board in 's-Hertogenbosch, which was in the process of being formed. In March 1993 he was appointed as executive director of the Legal Aid Board ('s-Hertogenbosch), which was one of the five Legal Aid Boards in the Netherlands. After the merge of the five Legal Aid Boards (February 2009) he works for the National Legal Aid Board as executive director. As a national project manager (1997 - 1999), he was responsible for the introduction of the Dutch Consumer Bankruptcy Act (rescheduling of debts). He was a member of the monitoring committee responsible for the evaluation of the Dutch Consumer Bankruptcy Act in 2001. He was also member of the steering committee for the introduction of mediation as part of the legal services offered under the legal aid scheme. As a national project leader (2003-2005), he was responsible for the reform of the Legal Aid Scheme by the introduction of 30 Legal Services Counters (the new front offices in the system). Master class Strategy, Governance and Innovation, Tias Business School Tilburg and Harvard University, Kennedy School Boston 2005-2006. Member of supervisory board of The Dutch Alimony Agency (LBIO) since 2006. Board member of the OSR, Centre for legal studies and training since 2008. Member of the national committee responsible for the evaluation of the KBvG, The Royal Professional Organisation of Judicial Officers (bailiffs) 2008-2009.