SVB Client Council

Léon van Diepen, member

My name is Léon van Diepen. I live in Amsterdam with my partner and son, and as a self-employed project manager specialising in service provision to clients, citizens and businesses, my clientele includes government organisations and corporations. I get child benefit from the SVB and that goes off without a hitch. 

The work I do for the SVB Client Council focuses mainly on client contact. The SVB plays a particularly relevant role in Dutch society: millions of people get money from the SVB. The digital and automated communications run smoothly. However, the SVB’s services must also remain accessible and clear to everyone, including people who have little or no digital skills. People should always be able to talk directly to an SVB employee. This has always been a focal point of my work outside the SVB, and I want to put this expertise to work for the Client Council.

C. (Chris) W.F.M. Driessen, chair

My name is Chris Driessen, and I have been chair of the SVB Client Council since 1 July 2020. I am retired now and receive an AOW pension. My partner and I have 2 children and 4 grandchildren and we live in Houten. I enjoy sports and am passionate about music and culture.

Having worked in the management of large organisations, I have seen first-hand how the Client Council can be a real source of added value.

Millions of people come into contact with the SVB, and their input and advice can help improve the organisation’s services. I look forward to representing the interests of the SVB’s clients independently and critically. As chair of the Client Council, it is my job to ensure that everything keeps running smoothly.

Leny Gubbi, member

My name is Leny Gubbi. I live in IJsselstein, and I have 2 sons and 1 granddaughter. Before my retirement, I worked as a personnel adviser and an HR policy adviser. Until mid-June 2025, I was a member of the central management of the VVAO (Association for Women with an Academic Education), in the role of Portfolio Manager for Seniors. Since my retirement, I have remained a member of the VVAO’s Archive Committee and Senior Citizens’ Working Group. I am also a board member of FNV Seniors’ regional department, and will be until the next Members’ Meeting. I have creative hobbies; I enjoy reading, but also painting and sculpting.

As a member of the SVB Client Council, I want to help clients who receive an AOW pension and, if applicable, an AIO supplement. I recently joined the High-risk Investigation Working Group together with two other members of the Client Council.

Ton Heinen, member

I am Ton Heinen. I am married and live in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. I represent the National Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV) on the SVB Client Council.

During the 35 years or more that I worked in finance, I took an active role in employee and client participation. I did this as part of my job, but also for various voluntary organisations.

I think services should be monitored and improvements made where possible. I can encourage this by playing a constructive role in meetings and discussions on important issues.

Derya Kaplan, member

My name is Derya Kaplan. I work for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, providing services to small and medium-sized companies and the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. I am a trained legal professional. 

I get child benefit from the SVB for my children. My experience with the SVB is positive: the SVB provides proper information. I have noticed, however, that not everyone is aware of the various schemes administered by the SVB. I have made it my job to monitor this. 

Together with the SVB Client Council, I want to work towards a situation where everything is clear to everyone and they do not have to worry about the SVB. It is important that everyone gets the money they are entitled to: automatically, without any hassle and with clear information.

H.J.F.M. Kas (1952), member on behalf of the senior citizens’ associations ‘Unie KBO’ and PCOB

My name is Hennie Kas and I represent the SVB Client Council on the AOW pension committee. I was born in Amsterdam and now live in Uithoorn. I am married, have 2 sons, 1 daughter and 3 grandchildren: 2 girls and 1 boy.

I worked for the SVB for more than 40 years in positions ranging from case officer to head of the Translation Department to Director of one of the regional offices. Now that I am receiving an AOW pension, I am also a client of the SVB. My duty on the Client Council is to represent the senior citizens’ associations ‘Unie KBO’ and PCOB.

The Client Council represents clients’ interests by identifying service bottlenecks and examining how SVB policy and products work in practice. In this way, the Client Council helps the SVB to continuously improve its services..

I try to collect as much positive and negative feedback as possible from older SVB clients, whose interests I represent. I also draw on my knowledge and experience from my years at the SVB wherever I can.

Ms E.C. van der Meer-Matthijsse, member

I am Liesbeth van der Meer and I work as a homecare nurse in a sheltered housing community for elderly people who can still live independently. I am also involved as general secretary in the parent-initiated housing project where my eldest daughter lives.

I have 2 daughters who both receive a personal care budget (PGB): one under the Long-term Care Act (Wlz), and the other under the Social Support Act (Wmo). We also used the TOG scheme in the past.

I think it’s important to ensure the continued existence of the PGB scheme so that people can keep as much control as possible over the care they receive. The SVB Client Council can bring the interests of PGB recipients and other client groups to the attention of the SVB’s Board of Directors.

As the PGB client representative on the Client Council, I will work to ensure that the PGB scheme continues to operate safely and fairly, and that the Client Council, as a body, remains proactive.

Thérèse Nleng, member

My name is Thérèse Nleng and I work as a national coordinator for a network of organisations for senior migrants (NOOM). In addition to representing the interests of senior migrants, I initiate and coordinate health, welfare and accommodation programmes.

I live in Rotterdam with my partner and our 5 children. My African roots and my partner’s experiences in the Netherlands as a refugee enable me to show the SVB Client Council perspectives of communities whose experiences can be overlooked. I contribute by translating real-life problems into policy that fosters equality, accessibility and human dignity.

Henna Texel, member

My name is Henna Texel. I have 2 daughters and I am a tutor at HKU in Utrecht. I also host the podcast ‘Loopbaanverhalen’ (career stories) and give training courses to bicultural professionals with the aim of empowering them and enabling them to reach their full potential. My background is in socio-legal services, and I previously worked for municipalities, where I was involved in poverty-tackling activities and communication. I enjoy walking, listening to podcasts, reading, city trips, singing and dancing.

The SVB Client Council is a reflection of society. For me, it is important that clients feel heard. As a member of the Client Council, I hope to be able to make the voices of citizens who have an opinion but are perhaps not in a position of influence, heard.

Jos van Veen, member

I am Jos van Veen and I live in Diemen. I’ve been married for almost 50 years, have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. I love music and used to be an amateur conductor. I also enjoy fishing. I represent the Trade Union Federation for Professionals (VCP) on the SVB Client Council.

I worked for the international department of the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) for many years. In the past, I also worked extensively with the SVB’s international department. I’m an AOW pensioner now, which means that I’m making use of a scheme that is administered by the SVB. I am devoted to social security and I’m curious by nature.

As a member of the trade union, I focus primarily on the relationship between company/industry-wide pensions and the state AOW old-age pension. In addition, based on my own interests, I also focus on international services and (to a lesser extent) on personal care budgets (PGB). Representing society’s interests is indispensable for keeping an organisation on the right track. I’m happy to share my previous experiences with the Client Council, and hope that this will help citizens and the SVB to understand each other better.