Anja was born in IJmuiden and spent her primary and secondary school years in Apeldoorn. She subsequently studied Drawing and Art History in Arnhem and English in Utrecht. Since 2020, she has been living in Egmond aan den Hoef.

After 17 years of teaching and holding leadership positions in secondary education, Anja transitioned into entrepreneurship. She served as Commercial Director of a Training and Organizational Development company for 16 years. Following the successful sale of the business, she has helped scale a variety of startups as an interim director, investor, and advisor, including several in the IT sector.

Currently, she is active as an advisor to organizations such as Natuurmonumenten and serves on the Advisory Board of EnergySwap, a company that facilitates the sharing of solar energy.

Throughout her career, regardless of the organization, her guiding principle has been fostering personal development and supporting individuals in their professional environments. This focus has contributed significantly to the success of both the individuals involved and the organizations they worked for.

Her enthusiasm for supporting the development of young musical talent in collaboration with IHMS aligns naturally with this philosophy, particularly given her deep love of classical music. During her primary and secondary school years, Anja studied piano extensively at the music school in Apeldoorn and frequently performed with fellow musicians.

Within the board, she will focus on strengthening relationships with Circle Members and Friends, helping to create a solid foundation for the activities of the Foundation.