Annet Koster is Managing Director of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners.

She obtained academic degrees in law (LL.M.) and political sciences (MSc), after which she built a professional and varied career at The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (known as VNO-NCW) the leading Dutch umbrella organisation for all business sectors in the Netherlands.

For the Royal Association MKB-Nederland, an association to promote the interests of SME’s in the Netherlands, she held several significant positions. Koster gained much experience as lobbyist, and as managing director of the projects branch, she obtained extensive knowledge of the Dutch SME landscape in a wider international context.

As of March 2018, Koster was appointed managing director at the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (Koninklijke Vereniging van Nederlandse Reders or KVNR in Dutch). In this position Koster promotes the collective interests of the Dutch shipowners in the board of the International Chamber of Shipping together with co-president Mrs. Karin Orsel.

“The maritime industry is a global sector and therefore requires global action, legislation and guidelines. ICS is therefore a vital instrument in promoting the collective maritime and entrepreneurial interests of national shipowners’ organisations.”

Annet Koster, Managing Director of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners

While promoting the interests of its members, the KVNR contributes to the global agenda of ICS. The KVNR strives to ensure that Dutch shipowners can operate globally while navigating safely with clean ships operated by skilled crews.