Background Although I have Dutch citizenship, I was born in Zambia and grew up there and in Botswana - which has left me with an enduring love of Africa. After primary and secondary schooling, I studied veterinary medicine at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Realising the socio-cultural and economic importance of livestock in rural livelihoods, I became involved with the Vétérinaires sans Frontières - Europa (VSF-E) network. From 1991 to 1997, I performed various organisational and co-ordinatory functions for DIO, including project feasibility and evaluation assessments. Although the work was voluntary, it was at times almost a full-time job with substantial responsibilities. This gave me the opportunity of visiting a number of field projects in developing countries incorporating animal health components. I was also interested in tropical veterinary research and performed epidemiological research studies in Egypt (subclinical mastitis in different management systems, 1995) and Mozambique (neurological diseases in smallholder sector goats, 1997 and 1998). I obtained my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1999. Shortly thereafter, I was employed by VETAID in Mozambique, initially for the implementation of post-flooding livestock disease surveillance activities, and later in project management. I managed field projects there until 2002. I have completed a PhD in veterinary epidemiology at the University of Liverpool. This gave me the opportunity of formally specialising in veterinary epidemiology, particularly acquiring expertise in quantitative aspects such as statistical and mathematical modelling. As a useful spin-off, I have gained some proficiency in computing and IT-based applications during the course of my studies. Following postdoctoral work in New Zealand, I'm currently enjoying the great challenge of helping to establish a 'One Health' Masterate at Massey University. This gives me the opportunity of working with a wide range of people, including public health experts: our credo is 'One Epidemiology'. Family Helen and I met in Mozambique, and were married in South Africa. We relocated to the UK in 2002, accompanied by our Africanis Maxi. After four years, we moved to New Zealand, and are now "permanently resident". We seem to have elevated what friends call "flying by the seat of our pants" to a lifestyle. We're not quite sure what is meant by that, assume it is (mostly) complimentary. We do hope to settle down a bit... Noah was born in July 2002: he's a rambunctious 7 year old who enjoys his sports but also has recently discovered reading. Eva is three and has her parents wound securely round her little finger. Both are growing up barefoot, by their own choice! Not being city types, we enjoy outdoor activities of most kinds -- be it on foot, by bicycle or camping.  We try to maintain a blog site for family and friends, here. Other pursuits I am a music nut. Although I never quite know what to say when asked what I listen to, I would like to believe that I am fairly knowledgeable about African music, and would wax lyrical about some obscure recording if it weren't for the realisation that other people don't necessarily share the passion... (Although how anyone could fail to be excited by the vintage recordings of the '60s and '70s, the "golden age" of African music, is beyond me - oops, I'm doing it again, never mind!) I've travelled extensively throughout Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, and a bit less extensively in East Asia. I particularly enjoy hiking and diving, depending on where I am. I have more books lying on my bedside table than I will ever realistically be able to read (but I live in hope) and likewise wish I could watch more films than we do. I enjoy playing badminton a couple of times a week - including the "après-bad" re-hydration in the pub!