Dirk Willem Van Gulik
About Dirk Willem Van Gulik
Dirk Willem Van Gulik serves as the Vice President of Public Policy at The Apache Software Foundation, where he informs policymakers about open source initiatives. He has a background in physics and extensive experience in both technical and regulatory aspects of software development.
Work at Apache Software Foundation
Dirk Willem Van Gulik has been associated with The Apache Software Foundation since 1996. He served as the first President and a founding member for 28 years. He held the position of Board member and President from 1999 to 2007. Currently, he is the Vice President of Public Policy, a role he has occupied since 2023. In this capacity, he works to inform policymakers about the processes and goals of open source projects, particularly those related to the Apache Software Foundation. His responsibilities include coordinating efforts related to public policy, strategy, and regulation influenced by open source software.
Education and Expertise
Dirk Willem Van Gulik studied at the University of Twente, focusing on Physics, specifically Technische Natuurkunde, Biophysics, Medical Physics, and Engineering. His studies spanned from 1987 to 1994, totaling seven years. This educational background provides him with a strong foundation in technical and scientific principles, which he applies in his work within the open source community and public policy.
Background
Before his current role at The Apache Software Foundation, Dirk Willem Van Gulik worked as a Chief Technical Architect at the BBC from 2008 to 2014. He also served as a Temporary External Expert for the Dutch Ministry of Health from 2020 to 2021. His diverse background in technology and public service has equipped him with the skills necessary to navigate the intersection of open source software and public policy.
Achievements
Dirk Willem Van Gulik has been actively involved in discussions surrounding software regulation, including the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the Product Liability Directive (PLD). He has contributed to writing about the implications of these regulations on software development. His role at The Apache Software Foundation includes maintaining awareness of regulatory and legislative issues that impact open source projects.