Rob Frederix graduated with distinction at the Catholic University Brabant in 1974; his MA was in General Economics.

During his degree he participated as a student assistant in the capacity group Social Philosophy and Ethics for two years. After graduating he made a six-month study trip to India, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science. The rich history and culture of India are a lasting inspiration and have determined his way of thinking and acting, which has translated itself, among other things, in a lasting involvement in an inspiring development project (Shanti-malai Trust) in South India.

Rob Frederix started his career as a lecturer in Economic Studies. In 1983 he moved on to the Ministry of Education and Science, where he was head of the financial department of the directorate Secondary Education. In this position he participated actively in its transition from a mainly bureaucratic, regulatory department, to a more distant administration with a more independent role, with greater responsibility for the organisations of Secondary Education. In this period he took part in a number of reorganisations and was project leader of a number of projects that were to effect change in areas such as information technology.  

By the end of 1988 he was appointed head of financial policy and administration at the Universiteit Maastricht (UM). From 1993 until March 2001 he was Director of the UM’s comprehensive Financial Economic Service. In this position he reported directly to the Executive Board. The Financial Economic Service employed approximately 80 staff on three locations and consisted of: the financial planning and controlling department; the treasury department; group administration and functional systems management; the purchasing department; the administrative service centre, which, on the basis of service contracts, looked after the entire administration of the UM, the UM-Holding and a number of affiliated third parties.

In this period the UM made the transition from the youngest and smallest university in the Netherlands to a medium-sized European university. In addition, the management, which had been very dependent and orientated to the government, was transformed into business like and professional management.

In April 2001, Rob Frederix founded the company ‘Frederix Management Consultancy’. The company covers strategic consultancy, process and interim management. The first commission consists of developing a strategy for fundraising and relations management for a Dutch university. After that many commissions followed in the field of science and education, national and municipal government, and public-private cooperation.

Frederix Management Consultancy has been associated with Brakeley Ltd since August 2003.

For more information: www.frmc.nl