Jan Smit, MSc, Ir.

Jan Smit is an experienced chemical engineer, entrepreneur and executive with broad expertise in the development, production and commercialization of chemical-related products, including oils and waste streams of oil production. He brings extensive leadership experience in international industry and business start-ups and growth, and is actively engaged in voluntary support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs in various countries) and humanitarian initiatives.

Senior Expert & Advisory Work

Since 2023, Jan has served as a Senior Expert SME, supporting enterprises across Africa and beyond: Suriname soap production and optimization; Rwanda cosmetics start-up and development consultancy; Ghana shea oil production optimization and waste valorisation; Ghana black soap cosmetic products ISO 22716 certification introduction; and Ethiopia avocado oil production optimization and waste valorisation. He has also volunteered since 2020 as a Senior Expert Advisor with PUM (Netherlands), SES (Germany) and SEC (Switzerland).

Career Timeline

• 2023 — PresentSenior Expert SMESoap production, cosmetics development, shea and avocado oil optimization, black soap ISO certification.
• 2006 — 2023Founder & Managing Director — Moose Färg, SchagenFounded and led a company specializing in ecological water-borne wood paints; responsible for marketing, production and international sales (EU), built the business from scratch.
• 2006 — 2011Lecturer in Business Administration — Inholland University of Applied SciencesTaught management, marketing and organizational studies.
• 2004 — 2006Commercial Director — Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)Head of commercial and operational departments of a marine research institute.
• 2001 — 2004Interim Manager & ConsultantTurnaround management and assignments in the chemical industry and SMEs, including a fresh vegetable processing plant.
• 1999 — 2001Managing Director — Engelhard Europe pigments B.V.Led operations in Haarlem, Paris and Istanbul.
• 1996 — 1999Managing Director — WITCO B.V.White oil, vaseline and wax; responsible for global sales in over 80 countries, strategic marketing and international logistics.
• 1981 — 1996Leadership Positions — DSM, NetherlandsProduct Manager for specialty polymers and Dyneema UHMW-PE fiber; Head of Production Technology for ABS polymer production; Process Engineer for the naphtha cracker unit.

Education

Jan holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering & Management (1986) from the University of Twente and an MSc in Chemical Engineering (with distinction, 1981) from Delft University of Technology, including teaching qualifications in chemistry and physics. He also earned a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh (UK) in 1978 and a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Groningen in 1974.

Voluntary Work

Since 2022 he has volunteered in Ukrainian refugee support, and since 2020 he has served as a Senior Expert Advisor (volunteer) with PUM in the Netherlands, SES in Germany and SEC in Switzerland, sharing his technical and managerial expertise to support SMEs in developing countries.