Henk has a Masters Degree in International law from the University of Amsterdam, majoring in the Rights of the Child, and a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. He has worked on children’s issues since 1979, when he was involved in establishing the first children’s film house in the Netherlands. Since then he has worked on a number of children's rights issues, notably children in detention, working children, children living and working in the streets, and children's participation. Since 2001 he has been based in Southeast Asia for Save the Children Sweden Headquarters and Regional Office as an advisor on children's participation and organisational development support to children’s organisations. He has extensive experience in capacity building on children's participation in different contexts, including East Africa, and Southeast Asia and the Pacific.