Welcome to the page of the 65th Board of Faculty Association Ibn Battuta. Every year, a different Board leads Ibn Battuta, by coordinating the Association, all its bodies, and events. Together with all the committees and projectgroups, the Board organizes a great deal of activities for all members to join!
This year, it will be our turn to lead the Association! As the 65th Board, we are looking forward to this Association Year and we will make sure that it will become a great year for all members of Ibn Battuta! Let us introduce ourselves personally below:
Sebastian Becker - Chairman
My name is Sebastian Becker. I am in my second year of Spatial Planning and Design, and I am originally from southern Germany. Before moving to Groningen, I worked in Finance and attempted to study economics, but I quickly discovered that this was not for me. That’s why I decided to start a new chapter of my life here. This year, I am on the Lecture Committee, Projectgroup Master Introduction, and will help organize the Galant Gala. Over the last two years, I was active in different committees, from the First Year Committee to the Foreign Excursion Committee, which organized an amazing trip to Morocco. In my free time, I try to go swimming regularly and enjoy spending time outside, going for walks or in the park.
Julia Bökkerink - Vice Chairman
Hi members!
My name is Julia Bökkerink and I am very excited to be the Vice Chairman of the 65th Board of the Faculty Association Ibn Battuta. I'm 20 years old and I'm currently in my second year of the bachelor Spatial Planning and Design. I come from Nijverdal, a small village in Overijssel but, I live in Groningen now for 2 years. From the start of the 1 year I was very excited to become more active at Ibn Battuta. I joined the FYC and followed it up in my second year with the wintercom which I enjoyed both a lot! This made me very excited to apply for the Board. Next to being an active member I love to dance at Ramé and do gymnastics at STUG and ofcours to hang in and around the coffee room :)
I'm very excited for the upcoming year and to see you all at the activities or in the coffee room!!
Francesco van Strien - Secretary
My name is Francesco van Strien, and I am proud to be the 65th Secretary of our beautiful Association! I’m 19 years old and grew up in a small town in Friesland. From small, my mom and grandfather taught me to be creative and inventive. In my free time you’ll often find me in the kitchen, behind the DJ booth or behind my laptop doing graphic design. On Saturdays I play football at G.S.V.V. The Knickerbockers on Zernike! Soon after starting my studies in Groningen, I fell in love with the city and our Association. It is for that reason that I moved to Groningen as soon as I got the chance to, so I could enjoy my student life to the fullest extent. In past years, I was part of the Sports and Games Committee and the Foreign Excursion Committee. This year I will be part of the Sports and Games Committee again, as well as the Master Network FSS, Sustainability and Society Committee and the Projectgroup Introduction Period.
Sarah ten Dam - Treasurer
Dear member, my name is Sarah ten Dam and I am extremely excited to be taking the position of Treasurer the upcoming year! I grew up in a small town in the east of the Netherlands called Goor, moving to Groningen to study Human Geography and Planning was the best choice yet.
The active life within Ibn Batttuta is what I value most in my student time and that is also why I am extremely excited to be part of the Foreign Excursion Committee, Lustrum Committee and the NGPS.
The past two years I have been active in the First Year Committee and Foreign Excursion Committee in which I have experienced and helped organize some of my most memorable memories! Besides spending time with my friends I like to be active while relaxing such as visiting museums or watching travel documentaries.
If you ever feel the need to relax then make sure to drop by the Coffee Room :)
Hope to see you there and, of course, at our activities!
Isabelle de Groot - Commissioner Internal Relations
Hey everyone, my name is Isabelle de Groot. I am so excited to be able to represent Ibn Battuta as Candidate Commissioner Internal Relations. I am 21 years old and Dutch, though I grew up in Bangladesh, Austria, the Netherlands and Ukraine. In 2022 I moved to Groningen to pursue the bachelor Human Geography and Planning, and of course partake in student life! Attending most of our activities in my first year gave me both friends and so much appreciation for our Association! My experiences in the Ex'Cie, PIP, Wintercom, Projectgroup Dies, Lu'Cie and now the A'Cie have each been so positive that I knew it was time to finally apply for a position in the Board!
Next to the Faculty Association, I enjoy having dinner and going out with my Jaarclub as a member of Dizkartes! Then every couple weeks I go home to the Hague to see my mom and cats :). I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for me and my fellow Candidate Board Members, and I hope to share my love for Faculty Association Ibn Battuta with you all at upcoming activities!
Yelte Hiddinga - Commissioner External Relations
Hey everybody,
My name is Yelte Senne Hiddinga and I will fulfill the role of Commissioner External Relations in the upcomming year. I grew up in Nagele a small village in the Noordoostpolder and moved to Groningen in 2023. I just finished my second year of SPD. During my studies I have been active in the First Year Committee and the Almanac Committee. You can often find me at the football field in the shirt of Dunzel Demfries or next year G.S.V.V. The Knickerbockers, watching football with friends, or in my room either drawing or playing guitar. Next year I will be part of the Career Day Committee, the Almanac Committtee and Projectgroup Membersweekend. I am looking forward for the year and being part of the 65th Board. If you have any questions regarding the working field or career you can always come to me. Hope to meet you all soon at our acitvities or in the Coffee Room!
