Dr. Yannick has been working 30 years in the field of higher (vocational) education & economic development, most of it as a founder of SPARK Foundation. During his tenure he has build economic and educational development programmes in over 25 fragile and conflict effected states, including in Afghanistan, Europe, East and West Africa, the Middle East & North Africa, Ukraine & Somalia.

He is currently a member of the Netherlands State Development Cooperation Committee at the Advisory Council on International Affairs. He serves in the Boards of the Max van der Stoel Foundation , Open Door Ukraine (The Hague), United Work (Eindhoven), the Advisory Board of the Centre of Theory of Change (New York) and, is a member of the DIHAD International Scientific Advisory Board (DISAB) at DIHAD (Dubai), lecturers in the DIHAD Masters programme “Sustainble Humanitarian Action” (Dubai/Murcia). He is presently a strategic advisor for four international development agencies including Glocalshift, a new dynamic new economic development foundation placing localisation of aid central to its mission.