After years of working as an auditor, Mathijs threw in the towel in 2015. He founded Protify.
This way, he didn’t just have to approve or disapprove companies, but could really help them move forward. He is now the point of enquiry for clients and colleagues and always working on innovation within the field.
Mathijs was one of the first students of the then-new study Integral Security Studies. He graduated on a research project for Police Amsterdam Amstelland, on how ordinary people can radicalise and come to commit attacks. The study focused very much on the policy side and the public sector, but that was not where his ambition lay. He wanted to go into business.
Work background
After completing his thesis at the Recherche in Amsterdam and thus completing his studies in Integral Safety Studies, Mathijs started his career as an auditor and inspector in the private sector. He gained broad experience at renowned organisations such as Bureau Veritas, the National Centre for Prevention (NCP) and Kiwa. Here, he developed in-depth knowledge of certification and accreditation processes.
In his role as auditor, Mathijs visited diverse organisations, from small businesses to multinationals, in various sectors. This gave him valuable insights into business operations, process management and the application of various compliance frameworks. His astute eye for systems and structures eventually led him to a coordinating position as Security Product and Market Coordinator within KIWA. In this role, he was involved in developing certification schemes and setting up customised solutions for organisations with specific needs, outside the framework of existing standards.
His focus on improving internal processes and information security took him further to the Management Team of Kiwa NCP, where he helped build strategy and innovation within the field.
Turning the rudder
In 2015, Mathijs decided to take his experience and vision in a direction of his own and founded Protify. No longer did he just want to check companies’ compliance – he wanted to actually help them move forward. Protify became the platform to advise and support organisations on compliance issues in information security, IT security and risk management.
At Protify, he fulfils the role of Managing consultant, managing director. He supervises certification processes, advises clients on compliance and acts as an enquiry point for both clients and colleagues. His belief:“For me, progress starts with asking the right questions.”
‘For me, progress starts with asking the right questions.’
Role at Protify
With over 15 years of experience as an auditor and consultant, and a solid foundation with courses such as Integral Safety Studies, Security Management and Lead Auditor, Mathijs is now well known in his field.
Thanks to his broad experience, Mathijs effortlessly bridges the gap between theory and practice. He helps clients innovate and tests ideas against current laws and regulations. At the same time, he contributes to updating these laws and regulations so that they remain in line with everyday reality. This keeps him constantly on the move within his field – always with an eye for progress and improvement.
