Dr Loet Mennes was Professor of Development Planning at Erasmus University from 1974 to 1988, when he became Professor of International Economics. He was managing director of FMO, the Netherlands Development Finance Company, from 1988 until his retirement in 1999. Dr Mennes has held advisory functions for various Dutch ministries, including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. He is a member of the Advisory Council on International Affairs, an advisory body for the Dutch government and parliament.