Joke Le Poole

Biography

Joke Le Poole is the Founder and Co-CEO of Max Foundation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring a healthy start in life for every child. She also serves as Chair of Max Social Enterprise, a social business spin-off delivering safe piped water to rural communities in Bangladesh.
Joke co-founded Max Foundation in 2005 with her husband, Steven, following the loss of their eight-month-old son to a rare viral infection. Their mission was to prevent other families from enduring such loss by implementing the most effective child health interventions.
With a background in engineering from Delft University of Technology and Imperial College London, Joke built a successful 14-year career at Heineken, gaining expertise in supply chain, marketing, and logistics. This experience shaped Max Foundation’s focus on maximizing impact and efficiency.
Over nearly two decades, Max Foundation has grown to a team of 50+ staff with offices in the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia.