Gold and silver medal-winning Paralympian Koen Jansens has never allowed his disability to define his ambitions or achievements.

Koen represented the Netherlands men’s wheelchair basketball team across four Paralympic Games between 1992 and 2004, competing in the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, where the team secured gold, followed by appearances at the 1996 Summer Paralympics, the 2000 Summer Paralympics where the Netherlands claimed silver, and the 2004 Summer Paralympics.

He is married to Australian Paralympian Donna Ritchie, a member of the silver medal-winning Australian women’s wheelchair basketball team at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Together, they have two children.

Following his retirement from international basketball, Koen successfully transitioned into the corporate world, building an accomplished career in enterprise software sales and executive leadership. Over the past 15 years, he has held senior leadership roles across the Asia-Pacific region, specialising in scaling high-performance sales organisations, driving strategic growth initiatives, and leading cross-functional teams in highly competitive markets.

Known for his resilience, leadership, and people-first approach, Koen has built a reputation for developing strong customer partnerships and mentoring emerging leaders within the technology sector. His ability to combine elite sporting discipline with commercial acumen has enabled him to consistently deliver results in complex and fast-paced business environments.

In addition to his corporate career, Koen remains deeply connected to the sport and disability community. He is a founding board member of Wheelchair Basketball Australia (WBA), the organisation responsible for overseeing the National Men’s and Women’s Leagues, serves on the board of the Sargood Foundation, and is also President of the Manly Wheel Eagles. Through his leadership and advocacy, he continues to inspire aspiring athletes and young people living with disability.