ERIC SCHIPHORST | Organizer
Born and raised in Apeldoorn but an Amsterdammer at heart, Eric has over two decades of experience in recruitment and HR to his role at Van Storm.
With a background in History from the University of Amsterdam, his career took shape after a year of travel through Australia and Asia, followed by a pivotal recommendation from a former colleague (and now his wife) to explore the world of recruitment—a move that proved to be a perfect fit.
Since 1999, Eric has been dedicated to building people-first organizations where trust, respect, and autonomy are central. At Van Storm, he is not only recognized for his strategic leadership and problem-solving mindset but also for his unmistakable height, resistance to the cold, and a talent for delivering either the best—or the most groan-worthy—dad jokes.
A strong advocate for a human-centered, quality-driven approach to recruitment, he believes that work should be meaningful and fun. Outside of the office, he’s known to liven up whiteboards with witty cartoons, revealing a creative side that keeps both ideas and spirits flowing.
Eric is one of UNMANNED's main organizers, partner and host.
The UNMANNED Team:
RUI COSTA | Host
Rui Costa is a Portuguese Navy Veteran, and Naval Unmanned Systems SME.
Having served in the Portuguese Navy for 10 years, he transitioned into the Industry in 2023 where he has worked for Defence Primes, Deep-Tech SME's and Startups, Accelerators and Engineering Societies - working to accelerate defence innovation and technologv development accross the NATO Alliance.
In addition to his work, Rui also serves as an advisor for various defence accelerator programs accross the E.U. and U.S., he is a defence correspondent at SWZ Maritime and Board Member of the Royal Dutch Society of Naval Architects. He is also an internationally published researcher on Unmanned Technologies, Warship and Unmanned Surface Vessel design.
Rui currently serves as the Host of all UNMANNED Series Events. Rui is based in the Netherlands, where he lives, in Amsterdam and works at Optics11 (an defence company producing disruptive underwater security products).