Niene Oepkes has a MSc in Cognitive Sciences and Artificial Intelligence. She started working at the Refugee Council Utrecht in 1991 where she created a social and legal support centre for unaccompanied minors, who had just turned 18.
In 2008 she joined Utrecht Municipality as policy advisor on discrimination, asylum, migration and integration. In 2016 she developed the Plan Einstein approach, in connection with neighbourhood demands and culture.
She is a member of the C-MISE steering group on undocumented migrants in Europe and was for many years a member of the working groups Migration & Integration and Integrating Cities of the Eurocities network.