Steering Committee
KIN is governed by a small Steering Committee, which makes decisions on behalf of all knowledge institutions regarding the programmes and activities that KIN funds and undertakes. The Steering Committee brings together experience and expertise from the public, societal, scientific and private sectors. All members have a strong affinity with science. The KIN Steering Committee operates under the mandate of the Executive Board of NWO.
The Steering Committee currently consists of three members.
Gerard van der Steenhoven is active as a board member, supervisory board member and adviser. He is, among other roles, Chair of the Board of the Delta Climate Center in Vlissingen and of the Sonnenborgh Museum in Utrecht. In addition, he serves as Special Professor at the University of Twente and is involved as an adviser with the Climate Center established there. Previously, he was Director-General of the KNMI and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Twente.
Marjolein Demmers is Executive Director of Natuur & Milieu. She has a background in Industrial Design Engineering and holds an MBA from INSEAD. Marjolein began her career as an eco-design adviser and LCA specialist, and later worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company in the field of energy and environment. She subsequently held various strategic and executive positions at Essent and at the engineering consultancy DHV (later Royal Haskoning), where she was responsible for sustainability and environmental advisory. Prior to joining Natuur & Milieu, she was Director of De Groene Zaak. In addition, she holds supervisory roles, including at DRIFT, FMO and the Robin Food Coalition.
Stientje is Vice-President of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and CEO of WRI’s European organisation.
WRI is a global think tank focused on tackling climate change, protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.
In 2024, Stientje was one of the founders of the Systems Transformation Hub, aimed at purposeful and systematic implementation of Europe’s ambitions to become independent, competitive and climate-neutral. Prior to her role at WRI, she was active for more than ten years as a prominent politician for D66, serving as minister, state secretary and Member of Parliament, with a focus on sustainability and spatial-economic issues.