Working from independence

Stichting Democratie en Media is an independent foundation. We operate on a not-for-profit basis, and we do not receive any subsidies or dividends. We hold invested capital of our own. This position of complete independence gives us the strength to stand our ground where others have to yield.  
Asset management 

We fund our activities through the returns on our invested capital. Our investment approach reflects who we are. We invest responsibly: weapons, tobacoo, alcohol and gambling are excluded. All our investments meet sustainbility criteria and the guidelines of the UN Global Compact. We also pay close attention to freedom of expression, press freedom and digital rights, as these themes directly relate to our mission. Asset management is entrusted to IBS Capital Allies.

Our Supervisory Board

Chair

Yvonne Zonderop is an author, advisor, and board member with an extensive career in journalism. Her previous roles include parliamentary reporter, head of various editorial departments at several media outlets, and member of the editor-in-chief’s team at de Volkskrant. In addition, she served as a board member at FD Mediagroep and as a supervisor at NOS and Omroep Human. She is currently the vice-chair of the Supervisory Board of the Clingendael Institute. At present, Zonderop is working on a book about journalism. For more information, please visit her personal website.

Portrait of Yvonne Zonderop

Member

Ernestine Comvalius served as the director of the Bijlmer Parktheater for eleven years. She received a royal decoration and the ACT Award for her contribution to the performing arts. She holds various positions as a supervisor and board member within and outside the arts sector. Her roles include chairing The Black Archives, the international literature festival Read My World, and the Hiphophuis. Ernestine studied social sciences at Utrecht University and completed postgraduate programs in Organizational Science and Change Management. She is currently a lecturer in Creative Writing.

Portrait of Ernestine Comvalius

Member

Aartie Hoeblal is Director of Fiduciary Execution at MN and has been active in the financial sector for over 20 years. She began her career as a financial law attorney at Clifford Chance. Following roles at ING Investment Management, Rabobank, and De Nederlandsche Bank, she served as Managing Director at ABN AMRO. Aartie studied Law and International Legal Studies at Leiden University. She completed executive programs at the business schools INSEAD, Nyenrode, and IMD. Additionally, she is included in the Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance and is a member of Women in Financial Services (WIFS) and SER Topvrouwen.

Portrait of Aartie Hoeblal

Member

Ot van Daalen is a researcher and lecturer in the field of privacy and security law at the Institute for Information Law at the University of Amsterdam. In addition, he is a substitute judge at the District Court of The Hague and the founder of the law firm Root Legal. Previously, he refounded Bits of Freedom, served as a supervisor at the Dutch Data Protection Authority, and worked as an attorney at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. For more information, please see his personal website.

Portrait of Ot van Daalen

Lid

Ingo Heijnen houdt zich al decennialang bezig met strategisch advies en communicatie. Hij is mede-oprichter van Duke Strategies, een adviesbureau dat opereert op het snijvlak van strategie en corporate affairs. Daarvoor werkte hij 27 jaar bij het communicatie-adviesbureau Hill & Knowlton, waar hij onder meer consultant, strategisch directeur en CEO was. Hij heeft daarnaast ook gewerkt bij Citroën Nederland en Nutricia. Verder is Ingo lid van de Raad van Commissarissen bij Triangular Group. Eerder verrichtte hij toezichthoudende functies bij SIRE, Stichting Jong Ondernemen en het bedrijf Defenture. Ingo studeerde Journalistiek en Communicatie aan Windesheim.