Diana Monissen is appointed as the new chair of Hivos’ Supervisory Council. Diana took up her position on October 1, 2020. She succeeds Jan Ernst de Groot, whose statutory term has come to an end.
Diana has extensive managerial experience in the Dutch health care sector. Among others, she was director general of the Dutch Ministry of Health, chairperson of the board of directors of health insurance company Friesland Zorgverzekeraar, and CEO of the Princess Maxima Center for Childhood Oncology. Upon announcing her departure from the Maxima Center in early 2020, she was lauded for her “indispensable contribution to the realization of the Center and its development since its opening.”
Throughout her career, Diana has committed herself to finding the balance between strategy and the ever-changing dynamics of society and economics. She joined several taskforces advising the Dutch government on, among other issues, preventing child and sexual abuse. She also chaired the jury of the National Health Care Innovation Award.
Diana holds a university degree in Social Sciences, focusing on social pedagogy, political science and international relations. She took several postgraduate courses on governance, administration and financial management.
Self-determination and diversity
Regarding her new position as chair of Hivos’ Supervisory Council, Diana says, “The core values of Hivos are in line with those I promoted during my entire working life: self-determination and diversity. I’ve always enjoyed working with strong patient councils. The Maxima Center building, including its environment and ambience, was built according to ideas of children and their parents.” She was one of the early proponents of putting sustainability on the agenda in the field of health care.
Diana’s appointment follows the retirement of Jan Ernst de Groot who served as Chair since 2012. With his background in business, Jan Ernst has been key in steering Hivos through some difficult years of transformation towards a focused and fully project-funded organization for social change. He stimulated the innovative approach and risk appetite of Hivos, with its twin focus on Open and Green Societies, and often reminded the Executive Board and staff of Hivos’ power and potential in tomorrow’s world. Jan Ernst leaves the Supervisory Council at a moment when Hivos’ strategic direction has been renewed and will be outlined in the Strategic Compass (2021-2024) to secure the continuity of the organization and, more importantly, its continued impact in the countries where it works.
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