Chris Sigaloff departs, new management for KL

Paul Keller, currently vice chair and managing director, will take over the role of chair from Chris Sigaloff and, together with Nora van der Linden and Kimon Moerbeek, will lead the team and determine the future direction of Kennisland.

header_img — The new KL board: Nora van der Linden, Paul Keller and Kimon Moerbeek.

12 January 2017

2017 promises to be an exciting year, not just in the world at large but also for Kennisland. That’s because there will be a change of management this summer. Paul Keller, currently vice chair and managing director, will take over the role of chair from Chris Sigaloff and, together with Nora van der Linden and Kimon Moerbeek, will lead the team and determine the future direction of Kennisland. This changing of the guard marks a new chapter, in which we will continue working towards social innovation full of new energy and an abundance of innovative ideas.

After ten years at the helm, Chris believes it’s time for new adventures outside KL. She has developed Kennisland into a leading international organisation in the field of social and educational innovation.++ExamplesChris helped found initiatives as Onze Nieuwe School (Our New School), the Social Labs (including those in Hong Kong and Vienna), Leiderschap in Cultuur (Leadership in Culture) and Spring House.

“Being chair of Kennisland is fantastic, challenging and meaningful: it’s a dream job in many respects. But I believe it’s time to make space for a new team, for new approaches and new insights. I’m proud that people who know our organisation through and through, and who have developed through the years at Kennisland will take over from me.”

According to Victor van der ChijsChris has developed Kennisland into a leading international organisation in the field of social and educational innovation., chair of the Supervisory Board of Kennisland, this transition is a good and logical step in the development of Kennisland:

“I have every confidence in the new make-up of the team: they have all the qualities needed to help Kennisland be the think tank for societal renewal the Netherlands needs.”

Nora van der Linden has worked at Kennisland since 2011 as a social innovation and education advisor. Her goal is to achieve better outcomes for people who are not so readily seen and heard in society, and to give them a voice. She has set up initiatives such as Radicale Vernieuwers++Radicale InnovatorsSince 2012, KL has sought out the most inspiring and innovative people and organisations every year: those who do things differently because they believe it can be done better. Read more (Radical Innovators).

Kimon Moerbeek has been an education advisor at KL since 2010 and has designed programmes such as Onderwijs Pioniers++Education PioneersOnderwijs Pioniers (Education Pioneers) supports teachers with their own innovative ideas to improve their schools with a budget, coaching, a learning network and a platform to realise and share their innovations. Education Pioneers was the foundation for the Teachers Development Fund and has since been merged. Read more (Dutch only) (Education Pioneers). He works according to the philosophy that innovation starts with the people’s intrinsic motivation to improve their environment based on their own insights and creativity.

Doing what we’re good at

We will continue doing what we are good atChris will still be present at Kennisland. She will complete her ongoing projects, and will transfer as much knowledge and experience as possible to the rest of the team.: researching, experimenting and designing for an open and inclusive society. We develop approaches and methodologies for complex social problems, and also influence policy and the public debate in The Hague, Brussels and other national and international arenas. Paul Keller:

“We have achieved a lot since 1999 and we have much more to do. We will remain active in areas where Kennisland has performed pioneering work for many years, but will also focus our attention on new topics and outlooks.”

We are committed to valuable and value-based education, open knowledge and culture, a government that works together with people, good life in the city, meaningful healthcare and the future of work. We do this from our base at Spring House, clubhouse for radical innovators.

In the coming months Chris will still be present at Kennisland. She will complete her ongoing projects, and will transfer as much knowledge and experience as possible to the rest of the team. She is still considering plans for the period after KL. In any case she will look back proudly on all the great things she has realised at Kennisland!