Director
Marieke van Doorninck
md@kl.nl LinkedIn profileMarieke van Doorninck is the director of Kennisland. Her ambition is to work on long-term visions in combination with specific, practical interventions that show how things can be done differently. She believes it is important to support social movements++Social movementA combination of individuals, groups and organisations brought together by shared opinions and values. They attempt to drive the development of society in a particular direction by taking collective action. from the ground up by creating space and giving people a stake in their own living environment, work and future. Local solutions to social problems can inspire solutions in other locations and contexts and thus contribute to an open, learning, inclusive and sustainable society.
Just as KL, Marieke is driven by values and has a wealth of experience in human rights, sustainability and the circular economy. She is accustomed to working with sensitive topics in society, as well as in complex contexts with diverging and often conflicting interests. She is not afraid to swim against the current to make change happen.
As chair of the Urban Development and Sustainability committee at the municipality of Amsterdam, she worked on an impressive agenda for change++Agenda for changeObjectives: To keep the city accessible and affordable and ensure that the transition to sustainable energy and a climate-neutral city goes hand in hand with achieving climate justice and giving residents of Amsterdam a greater say in the decision-making process.. While this delivered many great results++ExamplesShe worked with Alex Brenninkmeijer to organise the first citizens’ assembly on the climate and launched the ‘15% less gas’ action plan with six organisations (winner of the C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award) immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine., she also saw how the system world of the authorities is often at odds with the living environment of the citizens they serve, despite the best intentions. This in turn provokes resistance to much-needed change. She believes that we need a positive and inspiring perspective, a common story about what a socially just and sustainable society can and should be. That story won’t be written by the government or academia.She believes that we need a positive and inspiring perspective, a common story about what a socially just and sustainable society can and should be. That story won’t be written by the government or academia. It will come about once policymakers and experts really start to work with people who are committed to changing their own living environment, workplace or school. Kennisland is ideally placed to help shape this important story.
Marieke has worked in various roles and has used the results of local projects and experiences to influence (international) policymaking. As a public affairs consultant at La Strada International, an NGO, she trained local aid workers in international human rights law and the legal position of victims. This also meant they could report on the implementation and impact of human trafficking policy. At ASKV Refugee Support, she transformed the experiences of refugees into policy recommendations.
“Changing by doing is the common thread in my political and social career, with social and ecological justice as the driving force.”
Marieke moved to Amsterdam in 1985 to study history and never left. She lives in the Indische buurt, a neighbourhood in the east of the city, with her husband and two cats. She enjoys walking and drawing in her spare time, as well as cycling in the summer, preferably to the Alps and beyond. Every few years, she travels to Liverpool for the International Beatleweek.
As director of Kennisland, Marieke is also part of the Stichting CAOP (‘CAOP Foundation’) management team. Her role includes positioning KL within the CAOP, identifying opportunities for synergy and protecting our authenticity within the greater whole. Read more about Stichting CAOP here.
