From 1 March, Annet Lekkerkerker is the new president of the Executive Board of the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK). From that date, she takes over from Bert Verveld, who stepped down from the AHK last week. Annet Lekkerkerker has been vice-president of the Executive Board since 2019.

Annet Lekkerkerker has an extensive network in the arts sector and higher education. Before joining the AHK, she was associated with the Holland Festival for 10 years, first as business director and later as general director. Before that, Annet Lekkerkerker held prominent positions in the cultural sector. Among other things, she was head of programming at Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, programme maker at Theater De Balie and business director of ZT Hollandia/Theatergroep Hollandia. She holds various supervisory positions at cultural institutions.

Within the two-member AHK Executive Board, Annet Lekkerkerker manages the portfolios education, student affairs, internationalisation, human resources, inclusion, diversity and social safety, among others. Over the past four years, her efforts have included interdisciplinary cooperation with international partners and promoting teacher professionalisation. She will form the Executive Board from 1 April with David van Traa, who is currently Zuidas Director of the City of Amsterdam. He will join the board as a member.