The John Adams Institute A M E R I C A N C U L T U R E I N T H E N E T H E R L A N D S

Transcription

1 The John Adams Institute A M E R I C A N C U L T U R E I N T H E N E T H E R L A N D S Annual Report

2 The John Adams Institute Annual Report 2011 Table of Contents 3 Mission Statement 4 A Note from the Director 6 Events 21 Other Activities 26 Membership 30 Making It Happen 36 Attendance In the Press 40 Finance West-Indisch Huis, Herenmarkt 97, 1013 EC Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel. +31(0) Fax. +31(0) info@john-adams.nl

3 Mission Statement John Adams Institute The mission of the John Adams Institute is to provide a window onto the United States for Dutch audiences. Our main way of carrying this out is by bringing notable Americans-- novelists, politicians, historians, scientists, screenwriters, poets-- to the Netherlands, and having them talk about their work and their insights. We believe in discussion and debate. We believe in words and thoughts. And we believe in the power and value of real-life encounters. We don t see ourselves as a patriotic organization, which waves a little American flag and tries to promote America. Rather, we believe that the United States is so big, so teeming, so powerful, so complex, so full of life and creativity and violence and confusion, that everyone-- Americans included--needs to continually study what it is. Further, there is a unique connection between the United States and the Netherlands. For it was the Dutch who founded a colony, based on Manhattan Island, which gave rise to New York. The Dutch melting pot of the seventeenth century spawned New York City and also the American melting pot. America, therefore, has Dutch roots. And America s most vital elements--its mixed society and its free trade ethic-- originate in those Dutch beginnings. It is all the more appropriate, then, that, with immigration, diversity, and national identity being central topics of debate in the Netherlands, we bring American perspectives to the Dutch. 3

4 A Note from the Director Power is the first word that came to mind as I reviewed our lineup of speakers for Political power was the focus of two of our major speakers. Robert Kaplan, with his book Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of Power, presented a vision of new power shifts in the world, and Francis Fukuyama, with The Origin of Political Order, offered a history of political power itself, which questioned the wisdom of our belief in democracy as a universal goal. Meanwhile, in very different ways, Joshua Foer, Nicholas Carr and James Gleick all gave presentations on the power of memory and the mind. We all have vague (or not so vague) feelings that there are downsides to our increasing reliance on computers and the internet, but Carr in particular gave evidence that the danger is greater than we think. Foer s book about memory hit at how closely our human identity is tied to our memory. As we give more and more of our responsibility for remembering over to hard drives and cloud drives, what does it do to our humanity? Who are we becoming? In 2012, the U.S. is focusing on political power: the presidential election. The John Adams Institute, as an independent American culture center based in Amsterdam, is as interested in that as we are in art, ideas, and history. Our goal is to make contacts: to make America, in all of its facets, more comprehensible to the Dutch. As such, we expanded our literature courses in 2011, offering one on comic books and graphic novels, and another on storytelling in the 21st century. Plus we continued the Quincy Club, which presents an aspect of American culture in 20 Dutch schools. If you are new to the John Adams Institute, I invite you to browse this Annual Report. You ll find our Friends and Sponsors, who include some of the major figures in the Dutch corporate world (including new Sponsors Google and DHR International). You ll see that our affiliates include many of the top Dutch publishers, cultural and educational institutions. You ll see, in other words, that we have friends. But you ll also see that we are a small, independent, nonprofit organization. And that means: we need more friends! It s a big, cold world out there. Power is shifting in turbulent ways. Art and ideas require nurturing. So if you like what you see, join us. Russell Shorto 4

5 Russell Shorto, 31 August

6 Events 6

7 Robert D. Kaplan Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of Power DATE 8 February 2011 LOCATION Aula, Universiteit van Amsterdam Robert Kaplan is one of America s most provocative and influential writers about power and the future of the world. His books have outlined the threats brought by overpopulation, environmental desecration, and religious fervor. His new book, Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of Power, argues that the Indian Ocean now occupies a role that the Mediterranean once did: delineating the centers of power and potential chaos. This was an evening with the famed journalistturned-military adviser whom Noam Chomsky has derided as an ultra right-wing jingoist but whom Francis Fukuyama has praised as deeply thoughtprovoking. MODERATOR Frans Timmermans IN COOPERATION WITH Unieboek Het Spectrum Special thanks to Universiteit van Amsterdam PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 7

8 Split: A Divided America By Kelly Nikes DATE 17 February 2011 LOCATION West-Indisch Huis, Amsterdam Dutch politics is all about consensus - which is one reason Dutch people find American politics so bizarre. The shooting in Arizona of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in January in which 6 people were murdered - brought new attention to the crisis underlying American politics. A special screening of a documentary that explores the great political divide that threatens to pull America apart. In Split: A Divided America, filmmaker Kelly Nyks travels the U.S., asking ordinary people and political leaders the same series of questions about the country and its values... and gets very different answers. MODERATOR Ruth Oldenziel IN COOPERATION WITH A Matter of Taste PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 8

9 Nicholas Carr The Shallows DATE 2 March 2011 LOCATION Aula, Universiteit van Amsterdam Nicholas Carr s 2008 essay Is Google Making Us Stupid? opened a new chapter in our relationship to digital technology. In The Shallows, Carr - who was previously editor of the Harvard Business Review - explores how the internet is changing our very brains: how we think, read and remember. As The Wall Street Journal put it, We all joke about how the Internet is turning us, and especially our kids, into fast-twitch airheads incapable of profound cogitation. It's no joke, Mr. Carr insists, and he has me persuaded. MODERATOR Joris Luyendijk panelists Nancy McKinstry Marleen Stikker IN COOPERATION WITH Maven publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 9

10 Francis Fukuyama The Origins of Political Order DATE 10 May 2011 LOCATION Aula, Universiteit van Amsterdam One of America s most distinguished political thinkers took the John Adams Institute stage to discuss his latest, far-ranging exploration of history and society. Francis Fukuyama s book The Origins of Political Order is about how states form, but while it goes back into the distant past, its relevance is very up-to-date. How did ancient societies relinquish their tribal ties in favor of a strong central government? The West has long supported democracy as an organizing principle, and has pushed tribal societies to change. But how realistic is that? MODERATOR Frans Timmermans IN COOPERATION WITH Contact Publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 10

11 Lawrence Hill The Book of Negroes DATE 22 May 2011 LOCATION De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam The Book of Negroes, the third novel by Toronto-born writer Lawrence Hill, gives a fictionalized account of a remarkable historical event. In the 1700s, a number of Africans were taken into slavery, brought to America, transferred to Canada, and ultimately were able to return to Africa. Their circular passage is personified by Aminata Diallo, who is eleven when she is abducted and becomes the centerpiece of Hill s Dickensian saga. Publisher s Weekly called the book stunning, wrenching, and inspiring. Hill read as part of the Nieuwe Kerk s Vrijheids Lezingen series. MODERATOR Auke Hulst IN COOPERATION WITH Ailantus publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 11

12 Paul Theroux The Tao of Travel DATE 25 May 2011 LOCATION West-Indisch Huis, Amsterdam From Hemingway to Dickens, from Nabokov to Twain, from Isak Dinesen to Graham Greene, many of the world s great writers were also great travel writers. Paul Theroux, arguably the most renowned living travel writer, has capped a fifty year writing career with The Tao of Travel, a collection of travel stories - by himself and others. MODERATOR Hans Bouman IN COOPERATION WITH Atlas publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 12

13 Joshua Foer Moonwalking with Einstein DATE 31 August 2011 LOCATION De Rode Hoed, Amsterdam What did you have for dinner last Tuesday? What was your family s telephone number when you were eight years old? Human memory has a long history, but, ironically, we have forgotten most of it. We all know that before moveable type people relied on memorization. With the advent of the book--and the internet--we don t memorize as much. But, as Joshua Foer argues in his delightful first book, we ve lost something in the process, for real knowledge involves imprinting information deeply into our minds. In the process of describing how he trained for--and won--the U.S. memory championship (one event features memorizing the order of 10 decks of cards in an hour), Foer takes us on a historical tour of the lost art of memory. MODERATOR Russell Shorto IN COOPERATION WITH De Bezige Bij publishers De Rode Hoed PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 13

14 Marvin Hamlisch The Maestro of American Music DATE 19 September 2011 LOCATION Louwman Museum, Den Haag Marvin Hamlisch is the maestro of American music, and one of the most celebrated composers of our time. He has won three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe awards. His Broadway credits include A Chorus Line and They re Playing Our Song. He has composed scores for more than 40 films, including The Sting, Ordinary People, The Way We Were, Sophie s Choice, and the 2009 Steven Soderbergh film The Informant. In this very special event he regaled the audience with songs and stories from his life in music. MODERATOR Greg Tucker, AEGON Singer Noortje Herlaar IN COOPERATION WITH AEGON Special thanks to The Louwman Museum Binger Filmlab PHOTOS Piet Gispen 14

15 Isabel Wilkerson The Warmth of Other Suns DATE 28 September 2011 LOCATION West-Indisch Huis, Amsterdam Almost everything you know about the black American experience relates to one thing: the so-called Great Migration, when millions of people left harsh conditions in the South for a better life in the cities of the North. Isabel Wilkerson won the Pulitzer Prize this year for her groundbreaking first book. Through more than 1200 personal interviews, she provides the real, fleshand-blood story of the movement that gave us jazz, hip-hop, soul food, and so much more. MODERATOR Ruth Oldenziel IN COOPERATION WITH The US Embassy, The Hague PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 15

16 Charles C. Mann 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created DATE 18 October 2011 LOCATION West-Indisch Huis, Amsterdam What do Italian tomato sauce, Florida oranges and Thai chili peppers have in common? All are products that are not native to those lands. Every American knows that 1492 was when Columbus discovered the New World. It was also the moment when, biologically, the world changed. In his previous bestselling book, 1491, Charles C. Mann gave the history of the Americas before Columbus. Now, with 1493, he tells a biological detective story in which the transplanting of life forms to new regions--rats, grasses, beetles and bugs--is seen as the secret force behind a great deal of history and upheaval, from the rise of Europe to today s culture wars. MODERATOR Ruth Oldenziel IN COOPERATION WITH Nieuw Amsterdam publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 16

17 James Gleick The Information DATE 18 October 2011 LOCATION De Duif, Amsterdam We live in the information age --but what is information, actually? In human terms, one might say information is the food that nourishes the mind. But how is it prepared and consumed? James Gleick has been called one of the greatest science writers of all time. Of his previous books, Chaos introduced a new science and Isaac Newton redefined the archetypal scientist. The Los Angeles Times described The Information as a wide-ranging, deeply researched and delightfully engaging history of how we have come to occupy a world defined in bits and bytes. This evening also featured music bij Gareth Johnson and Khari Joyner MODERATOR Tracy Metz IN COOPERATION WITH De Bezige Bij publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 17

18 Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith Van Gogh: The Life DATE 22 November 2011 LOCATION Noorderkerk, Amsterdam So you think you know Vincent Van Gogh? Think again. In the first major biography of the Dutch genius in more than 70 years, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith-- who previously won a Pulitzer Prize for their biography of Jackson Pollock--give a richly detailed, and in some ways surprising, portrait of the artist. Through examination of previously untapped sources, they both enrich the popular image of Van Gogh as an impoverished, struggling genius and added substantial new elements to it. And the big news: they make a compelling case that Van Gogh s death was not suicide but in fact murder. MODERATOR Koen Kleijn IN COOPERATION WITH Prometheus publishers PHOTOS Gerrit Serné 18

19 Jeffrey Eugenides The Marriage Plot DATE 15 December 2011 LOCATION Singelkerk. Amsterdam Jeffrey Eugenides is one of America s greatest living novelists. If that isn t so apparent, it may be because he only produces a new book every nine years. His first novel, The Virgin Suicides, about five girls who commit suicide in the suburbs of Detroit, electrified critics and readers alike. His second, Middlesex, about the travails of a Greek-American hermaphrodite, won the Pulitzer Prize. His new book, The Marriage Plot, is a classic love triangle and, in the words of Kirkus Reviews, a stunning novel erudite, compassionate and penetrating in its analysis of love relationships. MODERATOR Tim Overdiek IN COOPERATION WITH Prometheus publishers photos Gerrit Serné 19

20 Many thanks to the VPRO for their cooperation in realizing the VIDEOS of our events. All rights reserved to the authors. 20

21 Other Activities 21

22 WORKS! A conference on diversity, youth and jobs 23 March 2011 De Bazel Amsterdam Moderator: Harry Starren, De Baak Co-organized by The US Embassy The Hague The United Stated Department of State and with the participation of the City of Amsterdam 22

23 Everybody Works! Does society judge you by your skin color? How are minority youth supposed to get ahead? The Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics recently released a report showing that integration of Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese and Antillean youth into Dutch society is actually succeeding. In fact, foreign girls in Dutch high schools now have higher startkwalificatie (diploma scores) than native boys. And yet some politicians seem to think that immigrants are a big social problem. Which picture is true? Minority youth continue to face barriers in entering labor markets--but there are reasons for hope. American corporations long ago took the lead in seeing diversity as a positive force, which brings energy and innovation. Everybody Works! was a workshop in which groups from the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, France and Ireland presented programs that have been successful in linking diverse youth to the workforce. 23

24 Literature Course From Pulp to Fiction: Comic Books and Graphic Novels A new literature course presented by the John Adams Institute and De Rode Hoed A six-week course on Tuesday 8, 15, 22, 29 March & 5, 12 April This course, taught by Dan Hassler-Forest of the University of Amsterdam, introduced participants to the debates surrounding comics and graphic novels as a vital cultural form. By reading a selection of celebrated texts alongside theoretical articles about the comics medium and its many forms and genres, the course focused on illustrating the wide variety of social and cultural issues that are raised by graphic novels. Crossing Boundaries: Storytelling in the 21 st Century A new literature course presented by the John Adams Institute and De Rode Hoed A six-week course 4, 10, 18, 25 October & 1, 8 November Television shows like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire" have taken the place of the serialized fiction that novelists like Charles Dickens used to write. And novelists today are often screenwriters as well, and in turn write books that seem written specifically for film adaptations. This six-week course, offered by the John Adams Institute and taught by Dan Hassler- Forest of the University of Amsterdam, explored the way today's narrative media have grown increasingly convergent. We focused on individual authors and filmmakers, such as Charlie Kaufman, Jane Campion and David Cronenberg, whose work continually crosses the boundaries between narrative media Verse Beats 28 Januari 2011, The Sugar Factory During Verse Beats hip hop and poetry came together. Verse Beats hosted slammers and poets from The Netherlands and abroad. In a varied program Verse Beats offered freestyle, slam, poetry and live hip-hop. Christine Otten recited from The Last Poets on behalf of the John Adams Institute. 24

25 A Younger Perspective: The Quincy Club is part of our ongoing effort to help young audiences better understand American culture. The Club's activities take students into an interactive new learning environment through American history, literature and art. The Quincy Club The History of Immigration and Integration in the United States Lectures were given by America expert Frans Verhagen at the following schools: 1 November BC Broekhin, Roermond 1 November Stella Maaris College, Meerssen 3 November Wessel Gansfort Collega, Groningen 3 November Stellingwerf College, Oosterwolde 7 November Goois Lyceum, Bussum 7 November Calandlyceum, Amsterdam 8 November Ulenhof College, Doetinchem 10 November Murmellius College, Alkmaar 14 November Bonaventura College, Leiden 14 November Scala Collega, Alphen aan de Rijn 15 November Berlage Luceum, Amsterdam 16 November Theresia College, Tilburg 17 November Laar en Berg, Laren 17 November Sint Nicolaas Lyceum, Amsterdam 24 November Stedelijk College, Eindhoven 25 November Stedelijk College, Eindhoven 25 November Pierson Collega, Den Bosch 28 November 2college, Oisterwijk 28 November Rythovius College, Eersel 29 November Sint Odulphus Lyceum, Tilburg 30 November Carmelcollege Salland, Raalte Internship report by Nezjma Ramdas The Quincy Club 2011: The History of Immigration and Integration in the United States For the eighth year in a row, the John Adams Institute presented the highly popular Quincy Club Lectures. United States expert Frans Verhagen traveled from Limburg to Friesland to visit more than twenty Dutch high schools. As an expert on socio-political history of the US, he takes the students on a historical journey of American immigration and integration. By telling them the stories of how the Irish, German, Italian and Chinese came to the United States in search of a better life, he motivates the students to find links to Dutch integration. Is every social group of immigrants welcome in the new country? How do second generation immigrants integrate into this environment? After sketching an overview of American migration, Frans starts up a discussion with the students. What does it mean to be Dutch in our multicultural society? What do the students think of Dutch integration? As I observed different classes of students, from Groningen to Brabant, I saw significant differences in how the students reacted to these questions. Some were convinced that Dutch integration had failed. Others were amazed by the small number of foreigners living in the Netherlands. Every lecture lead to different insights and eye-openers, which was confirmed by the enthusiastic response of the teachers afterwards. For me, the Quincy Club experience was an eye-opener as well. I travelled to places I had never been to before, saw all the corners of our small country and I found out that outside of the big city, people have many different perspectives on what our multicultural society is like. The Quincy Club lectures gave the students, and me, the necessary tools to think about integration of different cultures in one environment. Tools that are vital when thinking about the multicultural society we all live in nowadays. 25

26 Photo Gerrit Serne MEMBERSHIP Contributions Main sponsors sponsors 5000 Corporate Friends 2000 Private Friend 1500 President s Club 500 Patron 65 Member 30 We currently have 3 Main sponsors 6 Sponsors 23 Corporate Friends 3 Private Friends 25 President s Club members 8 Ambassadors 131 Patrons 727 Members Our President s Club members are R.M. Amato K.A. van den Broek-Kohlstrand A. Croiset Van Uchelen R. Donehoo P. Gagnier R.W.H. Groen P.J. Gunn C. &. D. Harple L. Kaplanian W. Knibbeler A. Korijn D.K. Korslund & R. Kooiman H. Kurman J. Malkiel J. McLaren G. Nuhn-Morris R. Oldenziel H. & K. Pabbruwe D. Riezebeek S. van Roijen-Van Nispen H.O.C.R. Ruding M. Schuit-Williams J. & M. Sanders W.F.C. Stevens-Mullens M. Vanderborgh per calendar year please, contact the JAI director As a nonprofit organization, the John Adams Institute has been ahead of its time in the sense that, ever since its launch in 1987, it has depended mostly on the private sector for funding. This year we benefited from a number of private- and publicsector supporters. Also this year we received a very generous donation from the Holland America Friendship Foundation. Becoming a Sponsor or Friend of the John Adams Institute brings a company or individual with interest in the United States into an eclectic community, which includes corporate executives, politicians, entrepreneurs, writers, artists, journalists, professors and publishers. Indeed, our audiences and network of supporters include people of accomplishments that rival those of our speakers. Many times a corporation will approach us asking to sponsor an individual event; this gives them a large block of seats and the chance to use a reception with the featured speaker as a special occasion for their members or customers. We wish to thank the following new sponsors and friends for their generous support in 2011: Google Public Matters DHR International Charles River Associates Brill For a complete list of our Sponsors & Friends for 2011, see pages 27 and

27 Sponsorship The Friends of the John Adams Institute are directors of American companies based in the Netherlands and top executives of Dutch companies with significant interests in the United States of America. Main Sponsors Sponsors HAFF Holland America Friendship Foundation Private Friends -The Hon. K.T. Dornbush, former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands - F. Hartog-Levin, former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands - K.J. Storm, former CEO AEGON Additional Supporters Athenaeum Boekhandel 27

28 Corporate Friends 2011 We would like to acknowledge the companies that help make our work possible. Lanschot, F.J. van Meer, H.I. van der Starren, H. Hosson, F. de Pabbruwe, H.A. Weistra, G. Kantor, I.R. Monchy, C. de Johnson, B. Boom, P.F. Doesschate, R. ten Jonkman, A. Jong, W. de Hooft Graafland, R Bosman, J. Hommen J. Greene, E.E. Bobenrieth, S. Kollem, B. van Keulen, P.J.G. van Valkering, T. Koning, J. de Clement, K. ABN AMRO Amsterdam in Business De Baak Management Center Baker & McKenzie Brill Charles River Associates Insinger de Beaufort BearingPoint Boekhandel van Rossum Citibank International Clifford Chance Fugro Greenberg Traurig Heineken International Houthoff Buruma ING Group International School of Amsterdam Nike EMEA Providence Capital Public Matters Tata Steel IJmuiden Unilever Weekbladpers Pers Groep The John Adams Institute is an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beoogde Instelling) More information at: 28

29 Publishers & Other supporters We wish to thank all the booksellers, publishers, importers and literary and cultural organizations and service providers who have cooperated with us this year. Penguin Books Singelkerk Noorderkerk Nieuwe Kerk 29

30 Making It Happen 30

31 Staff Event coordinator Yara Deuss Program administrator Maarten van Essen Director Russell Shorto Event coordinator Cobie Ivens This year marked the end of Cobie Ivens' tenure as Event Coordinator. Over seven years, she made sure that when the clock struck 8PM, the music stopped and the talking began. We'd like to thank her for her contribution. We'll miss you, Cobie! Volunteers Project Volunteers Nezjma Ramdas Kiekie Pabbruwe Event Volunteers Anne Cramwinckel Liesbeth van der Heijden Ellen Kroese-Kane Juliana Kroese Jaime Kyres Richard Nyaku Yvonne Veger The Quincy Club JAI informal Ambassador to The Hague Heather Gould Melanie van Klaveren Gerard Kroese Veronika Kovacsova Miriam van der Meij Rebecca Sakoun Alex Verdegaal Geerte Wessels 31

32 Board of Directors Marry de Gaay Fortman - Chair Marry de Gaay Fortman graduated in 1988 from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Since then she has worked as a lawyer with Houthoff Buruma. In 1997 she was named partner and from 2001 until 2007 she was Managing Partner at this firm. Alongside her daily tasks, she also works as a mediator (affiliated with the Dutch Mediation Institute, NMI and the International Mediation Institute, IMI) and contributes regularly to roundtable discussions on leadership, management and diversity. Marry de Gaay Fortman holds various additional functions, she is Chair of the supervisory board of AMREF Flying Doctors, member of the supervisory board of the Nederlands Dans Theater and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, is a member of the Commission to promote sound management and integrity in public broadcasting, and member of the Advisory Council of the Dutch Care Authority. Evert van den Bergh - Treasurer Until 2002 Evert van den Bergh served on the board of management at ExxonMobil Benelux, with contact responsibility in the area of financial affairs. After his retirement he was appointed in 2004 to the Supervisory Board of Esso Nederland. Among his many other activities, Mr. van den Bergh held the post of Director for Strategy and Policy at Delft University of Technology. Since 2003 he has served as a mediator for ACB, an intermediary organization dedicated to dispute resolution. In 2003 Mr. van den Bergh was appointed a member of the Committee set up to adjudicate and allocate non-personal claims to Jewish funds relating to damages sustained in World War II and released by the Dutch government, banks and the stock exchange. In recent years he has held interim director positions at two Dutch symphony orchestras. Currently he is a Board member of the Delft Chamber Music Festival. Arie Westerlaken - Secretary Arie Westerlaken was Philips' Chief Legal Officer and a member of the Group Management Committee. He joined the company s legal department in the Netherlands in 1973 and was appointed General Counsel to Philips Japan in After six years in Japan and five years with the Corporate Legal Department in Eindhoven, he left the company in 1990 to become Director of Legal Affairs for DAF Trucks. Returning to Philips in 1994, he was appointed Director of Legal Affairs. He became Chief Legal Officer of Philips on April 1, 1996, Secretary of the Board of Management in July 1997 and a member of the Group Management Committee on May 1, Mr. Westerlaken was born in 1946 and graduated with a degree in Law from the University of Utrecht. He is married with two children. 32

33 Chris Kijne VPRO broadcaster and journalist. He started as a print journalist but later switched to radio, both as a domestic and foreign reporter. Until 2008 he was one of the anchors for the VPRO broadcasts on Radio 1, the national news channel. These days he is anchoring for Met Het Oog op Morgen, the late night news-show of NOS at Radio 1 and regularly contributes to VPRO-radio s foreign desk-format. But his main work now is in television, making documentaries and doing interviews for both the investigative program Tegenlicht and the late-night interview-format Gesprek op 2 as well as the digital channel HollandDoc. Among his guests were Salman Rushdie, Madeleine Albright, Elie Wiesel, Amos Oz, Amartya Sen, Simon Schama and Daniel Cohn-Bendit. He also moderates events of the Institute. Tracy Metz Tracy Metz, a native of California, is a journalist and author based in the Netherlands. She writes for the quality national newspaper NRC Handelsblad and is an international correspondent for the New Yorkbased magazine Architectural Record. She was a Loeb Fellow and is currently a visiting fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She is the author of a number of books, including FUN! Leisure and Landscape, about the impact of our leisure activities on the way we use and perceive our surroundings. Her newest book is Sweet&Salt: Water and the Dutch, on the extreme makeover of the Dutch landscape to accommodate a new relationship to water. Pim Roest Pim Roest is Partner at PwC and leads the Energy, Utilities and Mining Consulting Practice in Europe, Middle East & Africa. He graduated as Master of Science in Business Administration specializing in Strategy and Finance from the Erasmus Universiteit. He also studied International Business at the Stockholm School of Economics and has worked in the corporate strategy department of Shell in Sweden. Since 1993 he worked in the business strategy units of KPMG Management Consulting and Nolan, Norton & Co. in The Netherlands. He transferred to Australia and was based in the Asia Pacific region between 1996 and 2003 before returning to BearingPoint Europe to start the new Netherlands office. He led the development and growth of the practice as Managing Director and Country Leader until He has a passion for culture, traveling, modern art and good food and wine. Truus Valkering Truus Valkering graduated from the Gemeente Universiteit Amsterdam in She then worked as a company lawyer with Koninklijke Nederlandsche Hoogovens en Staalfabrieken. Until November 2010 she was a management team member of Corus Strip Products IJmuiden and Director of Communications and Public Affairs of Corus Netherlands. Since November 2010 she is Director International Affairs of Tata Steel Europe. She is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Noord-Holland Noord, chairwoman Commission Communication VNO- NCW, a member of the General Board of VNO-NCW and board member of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Noord-Holland. David Vermijs David Vermijs is an independent consultant for multinational companies and international institutes in the area of corporate responsibility, in particular business and human rights. He was formerly a research fellow at Harvard University s Center for Business and Government. He has a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a BA in Business Communications from Radboud University Nijmegen. Honorary Board The Hon. J. H. Bryan, former CEO, Sara Lee Corp, Chicago The Hon. K.T. Dornbush, US Ambassador to the Netherlands, The Hon. C.P. Schneider, US Ambassador to the Netherlands, The Hon. C.M. Sobel, US Ambassador to the Netherlands, Advisory Committee B. C. Alexander, former director, McKinsey & Co A.H.G. Rinnooy Kan, chairman, SER H.O.C.R. Ruding, former Minister of Finance K. J. Storm, former director, Aegon R. Swaak, CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers F.C.G.M. Timmermans, Member of Parliament P. Wakkie, former board of directors, Ahold A. Wertheim, former director, John Adams Institute A. Wynaendts, CEO Aegon 33