SPARK - Organisation

In 2007, a new organisational structure has been implemented, based on a clear distinction between the function of supervising the organisation and the function of managing the organisation. Creation of a Supervisory Board (Raad van Toezicht) and a Board of Directors (Bestuur) have been chosen to direct the process of improving the level of transparency, a criteria for Centraal Bureau Fondsenwerving (CBF) and Code Wijffels. Both organisations have developed codes for good governance.

Supervisory Board

Chairman: Erik Dirksen MSc Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Econometrics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Secretary: MA. Olaf Bartelds Former Area Manager at the Amsterdam Foreign Investment Office, The Netherlands
Treasurer: MA. Dennis van Achthoven, RA Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants, The Netherlands
General Member: Msc. Ruurd Brouwer Director Africa, Director Investment Promotion, FMO N.V. (Dutch Development Finance Company), The Netherlands
General member: MSc Johan te Velde, Head department Africa and Latin America, IKV Pax Christi, The Netherlands
General member: MA Mare Faber, senior staff member and editor-in-chief of monthly magazine Socialism & Democracy, Wiardi Beckman Stichting, The Netherlands
General member: MA Marjolein Lem, Senior Consultant International Development, Berenschot, The Netherlands

Board of Directors

Yannick du Pont, Director
Michel Richter, Co-Director

Board of Recommendation

Dr. Andris Barblan, Consultant Magna Charta Observatory. Former Secretary General of the Magna Charta Observatory. Former Secretary General of the Association of European Universities
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Benedek, Chairman, World University Service Austria
Mr. Daan Everts, NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Former Head of the OSCE Mission to Kosovo and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations
Prof. Dr. Hans J.A. van Ginkel, Former Rector of the United Nations University Center, Tokyo
Justice Richard J. Goldstone, One of the directors of the International Center for Transitional Justice, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Economic and Social Rights, the Institute for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation and Physicians for Human Rights. Former Justice at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Former Justice at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Former Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry regarding Public Violence and Intimidation "Goldstone Commission," Former Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and Chairperson of the International Independent Inquiry on Kosovo
Mr. Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Former Prime Minister of Poland, Former United Nations Human Rights Rapporteur
Prof. Dr. de Meijer, Former Rector of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Drs. Ad Melkert, Vice-Secretary General UNDP, Former Netherlands Executive Director at the World Bank in Washington, Former Netherlands Minister of Social Affairs and Employment
Drs. Jan P. Pronk, President of Society for International Development, Chairman of IKV - Interchurch Peace Council, The Netherlands, Former UN Special Representative for Sudan, Former Netherlands Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, and Environment, Former Netherlands Minister of Development Cooperation, Professor at Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands
Dr. Elisabeth Rehn, Member of the Global Leadership Foundation. Former Minister of Defence in Finland, Former United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Former Yugoslavia
Mr. Max van der Stoel, Former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Former Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs, Netherlands Minister of State
Dr. Carl Tham, Former Swedish Ambassador to Germany, Co-Chairperson of the International Independent Inquiry on Kosovo, Former Secretary General of the Olof Palme International Center, Former Minister of Education and Science of Sweden, Former Director General of Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Prof. Drs. Ed van Thijn, Chairman Dutch Advisory Board Humanity in Action. Former Major of Amsterdam, Former Netherlands Minister of the Interior, Former Coordinator for International Monitoring (CIM) in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Currently member of Netherlands Senate and Professor at the University of Amsterdam

Organisational Chart