COO Novamedia, Director Dutch Charity Lotteries, Commissioner GVB
“So, even though things were going well and collaborating with colleagues was stimulating, I decided to resign. My interests lay elsewhere, so I started cultivating contacts within charities and social initiatives. This eventually led me to the Dutch National Postcode Lottery Charity Department. Now, 17 years later, having worked in a range of positions, I am still excited and inspired by the many social initiatives I deal with every day.
The international context in which I operate has its own set of connection challenges. Many of my colleagues are in other countries, so every day I encounter significant cultural differences that make it difficult for us to openly discuss our views. Yet, we need to connect in order to achieve results. This is something which I want to pay far more explicit attention to.”
Sigrid van aken (1970) is coo of novamedia bv and board member of the nationale goede doelen loterijen nv (dutch postcode lottery, the bankgiro lottery, the friendslottery). Novamedia, a social enterprise, believes that the world benefits from strong social organisations. It owns various brands and lottery formats, including the Postcode Lottery. At the moment, Novamedia operates charity lotteries in the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and Norway. Since December 2014, Novamedia/Postcode Lotteries has been the third largest private charity donor in the world after the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. Novamedia also uses its media know-how and expertise to promote the enriching power of reading and is actively involved in the world of books and publishing. It owns the online bookshop BookSpot, the Scheltema bookstore in Amsterdam and the publishing company Uitgeefhuis Nieuw Amsterdam. Through the charity lotteries, media and publishing activities, Novamedia seeks to contribute to a fairer and greener world.
Before joining the Executive Board in 2013, Sigrid was Managing Director of the Dutch Lotteries and Head of the Charity Department until 2006. She studied French Language and Literature and started her career in 1994 at Rabobank in Paris. In 1998, she joined KPMG Consulting in the field of IT Governance. In 2002, she joined the Dutch Postcode Lottery as she wanted to work for the civil society.
Since 2013 Sigrid has been a member of the Supervisory Board of GVB. GVB is responsible for public transport in and around Amsterdam. As well as operating the services, GVB looks after the management and maintenance of equipment and rail infrastructure in the city. Born and living in Amsterdam with her husband and 2 children, she enjoys an active live and feels privileged to be involved in so many interesting initiatives, and as a result meeting so many inspiring and mission driven people.