Peter-Derrek Hof, Ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Senior Dutch diplomat Peter-Derrek Hof currently works at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague as the Director for Social Development and Ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. Since joining the Ministry in 1992, he has held a number of positions both at home and overseas. From 2016 to 2020, he served as Ambassador to Costa Rica and several Central American countries, and from 2020 to 2023 as Ambassador to Yemen. In his current position, he works to advance inclusive social development and gender equality as key priorities within Dutch foreign policy.

Karolina Pomorska

Karolina Pomorska is a Jean Monnet Chair and Professor in International Relations at Leiden University’s Institute of Political Science. She is also an Affiliated Research Fellow of the European Centre at the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at University of Cambridge. Before coming to Leiden in 2017, Karolina worked at Maastricht University and University of Cambridge (2012-2014). She also held visiting or associate positions at Pembroke College and Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, at the Centre for Transatlantic Relations at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC and at the Centre for International Studies in Warsaw. She frequently engages with a wide range of audiences and delivers trainings to diplomats and officials.

Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague

Jan van Zanen (1961) is a Dutch politician and public servant who is currently serving as the Mayor of The Hague, a role he has been in since July 1, 2020. He is a member of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and has vast experience working in local government, having previously been the Mayor of Utrecht (2014-2020) and the Mayor of Amstelveen (2005-2013). Van Zanen is a qualified lawyer, having completed his law degree at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Cornell Law School. He is currently the Mayor of The Hague, one of the largest cities in the Netherlands, known internationally as a center for peace and justice