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The Directorate General of Kingdom Relations (DG KR) is responsible for cooperation between the Netherlands and the countries Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. This involves policy advice and interdepartmental coordination, and the planning, setting up and implementation of incentive programs and projects in this area. The task for the Director General of Kingdom Relations is to bring the facilities, such as housing, the road network and neighborhood development, on the islands up to standard within this collaboration in the coming years and to increase the economic resilience and independence of the islands. This requires strength, diplomacy, an integrated approach and an open and equal attitude. In-depth knowledge and insight into the context, developments and sensitivities of the different parts of the Kingdom (geographical, historical, administrative) is of course essential. The Director General is also expected to manage the reorganization of DG KR, paying attention to workload and the input of different perspectives.
Barbera Wolfensberger has been Director General of Culture and Media at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science since July 2017. In addition, she is the portfolio holder for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom on all OCW topics within the OCW administrative council. Previously, she was Chief Marketing Officer at De Telegraaf Mediagroep and – from 2014 to 2027 – chair of the Top Sector Creative Industry at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. She was previously Chief Executive Officer at FHV BBDO and Head of Corporate Identity & Communications at HEMA. She studied Communications at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences.
This appointment was made through the procedure for the top management group of the General Administrative Service.