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As an independent scientific institute, the RIVM is committed to a healthy population and a sustainable, safe and healthy living environment for current and future generations. The RIVM advises national and other governments, citizens and professionals on the basis of scientific knowledge and research, coordinates prevention programs and is ready in times of crises.
The director general is the figurehead of the RIVM and ensures that the RIVM further develops as a learning organization that works on social challenges in the areas of public health and the environment. She makes necessary choices about, for example, innovation, digitalization, and collaboration with national and international knowledge partners. Together with the RIVM management council, the director general translates the recently adopted RIVM2030 Strategy into concrete results, encourages cooperation between the various directorates and with external partners and stands for the independent knowledge position of the institute.
Prof. Dr. IWCE (Isabel) Arends has held various positions at Utrecht University since 2018, including dean of the Faculty of Science and professor of Sustainable Organic Chemistry. Previously, she was head of the Biotechnology department at TU Delft. She also founded the Bioengineering Institute TU Delft, where she was director from 2016 to 2018. She studied Physical Organic Chemistry at Leiden University, where she also received her PhD in 1993.
This appointment was made through the procedure for the top management group of the General Administrative Service.