Heleen van den Berg

Since October the 1st 2023, Heleen van den Berg is the new CEO of Cordaid. With social commitment, international experience and binding leadership, Van den Berg is determined to make the organisation and its work for people in fragile settings future-proof.

In January 2020, Van den Berg started as head of National Assistance at the Netherlands Red Cross, in addition to her position as a member of the Supervisory Board at two Historic Museums in The Hague. Before that, she worked for the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) for six years, the last three of which as head of the marketing department.

With social commitment, international experience and binding leadership, Van den Berg is determined to make Cordaid and its work for people in fragile settings future-proof. In her own words: “I feel very connected to Cordaid's mission to work for - and together - with people who live in the world's most difficult areas and circumstances." And: "I feel proud to contribute to this. In my work for the Red Cross, I have also committed myself to people in need. Poverty and insecurity are on the rise all over the world and Cordaid links emergency relief to structural development wherever it is needed most. I believe in this approach and the power of partnerships and collaboration. That is why I commit myself to Cordaid's work with strong conviction."

Van den Berg, married and mother of three teenagers, was raised Catholic and feels deeply committed to the Cordaid values (respect, accountability, sustainability, and diversity/inclusion) that link up to the overall Christian and universal value of respect and the notion that everybody deserves to live a life in dignity. Van den Berg is keen on shared social responsibility and, fortunately, partnerships and cooperation are very familiar concepts for her. Together with Ylse van der Schoot (COO) and Lorena Paz Quintero (CFO), Heleen van den Berg forms the Board of Directors of Cordaid.