We are delighted to announce that Professor Jiska Engelbert, strategic director of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for BOLD Cities, has been appointed to the Ien Dales Chair for Leadership in Digital Transitions at Leiden University’s Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. The Ien Dales Chair is established in collaboration with CAOP and A&O fonds Gemeenten.
Exploring digital leadership
The chair is named after Ien Dales, a trailblazing Dutch politician and Minister of the Interior, the chair honours her legacy of equality and public service, emphasising the importance of governance that meets societal needs. This chair focuses on the evolving role of public leadership in addressing digital transitions. Jiska will delve into the complexities of public leadership within the context of digitalisation. Her work will examine how governance can navigate the challenges of technological transformation while safeguarding inclusivity, transparency, and fairness. Jiska’s appointment complements her leadership at the Centre for BOLD Cities. This dual role strengthens the Centre’s mission to connect academic insights with societal impact, creating meaningful contributions to urban governance and citizen empowerment.
Looking forward
Through this position, Jiska will continue to explore how leadership can shape the future of digital transitions, ensuring they benefit both citizens and governments. Her work promises to deepen the understanding of leadership in public institutions while building bridges between research and practice. We are proud to see Jiska take on this exciting role and look forward to the important insights it will bring to both the Centre and the broader field of digital governance.