Joeri Buhrer Tavanier appointed Executive Director of NHC per 1 October 2024

On 1 October 2024, Joeri Buhrer Tavanier was appointed as Executive Director of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee.

“I am honoured by the responsibility and trust given to me by the Supervisory Board and by my colleagues. Together we will continue leading our organization forward, while ensuring stability and continuity of unwavering support for our partners and the causes close to our hearts.” – Joeri Buhrer Tavanier, Executive Director NHC.

Joeri Buhrer Tavanier joined the NHC as Programme Manager Integrity and Accountability in 2019. He studied East-European Studies in Amsterdam and worked on issues related to good governance, judicial reform, anti-corruption and the fight against organized crime. With over 20 years of professional experience in civil society and with the European Union, Joeri has worked in the Western Balkans, Bulgaria and Romania as well as in countries of the former Soviet Union. He was the European Commission’s Resident Adviser to Bulgaria (2007-2018), where he reported on key rule of law issues under the EU’s Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

Joeri has been at the helm of the organization for over a year as Acting Executive Director, taking over from Kirsten Meijer. The staff and Board at the NHC take this opportunity to thank her for leadership during the past years, marked by increased turbulence and conflict in the world.

As Kees van Rij, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, noted:

“Joeri has done an outstanding job over the past year. Together with the organization’s Leadership and Development Team, he continued on the path of consolidation of three well-functioning programme teams, and the operationalization of a new multiannual strategy. We thank him for his steadfast leadership over the past year, and look forward to continuing to work closely together in the future.”