Sandra van Thiel appointed to KNAW membership KNAW

Sandra van Thiel is a leading researcher in the field of executive agencies and their relationship with governments and politicians. She researched processes of agencification in Western countries in which government units changed into semi-independent organizations, such as the Next Steps Agencies in the United Kingdom. This development effected public service delivery, accountability and political-administrative relations. Van Thiel's research draws on insights from public administration, law, economics, business administration and psychology and contributes to the public debate, with contributions in the media, as well as in parliamentary inquiries. She regularly consults ministries, executive agencies, and parliaments.

Sandra van Thiel: "The issues surrounding executive agencies are high on the political agenda. Unfortunately, however, proposed solutions are still too often ineffective. Structural solutions are not going to provide a solution. We must build trust and a better relationship between governments, executive agencies and politicians."

About Sandra van Thiel

Prof Sandra van Thiel has been with the Department of Public Administration and Sociology at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) since 2020. Before that, she was a Professor of Public Management at Radboud University Nijmegen. She has over 100 academic publications in various journals and publishing houses to her credit. In 2012, she led a parliamentary enquiry for the Senate into the impact of corporatisation on citizens. Since 2015, she has been editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Public Sector Management (IJPSM).

About KNAW

The members of the KNAW, leading scientists from all disciplines, are chosen based on their scientific achievements. The KNAW has about 600 members, and membership is for life. The new Academy members, including Sandra van Thiel, will be installed on October 30 2023.