Brenda Poels has been appointed Chair of the Supervisory Board of Kunsthal Rotterdam, starting her duties on 1 December 2026. She will be taking over this role from Baharak Sabourian, Head Legal Retail at Rabobank, who is stepping down after an eight-year period in office.
The supervisory board and the Kunsthal team are very happy that Poels is now committing herself to the Kunsthal. Baharak Sabourian: “The Kunsthal is a special place that I have become extremely fond of over the past eight years. Its energy, the versatility of its programme, and its ceaseless ability to connect to new audiences are what makes the Kunsthal unique to me. I am happy that Brenda is now taking over as chair and I am handing over the baton to her with confidence.”
Brenda Poels (1970) has a background in business administration and works as an organisational consultant. She has extensive managerial and supervisory experience. She has worked for various public and social organisations, including various ministries and executive agencies, the WWII remembrance committee Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei, and Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven (SBB, Foundation for Cooperation on Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market). She also has experience in the cultural sector, including at Museum Huis Doorn and Kasteel Amerongen. As Chair of the Supervisory Board of Rotterdam debate centre Arminius, she was closely involved in the governance of a cultural and social organisation in the city. She stepped down from this position in September 2026, after serving two terms in accordance with the organisation’s rotation schedule.
Marianne Splint, General Director of Kunsthal Rotterdam: “We are looking forward to working with Brenda. With her managerial experience, affinity with the cultural sector, and involvement in the city of Rotterdam, we believe she will be invaluable as chair of our supervisory board. Her people-oriented and collaborative working method perfectly matches the Kunsthal’s.”
Brenda Poels: ”I look forward to committing myself to the Kunsthal, its management, the team and the supervisory board as chair. What I find particularly appealing is the Kunsthal’s versatile and high-quality programme, but also its open approach to collaborating with partners in Rotterdam and far beyond. To me, that combination, with its strong international orientation, is what makes the Kunsthal such a distinctive cultural institution. I am proud to have been given the opportunity to contribute to that.”
The supervisory board and the Kunsthal team are deeply grateful to Baharak Sabourian for her tremendous dedication to the Kunsthal over the past eight years. We would like to thank her for her invaluable contribution to the Kunsthal’s continued development and success.