Demelza van der Maas new museum director of Naturalis

Inclusion and social impact

With a PhD in museum and heritage studies and over 11 years’ experience at management level, Demelza van der Maas (42) combines subject-matter expertise with the experience needed to engage an audience. In addition to her focus on storytelling and audience engagement, Van der Maas has, over many years in her previous roles, driven change in the areas of diversity and inclusion. 

From beer brewing to biodiversity

From beer brewer to biodiversity
At first glance, the move from beer brewer to biodiversity might sound like a remarkable transition, but the essence of Demelza’s work remains unchanged: connecting people and telling stories that make an impact. Demelza: “What drives me is how you can use stories, collections and research to move people and inspire them to take action. The challenge of making a museum visit more than just a lovely day out is more urgent than ever, particularly now that biodiversity is under pressure. I can’t think of a better place to put my knowledge, experience and passion for nature to good use than at Naturalis.”

Managing Director Marcel Beukeboom is very confident about the future: “Following Marjolein’s passing, we took the time to look for someone who is a good fit for the challenges we face as an organisation. We are delighted to have found this in Demelza. She brings a unique combination of academic depth, commercial acumen and a unifying leadership style. Demelza has proven that she can truly realise substantive ambitions. With her vision for public engagement, she is the ideal person to position our museum even more firmly at the heart of society."