Brenda Poels appointed chair of Kunsthal Rotterdam's supervisory board

Brenda Poels will become chair of Kunsthal Rotterdam's supervisory board on 1 December 2026, succeeding Baharak Sabourian after eight years in the role. The appointment brings a new chair with experience in public administration, organisational consultancy and cultural governance, including a previous supervisory role at Rotterdam's Arminius debate centre.

_{Image: Portrait of Brenda Poels, incoming chair of Kunsthal Rotterdam's supervisory board.}

ROTTERDAM, 3 November 2026 - Kunsthal Rotterdam has announced the appointment of Brenda Poels as its new supervisory board chair. Poels will take over from Baharak Sabourian, who is stepping down after completing the maximum eight-year term.

The supervisory board oversees the Kunsthal's governance, strategy and financial continuity, working alongside the institution's executive management. Its members perform their duties on an unpaid basis.

Experience in public and cultural organisations

Born in 1970, Brenda Poels is a business administration professional and organisational adviser with experience across government, public institutions and the cultural sector.

Her career includes work for various Dutch ministries and government agencies, the National Committee for 4 and 5 May, which coordinates the Netherlands' annual remembrance and liberation commemorations, and the Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market (SBB).

She has also held positions connected with Museum Huis Doorn and Kasteel Amerongen.

In Rotterdam, Poels previously chaired the supervisory board of Arminius, the cultural and public debate centre on Museumpark. She completed her second term there in September 2026.

A new chapter for Kunsthal Rotterdam

Poels says the Kunsthal's varied exhibition programme and its relationships with cultural partners in Rotterdam and internationally were important reasons for accepting the position.

General director Marianne Splint welcomed the appointment, citing Poels's administrative experience, knowledge of the cultural sector and connection with Rotterdam.

Sabourian, who also works as Head Legal Retail at Rabobank, has chaired the supervisory board since December 2018. During her eight-year tenure, Kunsthal Rotterdam continued to develop its exhibition programme, presenting art, photography, fashion, design and other cultural subjects to a broad audience.

The appointment comes as the Kunsthal prepares its 2027 exhibition programme, which includes presentations by Monira Al Qadiri, Jean Jullien, Luigi & Iango and Anish Kapoor.

Who sits on Kunsthal Rotterdam's supervisory board?

Alongside incoming chair Brenda Poels, the supervisory board consists of Karin van Baardwijk, CEO of Robeco; Marloes Krijnen, adviser and supervisory board member; Cye Wong-Loi-Sing, creative director at Brand New Guys; and Roger Tan, executive director of Stichting digiGO.

The supervisory board operates separately from the Kunsthal's day-to-day executive management, which is led by general director Marianne Splint and business director Renée Jongejan.

Poels officially assumes the chairmanship on 1 December 2026.

Further information about the appointment is available in Kunsthal Rotterdam's announcement.