The EITI Board has nominated former Dutch politician and Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Maria van der Hoeven, as EITI Board Chair for the period 2026-2029.

Ms van der Hoeven’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the EITI Members’ Meeting. The EITI Members’ Meeting will be held alongside the 2026 EITI Global Conference in Manila in June 2026. Ms van der Hoeven will succeed former New Zealand Prime Minister and UNDP Head Rt Hon. Helen Clark, who has served as Board Chair since June 2019.

“It has been a privilege to serve as EITI Board Chair since 2019, as the EITI has progressed its mission and grown in scope and influence,” said Helen Clark. “EITI’s multi-stakeholder model is essential in ensuring that transparency translates to accountability, and that citizens in resource-rich countries meet their aspirations for sustainable development. Ms van der Hoeven has a strong track record of international leadership in the energy sector, which will be an asset to the EITI in the years ahead.”

A member of the Dutch Parliament from 1991-2002, Ms van der Hoeven served as Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands from 2002 to 2007 and as Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy from 2007 to 2010. She was Executive Director of the International Energy Agency from 2011 to 2015 and subsequently held several board roles, including for TotalEnergies, Innogy SE, the Rocky Mountain Institute and UN Sustainable Energy for All.

"It is a privilege to succeed Helen Clark,” said Ms van der Hoeven. “During her tenure she strengthened the EITI’s recognition and impact. Her legacy is to be built on, especially in our time of energy transition and new challenges – an era that will need multi-stakeholder dialogue to bring new solutions and partnerships."

In nominating Ms van der Hoeven, the EITI Board considered her extensive experience in international leadership roles. They noted her deep commitment to multi-stakeholder processes, and to civil society’s important role, as well as her strong record of engagement at the highest level of government and industry.

“Ms van der Hoeven assumes the role of EITI Board Chair at a time of heightened debate on how the extractive sector can contribute to the development needs of citizens,” said James Ensor, Vice President of External Affairs at BHP and chair of the EITI Board Nominations Committee. 

“Maria’s experience of working across all elements of the energy transition, including as the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, equips her to ensure that the EITI will continue to fulfil its essential mission of improving the governance of extractives resources in pursuit of that objective.”

“Under Helen Clark’s leadership, the EITI has increased its focus on fighting corruption and on providing data relevant to the energy transition,” said Diana Kaisy, civil society Board member of the EITI and co-chair of the Nominations Committee. “These are important aspects to be taken forward by the new Board. In an era of shrinking civic space, the EITI’s multi-stakeholder model is a powerful tool to ensure accountability and reduce conflict.”

EITI Board chairs are appointed for three-year terms. Previous incumbents have included former Prime Minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt, former UK Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short, and the founder of Transparency International Peter Eigen.

KeyFacts Energy news: People on the Move   l   KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: EITI