Guest Speakers & Advisors

Keynote Speaker, Opening Ceremony

Kajsa Ollongren

Former Dutch Minister of Defence, Deputy Prime Minister, and Mayor of Amsterdam

We are proud to present Kasja Ollongren, an alum of our school, as our keynote speaker for the opening ceremony. She served as the Minister of Defence for two years, and her commitment to politics and fairness in her work makes her a great fit for our conference. She started her career at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, before becoming a policymaker for Central and Eastern Europe. She moved on to the Ministry of General Affairs, and was appointed the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in Rutte’s third cabinet. She also served as Amsterdam’s Mayor in 2017, as a member of the D66 political party.

Guest Speaker, First General Assembly

Alex Krijger

Founder and managing partner of Krijger & Partners

Alex Krijger studied History and International Relations at Leiden University and has previously worked at the Minstry of Defense, NL Christian-Democratic Party CDA and Royal Dutch Shell. Founder of Krijger & Partners, a network organization specialized in Government Affairs and Geopolitical Risk Management. Alex Krijger is also an author of five books and a writer for various Dutch national media.

Guest Speaker, Third General Assembly

Fleur Gräper

State Secretary for Culture and Media

Fleur Gräper is another RLO alum that we are very proud to welcome back. She began her career in politics by serving on the Provincial Council of Groningen as a member of the D66 political party, including as a parliamentary leader. She became the council chairwoman in 2013, only to step down in 2015 to join the Provincial Executive Council of Groningen. From January to July 2024, she was appointed the State Secretary for education, culture, and science, making her the perfect speaker for our Third General Assembly.

Guest Speaker, Fourth General Assembly

Norman Atkins

Chief Air Transport Service in Logistics Division (UN Secretariat's Department of Operational Support)
Recipient of the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, NATO’s highest award in December 2005

Norman Atkins has served as a seconded Dutch military officer with the United Nations (UN) Secretariat in New-York and worked with both strategic and in-field levels on peacekeeping operations. He was on secondment in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in 2006 as the Team Leader for UN East Africa missions' strategic planning, and later in 2011 persued a UN civilian career in DPKO Office of Operations. Over the years, he has worked with operations in Sudan, Somalia, Chad, Central African Republic, Kosovo, Syria and Mali as well as leading the peacekeeping file on Liberia, Ivory Coast, Middle East, Georgia, and Kosovo at UNHQ levels.

Guest Speaker, Security Council

Larissa van den Herik

Professor Public International Law

Larissa van den Herik is professor of public international law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden University. She is also part-time judge at the district court of The Hague, and a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (Dutch National Group). She is the series editor of the Cambridge Studies of International and Comparative Law and has edited the Research Handbook on UN Sanctions and International Law (Elgar, 2017). Her most recent book is The UN Security Council and the Maintenance of Peace in a Changing World (CUP, 2024)

Guest Speaker, Human Rights Council

Arushi Tangri

Lawyer and Public Policy Professional

Arushi Tangri is a legal and policy expert with over seven years of international experience across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Holding a dual Master’s degree in Public Policy & Human Development with a specialization in Foreign Policy from United Nations University, The Netherlands, she has dedicated her career to advancing human rights for women, children, migrants, and refugees. Arushi's work includes leading community-driven initiatives and field missions with organizations like UNICEF, UNDP, and UNHCR. Passionate about creating impact, she is committed to gender inclusivity and sensitivity. In addition to her professional achievements, Arushi actively volunteers and teaches, contributing to the development of underprivileged communities and advocating for vulnerable populations.