My name is Marit van Lenthe. I am 51 years old, former general practitioner. I am a registered Doctor of International Health and Tropical Medicine and experienced supervisory board member. 

I have sound expertise in governance, strategic analysis and advice of (public) health dilemma's, health policy development, change management and implementation. I am passionate about equal power sharing in global contexts.

My career has taken me to unexpected, beautiful places. As a doctor on night rides among wild boars in the Veluwe, as a tropical doctor in the war-torn but oh-so-beautiful Congo. As chairman of the board of Doctors without Borders (MSF) in boardrooms all over the world, as a freelancer in the ports of Rotterdam and the emergency center of the ANWB in Lyon.

After two years at a remarkable school, the United World College of the Atlantic (www.uwc.org) and a career in the international humanitarian sector, I feel at home among refugees from Chad, a teacher from the Netherlands, a wealthy donor from India and an ambassador in Russia. 

That is the strength of who I am. The strength of who I have been allowed to become, supported by my family, UWC, teachers and trainers, colleagues, friends and inspirers around me. Strength is not power. Strength gives good leadership. To me, leadership stands for integrity, interaction, support and growth.

My work always has to do with impact. Impact on the lives of people who need a little help, people who are structurally deprived, or people who are affected by fateful circumstances. Much of my work and career has been in international health care, especially emergency relief.