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New board member Dorine Manson: “I saw a striking courage at Adessium”

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Published on: 8 December 2025

Dorine Manson joined the board of Adessium Foundation this autumn. With experience at organizations such as the Dutch Postcode Lottery and KWF Dutch Cancer Society, she brings with her a broad societal vision. We talked to her about her motivation and first impressions.

Why did you want to join our board?

“Whenever I can, I like to take on supervisory roles alongside my regular work. It ensures I maintain a broad perspective on the world, and I always learn a lot from it. I already had a good feeling about Adessium because of its support for the Dutch Council for Refugees’ Strategic Litigation Committee, more than ten years ago. This committee brought important issues before the courts and achieved successes for refugees and asylum seekers. I was Director there at that time. I remember that there was no one else, no other foundation, with the courage to support this. That made an impression. Even back then, I already realized that Adessium isn’t just a family foundation. I saw a striking courage to support new organizations and fresh initiatives.”

How do you see your role as a board member at a family foundation?

“This is the first time I’ve been on the board of a family foundation. During the preliminary stages I already observed the importance of contact with the founding family, and how their vision gives direction to the foundation’s work. I think my background and knowledge of the sector make me well-equipped to identify parties or opportunities that we may have missed up to now. I can also contribute civil society’s perspective.”

Are there areas of particular interest for you within the themes Adessium covers?

“Through my work at the Dutch Postcode Lottery, I’m familiar with many of the organizations that Adessium supports or has supported. One area I became acquainted with there was investigative journalism: a particularly relevant field, which is unfortunately under considerable pressure. This makes Adessium’s support more important than ever.”

“In my personal life, one of my great interests is nature. I love walking and nature is the place where I go to unwind. As a child, I grew up in Frisia, where I learned to leap across ditches and together with my mother developed the hobby of identifying plants. I still know their names by heart.
When I look at Adessium’s portfolio, my attention is also drawn to the themes ‘a promising start for young people’ and the ‘importance of a healthy living environment’. How can we prevent people from falling ill, instead of treating them at a later stage? And just think about the differences in health between rich and poor. This relates to the same themes that are the focus of organizations like KWF.”