Suzy Sirks-Bong succeeds Menno Tuurenhout in Faculty Board
Starting 1 September, Suzy Sirks-Bong will be appointed as the Director of Operational Management of the Faculty of Humanities Faculty Board. She will succeed Menno Tuurenhout, who has been on the Board since 2015. The Director of Operational Management is responsible for financial management and 'staff and organisation' of the Faculty.
Direction, space and trust
'Direction, space and trust' are three key words that define Suzy. 'When I receive direction, space and trust, I operate at my best,' she says. 'And I hope I can give that to my future colleagues at the Faculty of Humanities as well.'
Coming home
Up until 1 January this year, Suzy was Director of Operations at the Faculty of Archaeology and has since been associated with the Humanities Faculty as a Business Operations Adviser. As a former student of Sinology (China Studies) she feels that her move to the Faculty of Humanities is like coming home for her.
Sirks: 'I studied Sinology at Leiden University in 1981, Frank Pieke and Erik Zürcher were my thesis supervisors. During this time I also took my first, cautious, steps as a board member: I became Treasurer of the LISC, the student association for international students at the time. That is when I became interested in how we can use money as a means to support the goals of an organisation'. Suzy also studied Business Administration in Rotterdam.
The richness of Humanities
After her studies, Suzy worked in China for several of years and held a similar position at Delft University. She eventually landed in Leiden again, at the Faculty of Archaeology. Now, Suzy is looking forward to making the transition to Humanities: 'I see the size and complexity of the Humanities Faculty as a challenge. The diversity of disciplines housed there are an enormous richness we get to pass on to our students and to the world. I'm looking forward to getting started.'
New position Menno Tuurenhout
After five years on the Faculty Board, Menno Tuurenhout will resign from this position, at his own initiative, from 1 September. He will remain associated with the University as a Management Consultant until the official date of his retirement (April 2021). Tuurenhout: 'After having worked as Director of Operational Management for 17 years, first at the Faculty of Social Sciences and later at the Humanities Faculty, I am looking forward to this new chapter in my working life. I wish Suzy all the best at this amazing and complex faculty'.
About the Director of Operational Management
The Director of Operational Management is responsible for the Faculty's 'staff and resources'. They manage income and expenditure, and ensure that conditions are in place for the proper execution of the Faculty's primary processes. For the full portfolio of the Director of Operational Management, please refer to the Organisational Structure.