We are proud to announce that Tom Middendorp, Rida Lyammouri, René Cuperus, Ties Dams, and Sanne van der Lugt have joined our think tank as Associate Fellows. With their experience and expertise they complement our team of talented researchers in the fields of Sustainability, Conflict and Fragility and China Relations. 

Clingendael International Sustainability Centre
Tom Middendorp was the Netherlands Chief of Defence for five and a half years and is Chairman of the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS). He is also the Netherlands’ Special Envoy on European Defence Cooperation and a Senior Advisor in the areas of security, defence and strategic leadership.

Conflict Research Unit (CRU)
Rida Lyammouri is a Senior Research Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS). He spent the past eight years tracking, researching, and studying conflict regions and the impact of insecurity on population movement and local economies in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Clingendael China Centre
Ties Dams is known for his recently published book 'De Nieuwe Keizer' (“The New Emperor”). His research focuses on grand strategy, international political thought, Europe-China relations, and the geopolitics of the Silk Road. 

Dr. Sanne van der Lugt obtained her PhD degree at the University of Bremen in 2018, based on a dissertation on Chinese investments in Africa. She is also a freelance policy advisor and intercultural competence trainer. 

René Cuperus writes for the Dutch newspaper 'De Volkskrant' and several forums. René Cuperus was ’Scholar in Residence’ at the Strategy Unit of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working on European Integration, Globalisation and the Populist Backlash and China-EU/USA relations.

Clingendael's Senior Associate Fellow Ingrid d'Hooghe was already affiliated to our Clingendael China Centre. Dr. d'Hooghe lectures and conducts research on China's foreign policy and diplomacy.