Stefan Peij

Managing Director at Governance Academy

Utrecht Area

About

I have always been intrigued by the psychology of company leadership, especially when things in the board get difficult. As teenager, I raised and chaired a hockey club (then HC Akelei, currently HC Twente) and learnt very young what makes people tick and how they bring their hearts into everything they do, at the office as well as at home. I learnt that speaking from the heart is pivotal and that the nature helps to answer your personal questions. That's why I have become a board & governance lecturer, scholar, and ‘complex issue’ board room consultant. There's still a lot of work to be done to help (non)executive leaders to be 'present' in what they do.

Experience

  • Managing Director and Board Advisor at Governance Academy
    Oct 2005 - Present · 20 yrs 10 mos

    Stefan is a seasoned board & governance advisor, scholar and lecturer with a focus on board dynamics, board evaluations and interpersonal effectiveness. He is the founder and managing director of Governance Academy (previously Governance University), a training institution for directors and company secretaries. He has published books and many articles and achieved his Ph.D. degree on board behaviour & effectiveness.

  • Member Governance Advisory Council at The Corporate Governance Institute
    May 2021 - Present · 5 yrs 3 mos

    The Corporate Governance Institute is a global educational technology company specialising in training and certifying the next generation of company directors and board members. The GAC supports this mission by advising the leadership team on a structural basis

  • Member Editorial Board Governance Platform Goed Bestuur & Toezicht at Mediawerf
    Jun 2006 - Present · 20 yrs 2 mos

  • Independent audit committee member at Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid
    Jan 2020 - Dec 2025 · 6 yrs

    The audit committee acts as advisory council to the secretary general and directors general with regard to governance, risk, and control. With 24.7bn euros budget (2024), and approx. 128,000 staff, the Ministry of Justice and Security is responsible for maintaining the rule of law in the Netherlands and is working towards a safer, more just society, so that people can live together in freedom, regardless of their life-style or views. Since July 1st, 2024, the audit committee also advises the secretary general and directors general of the Ministry of Asylum and Migration.

  • Chairperson, member at VTW
    Sep 2006 - May 2024 · 17 yrs 9 mos

    Lastly, Stefan chaired the Evaluation committee of the Governance Code Social Housing. Before that, Stefan was chair, member of and advisor to several corporate governance committees of leading Dutch institutions for pension funds, public broadcasting, the Ministry of Internal and Kingdom Affairs, child care sector and social housing.