By Bassey Udo in Brussels, Belgium
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) members on Tuesday confirmed a Dutchwoman, Maria van der Hoeven as the Chairperson of the EITI Board for the 2026–2029 term.
Van der Hoeven succeeds Helen Clark, a New Zealander, who served as EITI Board Chairperson, since 2019.
The new Board Chairperson is reputed to possess extensive experience in energy and broader public policy and multilateral co-operation that stood her out for the role.
Previously, she served as Minister of Education, Culture and Science and Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, as well as the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.
Her appointment marks a leadership transition for the EITI at a time of significant change in the global energy and natural resource landscape.
In her statement during the meeting following the appointment of van der Hoeven as her successor, the immediate past Chairperson, Helen Clark, described her tenure as a privilege to serve and to work with governments, companies, and civil society from around the world.
“Transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources have never been more important”, she said, adding that she was proud of what the EITI community was able to achieve under her leadership over the period.
Wishing van der Hoeven all the best in her new role, Mrs Clark expressed confidence that the global transparency organisation was well positioned now to meet the challenges ahead.
in his reaction to the appointment, the Executive Director of the EITI, Mark Robinson, on behalf of the EITI community, thanked Mrs Clark “for her principled and committed leadership at a time of profound change in the natural resource sector.”
He said Mrs Clark’s contribution to strengthening transparency, accountability and dialogue across the EITI’s global community was found to be invaluable.
Robinson welcomed the new Board Chairperson, whom he said her experience in energy policy and industry would bring an important perspective as the EITI continues to evolve and support countries as they navigate the energy transition and the changing geopolitical environment.
in her response, van der Hoeven, said she was honoured to have been elected the Chairperson of the EITI Board, adding that she looked forward to building on the strong foundations laid by her predecessor, the EITI International Secretariat and the wider EITI community.
“The world’s energy and critical mineral systems are undergoing profound transformation, making transparency, accountability and inclusive dialogue more important than ever. I look forward to bringing my experience of working across stakeholder groups, including in government, business and the non-profit sector, as I work with EITI countries, companies and civil society to ensure that natural resources contribute to shared prosperity,” she said.
As Chair, Maria van der Hoeven will lead a newly elected EITI Board for the 2026–2029 term, bringing together representatives from governments, companies and civil society to oversee the organisation’s strategic direction and the implementation of the EITI Standard.
Van der Hoeven was elected as the new Board Chairperson at the EITI Members’ Meeting on Tuesday as the EITI community converge on Brussels, Belgium for the 10th EITI Global Conference 2026 under the theme “Transparency for shared prosperity”.
Participants in the global conference would consider how transparency and multi-stakeholder dialogue can help countries respond to a rapidly changing global context and ensure that natural resources deliver lasting benefits for citizens.
The 2026 EITI Global Conference is a gathering of government, industry, civil society and international organisations leaders, practitioners as well as partners from across the world to explore the future of extractive sector governance.
Through plenary, technical sessions and peer-learning events, participants would examine how transparency, data and dialogue can help address corruption risks, strengthen revenue mobilisation, support responsible supply chains and deliver shared prosperity in a rapidly changing world.
Through plenary discussions, technical sessions and partner events during the main conference, which opens on Thursday, participants would explore how transparency for shared prosperity can help countries strengthen governance, mobilise revenues, build trust, support responsible investment and ensure that natural resource wealth delivers lasting benefits for citizens.
During the two-day conference, the EITI Impact Hub would provide opportunities for networking and peer exchange through exhibitions, country stands, Innovation Talks in a dynamic space for learning, collaboration and engagement,
The opening session on Thursday would allow leaders to take stock of the EITI’s unique role within a rapidly changing global landscape and setting the tone for renewed collective action on deepening progress in improving governance and transparency in the extractive sector.
In a global context shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and profound shifts in energy and mineral markets, the session on “Building trust in uncertain times” would explore how data and evidence-informed dialogue can help ensure that natural resource wealth delivers lasting benefits for citizens and communities.
Another session on “Responsible is reliable: Strengthening mineral supply chains in an age of uncertainty” would explore how producer and consumer countries, together with investors, can strengthen trusted and resilient mineral supply chains through traceability and due diligence to improve origin verification, support responsible sourcing and respond to growing market and geopolitical pressures.
“From the ground up: Making transparency work for communities” session would highlight how local-level transparency can promote shared prosperity for communities, particularly how EITI data and dialogue platforms enable communities, Indigenous peoples and marginalised groups to influence decisions on extractive activities, benefit-sharing and energy transition pathways.
Other sessions include “Value addition under the spotlight: Using the EITI to unlock benefits” expected to provide the forum for participants to discuss how many resource-rich countries are under pressure to move beyond extraction and deliver tangible benefits from value addition, especially how the EITI can be used to assess and monitor value addition projects, drawing on experiences from Indonesia, Zambia and other countries.
During the Chinese company engagement in EITI implementation, participants would review how Chinese companies play a significant role in the extractive sector across many EITI implementing countries through their engagements EITI processes, including through multi-stakeholder groups and disclosures in implementing countries.
The session on “Turning extractive data into accountability, participation and better decisions” would feature presentations to demonstrate how EITI data is being transformed into practical tools for accountability, civic engagement, anti-corruption and better decision-making.
A special roundtable session on “Making standards work together: Roundtable for standard-setters” would enable participants to identify practical opportunities to strengthen coordination, interoperability and data-sharing among extractive sector standards.
Also, the session on “Integrity under pressure: Leveraging global standards to fight corruption in a volatile world” would explore the unique value addition of the EITI and other global standards to governments, companies and citizens given current geopolitical developments, and will discuss how to enhance collaboration across standards to continue the fight against corruption in resource-rich countries.
“From inclusion to impact: Broadening the gender agenda in extractives” is a session that would
examine how gender-responsive policies, improved data transparency and EITI reporting can support sustainable development outcomes, strengthen women’s participation in decision-making, strengthen the extractive sector by supporting workforce participation, inclusive local content and community benefit-sharing.
“Beyond business as usual: Private sector leadership in critical minerals transparency” session would look at how, in an era of surging demand, strategic competition and rapidly shifting mineral supply chains, illicit practices and opacity threaten investment, stability and responsible supply, the private sector is moving beyond compliance to put integrity and innovation at the centre of critical minerals security.
“Why electricity contracts matter: Power, mining and extractive revenues” session would highlight how electricity contracts influence mining revenues, value-addition strategies and fiscal sustainability. Participants will explore the impact of these long-term agreements and how contract transparency and accountability tools can clarify public exposure and strengthen extractive-led growth during the energy transition.
The “Open data: How extractive data can support accountability and public oversight” would feature presentations to demonstrate how the use of EITI and open data can connect fragmented extractive sector information, improve public oversight, strengthen accountability and governance of the extractive sector.
The roundtable on “Transparency and accountability to guide the UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals” would focus on how the EITI and the UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals can deepen cooperation to advance transparency, good governance and accountability across the mineral supply chain.
The conference would also feature the presentation of EITI Chair’s Awards to recognise outstanding contributions to the EITI and tthe advancement of transparency, accountability and good governance in the extractive sector in honour of those who have shown leadership, determination and resourcefulness in implementing the EITI, strengthening multi-stakeholder dialogue, promoting the use of EITI data and demonstrating impact.
