Dr Ester Cardinaal
2 min read - 17 Jan 2025
Ester Cardinaal studied private and criminal law at Utrecht University, graduating in 1992. Over the years, she has pursued various leadership, governance, and organisational management programmes. She is driven by a mindset of curiosity, continuous self-development, and lifelong learning, principles she considers central to her professional growth.
She has developed an extensive track record in administrative and management roles across various organisations with a significant social impact. Her management experience spans multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, and, more recently, the judiciary.
Before joining the board of the Court of Appeal in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Ester spent over 12 years in senior management positions at Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen. During this time, she led several departments, including mental health care, medical psychology, rehabilitation, and, in later years, the operating theatres, anaesthesiology, and palliative medicine. Her tenure at Radboud University Medical Centre deepened her long-standing interest in organisational management, particularly within complex institutions.
This interest prompted her to investigate the governance of academic medical centres across Europe, with a particular focus on the Netherlands. Her research in this area culminated in a PhD in 2024. However, Ester’s fascination with the topic remains far from satisfied. She likens academic medical centres to “dinosaurs” in the healthcare sector, questioning whether they will survive or become obsolete in the face of evolving challenges. Her research represents just the tip of the iceberg in what she views as a vast area of exploration into the governance of these large and complex organisations.
Title of Ester’s talk : Yesterdays’ Actions Won’t Solve Tomorrow’s Challenges – Lessons (to be) learned
2 min read - 17 Jan 2025