Robert is the Chair and  Research Associate of CIE as well as an Associate Professor and co-director of the Dhakira–Center for Heritage Studies at New York University Abu Dhabi. He holds a doctorate in the History of European Expansion from the University of Amsterdam. Between 1998-2005 he was curator of the Amsterdam Historical Museum.

He managed the culture and development programme in the Bay of Galle, with the Avondster Project, through which he trained and helped to established a Maritime Archaeological Unit in Sri Lanka. In 2005 Robert established CIE and for over a decade acted as its director. 

Biljana coordinates our research group which stimulates academic study concerning heritage questions surrounding National Museums, World Heritage Sites and development through culture. Biljana finished her PhD in 2024 at the University of Utrecht on a research investigating the potential of culture bringing social and political change in society on one side and social and civil movements that emerge as reaction to oppressive cultural politics, on the other. 

Previous she coordinated the activities related to CIE's Afghanistan program on Culture and Development   

Miranda is a cultural entrepreneur and cultural producer. She coordinated CIE's Maritime Heritagae Program in Sri Lanka  

Charles van Schelle is a former managing director at ABN AMRO bank NL and he's currently managing director at Van Lanschot Kempen. 

Albert  van Nunen Karioen is a researcher in the field of international rule of law reform. With specific focus upon police reform, his interests and expertise covers transitional justice, human rights and criminal justice reform with respect for international human rights standards. Programme manager and strategic advisor for the Police Academy of the Netherlands and various EU and UN organisations. Broad expertise with police and judicial training as well as international human rights, governance and justice reform programmes, Linking academic knowledge of international public law, rule of law, good governance, peace and justice concepts with hands-on experience in development and implementation of a range of international support and reform missions, projects and programmes.