José van Dijck, 55, has been named the most influential woman of 2016 by the prestigious Dutch magazine Opzij. As the first female president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), she champions diversity, openness, and enhanced collaboration in science—all to benefit society. 'Innovation requires a lot of invisible effort,' noted the jury.
Opzij unveiled its annual Top 100 of influential women on Monday evening, featuring 10 women across 10 categories. For the first time, four women claimed the number one spot: Khadija Arib (Politics), Petri Hofste (Supervisors), Francine Houben (Entrepreneurs), and Susan Duinhoven (Business). Ionica Smeets, 37, is the youngest on the list, with 16% of honorees aged 45 or younger. This year, the jury emphasized not just power, but how women wield influence—promoting diversity and serving as role models.
The new issue of Opzij, featuring the full Top 100, is available in shops today.
