Leonie Heres

Prof. dr. Leonie Heres is an Associate Professor of Governance at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Political Science and Public Administration) and an Endowed Professor in Integrity of Local Government at Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Management and Organisation). Her endowed chair at EUR is funded by the City of Rotterdam and focuses on the intersection of political and administrative integrity. She is actively contributing to public administration research, policy, and education.

• Bachelor in Bestuurs- en Organisatiewetenschap (cum laude, 2007)
• Master in Social Research, specialization in Organization Sciences (cum laude, 2010)
• PhD in Public Administration, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2014)

Leonie Heres specializes in integrity in public administration, with research focusing on ethical leadership, moral decision-making, whistleblowing, psychological and social safety, political-administrative relations, and public craftsmanship. She employs mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) to examine how integrity can be promoted and violations prevented, particularly through organizational culture, leadership, and systemic structures. Her work emphasizes the role of ethical behavior among public and political office holders.

The most recent publications and research projects reflect a strong trend in studying integrity within political institutions (e.g., the Dutch Parliament), internal reporting mechanisms, post-employment conflicts of interest, and leadership in public organizations. Her work bridges academic research and practical governance, often commissioned by public bodies such as the House of Representatives, the House for Whistleblowers, and various ministries.

Her scientific awards include:

• G.A. van Poelje Prize for best PhD thesis in Public Administration (Netherlands and Flanders, 2015)
• NBN Bachelorscriptieprijs for best thesis on business ethics and integrity (2007)

Leonie Heres is actively involved in advising and research collaborations. She serves as co-chair of the EGPA Permanent Study Group on Ethics & Integrity and the Dutch Network Good Governance, and is a jury member for the Van de Spiegel oeuvre award. She is a member of the Dutch Advice Council on the Legal Position of Political Office Holders (ARPA) from 2025–2029 and will serve as a national evaluator for GRECO’s 6th evaluation round on anti-corruption policies in decentralized governments. She leads multiple research projects and frequently delivers lectures, workshops, and training sessions for ministries, municipalities, and public agencies.

She is involved in several labs and collaborative initiatives, including the Integriteitslab (Integrity Lab), where she organizes sessions bringing together science and practice on administrative integrity. She also led the research project 'Kracht zonder tegenkracht' on social safety in the Dutch Parliament and contributes to interorganizational research on integrity and counterterrorism.