Maria THESTRUP
Biographical Data
Children at Ecolint: La Grande Boissière Middle
A strategic leader with extensive experience in the life sciences sector, managing international ethics, risk and compliance departments for multinational pharmaceutical, biotech companies as well as inter-governmental organizations. Currently, member of Gavi, the vaccine alliance's leadership team as Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer (SLT).
Excels at balancing pragmatic, proportional and risk-based compliance advice to senior management with a strong commercial and purpose driven orientation.
Extensive expertise in ethics, sustainability and compliance, supporting large-scale organizational transformation and successfully changing institutional culture to promote ethical values.
Enterprise risk management (ERM) leader with extensive experience in ERM programme development, oversight and Audit Committee and Board reporting on corporate Top Risks and ESG activities.
What does Ecolint mean to you?
ECOLINT is a highly value driven organisation with a critical mission to provide education. It has continuously exceeded my expectations in shaping and preparing my children for life beyond school. I have one boy in middle school and one boy attending the last year of IB.
The capabilities and skillset of teachers are unmatched. They are particularly sensitive around balancing the demand for high academic performance with care and support.
ECOLINT is an impressive organisation with an equally impressive history. An organization with a team I deeply admire, inspiring my commitment to participatory oversight, strategic guidance, and support.
What skills/expertise would you bring to the Governing Board?
- Governance
- Financial management and oversight
- Sustainability
- Architectural design and planning
- Strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion
How would you support the mission of the Foundation if you are elected to the Governing Board? Emphasizing the skills/expertise that were highlighted in the previous question, and other leadership and soft skills you would bring to the Board.
The application for the opportunity to become an ECOLINT Governing Board member is primarily motivated by the high regard that I hold for ECOLINT, its core values and the confidence in my ability to contribute to the culture of care for these values and an effective operating model. Having worked for, inter alia, the ICRC as Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer and UNHCR I am familiar with the UN principles, adopted the UN values and vision, learnt about its operations and administrative mechanisms.
For the past twenty years I have worked in leading roles in the field of ethics, compliance, and enterprise risk management -overall responsible for designing and effectively implementing organizational compliance programs. In my capacity as Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer, I was also responsible for leading the organization’s strategic risk process and, inter alia, providing assurance on effective risk management, effective ethics and compliance, to the Board. Thus, I have a deep understanding of the mechanics and dynamics of Board work, a deep experience in multiple critical areas when it comes to safeguarding the excellent reputation of ECOLINT and drive efficiency and operational effectiveness through a collaborative and engaged dialogue.