Professor Dianne Bevelander was a pioneer in championing gender equality in business and academia. During her more than 30 years at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM), she placed gender balance and inclusion firmly on the agenda – not only in Rotterdam, but across the global stage.
She founded the Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations (ECWO) in 2014, believing in the power of knowledge, community and advocacy to change the face of leadership. Dianne often said, “Amplification is key.” Today, that spirit lives on through this fund and through everyone who chooses to support it.
The Dianne Bevelander Memorial Fund honours Dianne’s legacy by providing support, recognition and access for women at different stages of their professional journeys. Through three dedicated initiatives, the fund uplifts women who are committed to advancing gender equality in their organisations and society.
The Dianne Bevelander Prize recognises a woman who has made a measurable impact on gender equality within her organisation. It is awarded annually on Dianne’s birthday, 17 June. The prize includes funding to extend her work beyond the workplace into a wider area of society.
The Dianne Bevelander Travel Grant helps remove financial barriers for early-career women – students, researchers or professionals – who wish to attend conferences, events or gatherings that support their development and advance inclusion.
Ongoing support for ECWO ensures that Dianne’s research-driven approach to advocacy and change continues to inspire, educate and empower.
Gender equality is not only a matter of justice; it is a matter of progress. The Dianne Bevelander Memorial Fund turns your support into meaningful action. It is about creating opportunities, recognising changemakers, and breaking down barriers for future generations of women.
Your donation enables ECWO and its community to continue what Dianne began: empowering women to lead from wherever they are, and to create organisations where everyone belongs.
Traditional education offers knowledge. But real growth often comes when students are challenged to act. Your donation directly supports RSM students who want to do just that: take initiative, collaborate, and create meaningful change.
With your help, we can fund more projects, reach more communities, and prepare more young changemakers to tackle the world's most pressing challenges. Whether you’re an alumnus, a friend of RSM, or a corporate partner, your contribution becomes part of a powerful chain reaction. One that starts with a single student and grows into something far greater.
Founder of RightBrains, bridging the gender gap in tech. She met Dianne on a Women in Leadership Open Masterclass at RSM.
Senior Executive at Salesforce, an activist for change, currently engaged with AI bias and gender perspectives in tech. She grew up in Brazil and is now based in Brussels.
While a Master of Laws student, she established two award-winning start-ups. Femalid promotes gender equality in healthcare through equitable medical design; CaseCanvas uses AI storytelling to empower female victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
Alumni Relations Manager