Anita Polderdijk-Rijntjes receives SURF Security & Privacy Award 2026

Anita is a trailblazer and pioneer in the field of privacy and security. Throughout her career, she has consistently believed in the power of the collective, driven by her conviction that lasting results are achieved by sharing knowledge, listening to one another and working together.

Years of dedication to the community

The jury was impressed by the broad scope and depth of Anita’s contributions, particularly her many years of unwavering dedication to the security and privacy community. Together with others, she was one of the founding members of SCIPR, the community for information security and privacy in education and research. She played a key role in developing the assessment frameworks for Information Security and Privacy, which are used throughout the sector.

Thanks to her efforts, a strong and engaged community has emerged that can continue to build on the foundations she helped lay in the future. In doing so, Anita has made an invaluable impact and demonstrably made the sector more resilient. In 2023, Anita took over as chair of the SCIPR board.

A unifying force

The nominations submitted for Anita paint a broad and multifaceted picture. She has contributed to numerous topics, working groups and initiatives. Colleagues praise her not only for her substantive expertise in this field, but also for her ability to bring people together. Whether the focus is on privacy, security, policy or collaboration between institutions, Anita forges connections and prioritises common goals.

An impressive career

Her most recent role was as Security & Privacy Adviser and Data Protection Officer at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences. Following this long and impressive career, Anita retired in May 2026. This, too, makes it an excellent moment to reflect on everything she has meant to the sector.