Geert Lovink, founding director of the Institute of Network Cultures, is a Dutch-Australian media theorist and critic. He holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and in 2003 was at the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, University of Queensland. In 2004 Lovink was appointed as Research Professor at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam and Associate Professor at University of Amsterdam. He is the founder of Internet projects such as nettime and fibreculture. His recent book titles are Dark Fiber (2002), Uncanny Networks (2002) and My First Recession (2003). In 2005-06 he was a fellow at the WissenschaftskollegBerlin Institute for Advanced Study where he finished his third volume on critical Internet culture, Zero Comments (2007). Email: geert [at] xs4all.nl. Geert’s weblog: www.networkcultures.org/geert

Sabine Niederer is the managing director of the Institute of Network Cultures. In January 2008 she has started her PhD research at the University of Amsterdam, Mediastudies, new media. Before joining the INC in 2004 she worked as a producer and curator of international events on new media, arts and digital culture, such as Hoogt 4 (2001-2004) and Level Up Games Conference (2003). In 2002 she earned her MA from Utrecht University, where she studied art history, and new media and digital culture. Sabine has taught media and design theory, is a freelance curator of art and new media projects such as Impakt Online, and publishes regularly on new media, art and popular culture. As a researcher, she is affiliated with the Amsterdam-based Digital Methods Initiative. Email: sabine [at] networkcultures.org.

Shirley Niemans is the INC event producer of MyCreativity (2006), New Network Theory (2007), and Video Vortex (2008). After graduating from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in 2002 she worked as a video and sound artist. She has (co-)produced events and art projects ranging from international new media expert meetings to art exhibitions in public space and curatorial work. She is co-organizing an art and research programme for the Impakt Foundation and doing a masters degree in new media and digital culture at Utrecht University. Email: shirley [at] networkcultures.org.

Margreet Riphagen, project manager at INC, graduated in 2000 in Integrated Communication Management at the Hogeschool of Utrecht. After graduating, Margreet worked at an advertising agency in Utrecht. In June 2003 she started working at Waag Society as a producer. After three and a half years at Waag Society she switched to the Media Guild, which is a not for profit organisation that fosters innovative starters in the field of new media and ICT. After setting up the Media Guild, she left for Blender, which is a 3D open source animation suite. There she was co-producer of Big Buck Bunny (Peach open movie project) and producing an open game. Since April 2008 she works at the Institute for Network Cultures one day a week, and after summer she will fully commit herself to managing and producing projects for the INC. Email: margreet [at] networkcultures.org.

Anne Helmond is a new media researcher, graphic designer and photographer. In 2008 she graduated from New Media at the University of Amsterdam with a thesis in the emerging field of Software Studies, titled ‘Blogging for Engines. Blogs under the Influence of Software-Engine Relations.’ For the INC, Anne has designed the new Institute of Network Cultures website and weblog, as well as Geert Lovink’s blog and the New Media in the Netherlands site. As a researcher, she is affiliated with the Amsterdam-based Digital Methods Initiative. As photographer, she works for various organizations such as the INC and the Dutch public broadcasting company VPRO. Email: anne.helmond [at] gmail.com. Anne’s photos & Anne’s blog

Marije van Eck started working at the Institute of Network Cultures as an intern, involved in the organization of the Video Vortex conference. During the internship, she wrote her BA-thesis, an analysis of the phenomenon of user generated content on YouTube, in order to complete the New Media and Digital Culture program at Utrecht University. She continues to study at Utrecht University to obtain a second BA in English Language and Culture, while working at the INC as editorial assistant on the forthcoming Video Vortex Reader.
Email: marije [at] chasingthoughts.net. Marije’s blog