Thaïs Franken is a public administration and organizational scientist with a Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development, specializing in Innovation, Institutions, & Development from the United Nations University Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) and Maastricht University. She is a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Aruba where she teaches in the bachelor and master programs within the Department of Organization, Governance & Management (OGM). Next to her role as an educator, she is a researcher for the Aruba Institute of Good Governance & Leadership (*GG&L), an independent, multi-disciplinary, and not-for-profit competence center of the University of Aruba that focuses on research and capacity-building activities. Thaïs’ research interests and publications focus on the creative industries, cultural heritage, civil society networks, public policy, governance, and innovation for sustainable development. Her current focus is how governance and institutional dynamics between civil society and the government impact effective evidence-based policymaking in small island societies. In 2023, she started her PhD research on public value governance in small island states. Thais’ PhD research aims to identify how civil society organizations in Aruba and Bonaire contribute to public value governance within a complex and unique multi-level governance structure such as The Kingdom of the Netherlands. Lastly, Thais has also been an active volunteer in the Aruban community contributing with her expertise as a board member for the Aruba Youth Parliament Foundation and board member/policy advisor for Go Cultura Foundation.