Production Director & Co-Founder

Milou Derksen is the Production Director of MAE Heritage, where she leverages her background in business management, education, and sound engineering to lead projects that celebrate and preserve cultural stories. As a co-founder of Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam, she has extensive experience in creative and technical production, with a passion for storytelling through both music and heritage. 

Milou holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Information Sciences, with a minor in History, from the University of Utrecht and Università LUMSA in Rome. She also earned a master’s degree in Heritage Studies, specialising in Heritage & Memory, from the University of Amsterdam. In her role as Production Director, Milou continues to channel the power of stories to connect people with their past. 

She lives in Utrecht with her partner and twin cats, Paco and Coco.

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Ashley Laflin is the Executive Director of MAE Heritage, where she leads with a vision for exploring the deep connections between past and present. With a strong foundation in project and team management, as well as a background in research, Ashley is dedicated to investigating how heritage work can generate better societal outcomes for the future.

Ashley earned bachelor’s degrees in both Anthropology and English Literature & Composition from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a master’s degree in Heritage Studies, specialising in Heritage & Memory, from the University of Amsterdam. This blend of academic expertise and hands-on experience informs her leadership at MAE Heritage, where she guides projects that highlight the significance of cultural narratives.

Ashley lives in Amsterdam with her husband and their two cats, Digby and Jolene.

Creative Director & Co-Founder

Emma Egberts is the Creative Director of MAE Heritage, where she brings together her passion for both material and immaterial heritage through creative storytelling. With a background in conservation, she has a deep understanding of the strengths and limitations of material objects, but what really excites her is how stories can breathe life into history, creating personal connections between people and the past. Emma seeks novel ways to use storytelling to make heritage meaningful in today’s world. 

Emma holds a bachelor’s degree in Language and Culture Studies as well as a master’s degree in Heritage Studies, specialising in Heritage & Memory, from the University of Amsterdam. Emma’s creative approach helps shape MAE Heritage’s projects, making history feel personal and alive.

Emma lives in Utrecht with her cat Toby.