At Leiden University – the oldest university in The Netherlands, established in 1575 – Erna is the legal advisor on copyright for Leiden’s academic and support staff. Her role includes policymaking, implementation of new legislation of university regulations, giving lectures on copyright to the university community, as well as advising academics on copyright in their research and teaching.

She is a member of the Legal Committee of the Netherlands Library Forum, the Copyright Working Group of Dutch Cultural Heritage Institutions, the Copyright and Electronic Learning Environment Working Group of the Association of Dutch Universities, and the Network Copyright Experts of Dutch Universities.

Erna holds a Master’s degree (LL.M.) in Civil Law.