The Hague/Washington DC (July 9, 2021)— WRI is pleased to announce that Stientje van Veldhoven has been selected as the new Vice President and Regional Director for WRI Europe. She will be based in WRI’s office in The Hague in the Netherlands.
Van Veldhoven has been a prominent politician in the Netherlands, most recently serving as a Member of Cabinet responsible for Public Transport and Environment and as Minister for the Environment and Housing. She has also been a Member of Parliament and an international diplomat, representing the Dutch government in the European Union in Brussels.
Van Veldhoven has had longstanding involvement in environmental issues, especially related to climate change, energy and the circular economy. Her work in government included acting as a Board Member for the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), which is hosted by WRI.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Stientje has agreed to join WRI, bringing her deep understanding of environment and infrastructure issues and an excellent network across Europe to the position,” said Ani Daspgupta, WRI’s President and CEO. “WRI Europe plays a central role in advancing sustainability efforts in the region and importantly to support European leaders in addressing environmental and human development challenges in the most vulnerable regions.”
WRI Europe was established in 2015 and has offices in The Hague and London, with program staff in Bonn, Germany, and Istanbul, Turkey. Its presence in Europe allows the institute’s staff to engage more closely with partners and supporters on the continent. The staff work with the European Commission, national governments, companies and civil society organizations to support Europe in its global leadership on climate, human development and environmental protection. WRI Europe is involved in programmatic work across nearly all WRI priority areas. It also has a central role in several of WRI’s major initiatives, including the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the Coalition for Urban Transformation, the Better Buying Lab, and the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU).
“I am delighted to be joining the World Resources Institute at this critical time, when it’s so urgent to shift to a more sustainable pathway. To achieve a greener future, we need to combine forces and ideas from people all over the globe on issues ranging from climate to oceans and cities to forests,” said van Veldhoven. “WRI’s vision is to achieve a more equitable and resilient world for all, and I look forward to working with the institute’s world-class staff to make this happen.”
World Resources Institute is a global research organization that works with governments, businesses and civil society partners to develop practical solutions to today’s pressing environmental and human development challenges. WRI currently has over 1,400 staff working in 12 offices, spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, the United States and Latin America. It focuses on urgent challenges in seven core areas: Food, Forests, Water, the Ocean, Cities, Energy and Climate.
Van Veldhoven will officially begin her new role on September 1, 2021.
