Dutch Cycling Embassy Appoints New Managing Director Skadi Tirpak

The Dutch Cycling Embassy would like to announce the forthcoming departure of Managing Director Lucas Harms, and the appointment of his successor Skadi Tirpak, effective September 1^st, 2023.

“In recent years, I have enjoyed working with a great team of enthusiastic colleagues and passionate experts to strengthen the position of ‘Nederland fietsland’ at home and abroad,” said Harms. “After four and a half years, it is time for me to take the next step and embark on a new adventure.”

The Dutch Cycling Embassy remains in good hands with the selection of Skadi Tirpak as its new Managing Director. An experienced policy, diplomacy, and strategy professional, she has worked for many years internationally in the public and private sectors in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and currently as the Senior Economic Policy Officer at the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Miami, Florida.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Skadi on several initiatives in the United States over the past three and a half years, including a 10-Year Anniversary ThinkBike Workshop announced during the Royal visit to Austin, Texas, a study visit from Bentonville, Arkansas, and an upcoming  bike immersion program with Miami-Dade County, Florida,” said Marketing and Communications Manager Chris Bruntlett. “I am confident her passion, personality, and skills perfectly align with this role and with our team, especially in this exciting phase of our growing organization.”

“I very much look forward to joining the Dutch Cycling Embassy and continuing the fantastic work of the organization, its partners and network participants,” said Tirpak. “It will be an adventure to be back in the Netherlands after having lived abroad for so many years. But my international experience will be put to good use, and I have already had the pleasure of collaborating on initiatives in the U.S., and I am excited to see what is possible worldwide.”

“With Skadi Tirpak, the Dutch Cycling Embassy gets an inspiring and experienced director that can build on the foundations laid by Lucas Harms in recent years,” said Chairman Ruben Loendersloot. “The Board of Directors would like to warmly welcome her, and thank Lucas for his tireless positivity, energy, and leadership throughout his tenure. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours, and look forward to hopefully working with him again in the future.”

For questions or requests, please contact Communications Manager Chris Bruntlett.