Dick Benschop is a Dutch leader whose career has spanned politics, international business, and civic service. He served as President-Director of Shell Netherlands and later as Chief Executive of the Royal Schiphol Group, guiding two of the Netherlands’ most prominent industries through periods of transition and global challenge.

Trained as a historian at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Benschop entered public service early, working closely with Prime Minister Joop den Uyl and later serving as State Secretary for European Affairs from 1998 to 2002. In that role, he represented the Netherlands in shaping key European treaties and in advancing global climate policy, including as host of the 2000 UN Climate Change Conference in The Hague.

At Shell, Benschop oversaw renewable energy strategy in Europe before rising to lead Shell Netherlands, where he navigated questions of energy transition and sustainability. He later became CEO of the Royal Schiphol Group, steering the country’s aviation hub through the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a founder of The Hague Institute for Global Justice, Benschop brought to the table a rare combination of political insight, corporate leadership, and civic responsibility. His experience at the crossroads of government and industry reinforced the Institute’s mission of convening diverse stakeholders to advance justice, sustainability, and international cooperation.