As we mark one year since the official launch of our organisation in The Hague, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ben Knapen for his outstanding contributions as our founding Chair.
Ben has been involved with our initiative for nearly two years, long before we had any official staff or structures in place. In particular, the year leading up to our launch—and the period before our team was formally established—required an extraordinary commitment of time and energy on his part.
Thanks to Ben’s leadership, we have achieved several important milestones in a relatively short time. He played a crucial role in establishing our organisation itself, hiring our first staff, and kickstarting our operations. He was instrumental in the success of our official launch event, where his thoughtful remarks and warm presence set the tone for our community. Beyond the Netherlands, Ben also represented our organisation in Brussels and Bern, meeting with government representatives and partners to broaden our network and strengthen our reputation internationally.
His departure comes at a time when we have reached another major milestone: the draft treaty has now been shared with a number of select governments—a significant step forward in our mission.
While Ben is stepping down as Chair to focus on his other professional commitments, we are delighted that he will remain close to our work as an advisor and champion of our mission. His insights and experience will continue to be invaluable as we move into the next phase of our development.
Ben, on behalf of everyone involved, thank you for your vision, energy, and commitment. We look forward to continuing this journey together.