Prof. Dr. Patrick Huntjens appointed Professor of Governance of Sustainability Transitions

Patrick has a multi-disciplinary background, including a Ph.D. (Magna Cum Laude) in Complex System Sciences and Policy Sciences, a MSc Degree (Cum Laude) in Political Science & International Relations and a MSc Degree in Ecology and Environmental Management. His PhD dissertation was awarded with Magna Cum Laude, and endorsed by Prof. Dr. Elinor Ostrom, the first woman in history receiving the Nobel Prize in Economics. His most recent book ‘Towards a Natural Social Contract’ has been nominated for several international book prizes. All publications by Patrick can be found here.

With 22 years of professional experience in the public, private and plural sector, and on-the-ground work experience in more than 45 countries, Patrick’s work focuses on environmental governance and diplomacy, societal innovation and sustainability transitions at multiple levels (global to local). He is spearheading a Research and Innovation Agenda with a core focus on the Governance of Sustainability Transitions, with specific attention for issues of politics, power and justice in transitions, and drawing on the wider field of governance, innovation and transition studies as well as other fields like complexity theory and systems theory. Ongoing research and educational activities include 1) Transition to a sustainable and healthy agri-food system, 2) Governance of urban sustainability transitions, and 3) Transition to circular and regenerative economies and cultures.

From 2017-2019, Patrick was Director of The Hague Humanitarian Cooperative for Water (HHCW), from 2013-2017 Head of Water & Climate Diplomacy and Governance at The Hague Institute for Global Justice, and from 2011-2013 he was Director of the Water Partner Foundation. At Wageningen University and Research (WUR) he was coordinator of the Centre of Excellence - Governance of Climate Adaptation from 2010-2012, after working as Coordinator of EU-Asia relations on Water Governance in the EU-funded multi-stakeholder platform ASEM-Waternet (2006-2010). In the period 2000-2006 he worked as a policy officer for the Netherlands Government and as international consultant for Royal HaskoningDHV.

Patrick solidifies his expertise with activities on the ground, mainly as international team leader, process manager and mediator. For example, from 2014 to 2015 he was lead mediator (Track II) in the Israeli-Palestinian water conflict, assigned by the Geneva Initiative and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other clients include the World Bank, United Nations, European Commission, various governments and NGOs.