Pinar Ates

Creative Problem Solver & Business Developer at Independent

My experience and deep interests:

• Business Development

• Circular Economy

• Climate Change & Environment

I am based in: Amsterdam

I was born in Luxemburg to Turkish parents. Soon after my birth, we moved to the Netherlands and I felt right at home. Today, I can feel both Dutch and Turkish. Mediterranean passion and Dutch pragmatism are both ingrained in my personality. I have been brought up to feel like a global citizen, with a high level of curiosity and awareness of all different people, countries and cultures that populate the globe. Having seen and experienced the diversity inside and around me, I have the ability to connect with many different people, through a belief that there are many possible points of view and in life, nothing is black and white.

In my professional life, I function as the ‘spider in the web’, connecting different disciplines to get and keep things moving forward. I thrive in complex environments. The more difficult or ‘impossible’ the challenge ahead, the more I
enjoy finding a way to make it happen. For over 10 years, I have been working in the energy sector, most recently leading people in creating and negotiating new and relevant business models. I have worked in regulatory affairs and stakeholder management giving me a view on governments, regulation and the broad environment that we impact with our actions. Over the past years, technological developments and climate change have driven huge developments in the energy sector. But there is still so much to do.

I am married to a beautiful man and have two wonderful young children. What world will they grow up in? What can I contribute to make it a better place? That is what it’s all about for me. The world we live in is complex and fragile. It needs our attention and I believe putting my own energy, capacity and drive to work is the only way forward.