Sharon Alida Maria Dijksma (born 16 April 1971) is a Dutch politician serving as Mayor of Utrecht since 2020. A member of the Labour Party (PvdA), she was previously a State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science from 2007 to 2010, at the Ministry of Economic Affairs from 2012 to 2015 and at the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment from 2015 to 2017, as well as an alderwoman of Amsterdam from 2018 until 2020.
Sharon Dijksma | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Dijksma in 2015 | |
| Mayor of Utrecht | |
| Assumed office 16 December 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Peter den Oudsten (Acting) |
| State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment | |
| In office 3 November 2015 – 26 October 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Wilma Mansveld |
| Succeeded by | Stientje van Veldhoven (as State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management) |
| State Secretary for Economic Affairs | |
| In office 18 December 2012 – 3 November 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Co Verdaas |
| Succeeded by | Martijn van Dam |
| State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science | |
| In office 22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 Serving with Marja van Bijsterveldt | |
| Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende |
| Preceded by | Bruno Bruins |
| Succeeded by | Marja van Bijsterveldt |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 23 March 2017 – 1 June 2018 | |
| In office 8 May 2012 – 20 September 2012 | |
| In office 17 June 2010 – 17 January 2012 | |
| In office 17 May 1994 – 22 February 2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sharon Alida Maria Dijksma 16 April 1971 Groningen, Netherlands |
| Political party | Labour Party (since 1988) |
| Children | 1 son and 2 daughters[1] |
| Residence | Utrecht |
| Occupation | Politician |
Dijksma was the President of the Environment Council of the European Union who, together with the Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, signed the Paris Agreement on behalf of Europe in New York on 21 April 2016.[2]
Early life and education
editDijksma studied law at the University of Groningen and public administration at the University of Twente but did not finish her studies.
Career
editIn 1991 Dijksma became secretary general of the Young Socialists. From 1992 to 1994 she was chairwoman of the Young Socialists (Jonge Socialisten).
When, on 16 May 1994, Dijksma became an MP, her age was 23 and she was the youngest MP ever in Dutch parliamentarian history. From 1994 to 2007, she was a member of the House of Representatives.
Dijksma was the State secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the Fourth Balkenende cabinet from 2007 to 2010.
From 3 November 2015 until 26 October 2017 Dijksma was the State secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment succeeding to Wilma Mansveld who resigned from the position;[3] from 18 December 2012 to 3 November 2015 she was the State secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, dealing with agriculture, nature, food quality, tourism, and postal affairs. Therefore, Dijksma was allowed to use the ministerial title "Minister for Agriculture" while on foreign business. Before that she was an MP from 17 June 2010 to 19 September 2012. She focused on matters of traffic, water management and home affairs.
Dijksma was a member of the House of Representatives from 23 March 2017 until 30 May 2018.
In 2023, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Dijksma to his Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments.[4]
Decorations
edit| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 3 December 2010 | |
References
edit- ^ Kerstens, Bonne (23 December 2019). "Sharon Dijksma (48) bevallen van dochter: 'Dankbaar voor dit prachtige cadeautje'" [Sharon Dijksma (48) gives birth to daughter: "Thankful for this wonderful gift"]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch).
- ^ "Paris Agreement on climate change". www.consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ "Sharon Dijksma vanavond beëdigd als staatssecretaris van Infrastructuur en Milieu" (in Dutch). RTV Oost. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ Local and Regional Engagement, Action and Multi-Level Cooperation Are Vital to Rescue SDGs and Contribute to Topics under the Summit of Future United Nations, press release of 6 October 2023.
External links
edit
- Official
- (in Dutch) S.A.M. (Sharon) Dijksma Parlement & Politiek