Dick Berlijn began his distinguished career at the Royal Military Academy in Breda and trained as a fighter pilot in Canada. His operational flying experience, including flying the F-16, laid the foundation for a career centered on leadership, strategy and security. In 2005, he was appointed the first-ever Chief of Defense of the Netherlands, the highest-ranking position within the Dutch Armed Forces. He held this position until his retirement in 2008. Since then, he has continued to contribute to public security, focusing on digital threats and crisis management.
Dick Berlijn as a Speaker
Dick Berlijn speaks on increasingly urgent topics, including leadership under pressure, the impact of cybercrime, the need for strategic risk management and the importance of trust in times of uncertainty. His lectures are insightful, delivered in a calm and measured style, and enriched with practical examples ranging from military missions abroad to boardroom dilemmas in the corporate world. Dick understands how leaders can stay on course in unpredictable situations and how digital threats can fundamentally affect national and corporate security. For organizations looking to build resilience, he is a speaker who both inspires and provides valuable strategic direction.
Career
As a general in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Dick built a career that established him as a strategic leader in an international environment. He led large-scale operations in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan and was responsible for the overall leadership of the Dutch Armed Forces. His leadership was characterised by clarity, stability and the ability to adapt under pressure.
After his military career, he shifted his focus to the digital world. As an advisor at Deloitte and later as an Associate Partner at Hague Corporate Affairs, he became a sought-after expert in cybersecurity and crisis management. His work focused on strengthening digital resilience among businesses and government organisations and developing strategies to address complex threats in a rapidly changing world.
With this broad background, Dick offers a unique perspective that helps organizations strengthen leadership and manage risks more effectively.
