Mark Knijnenburg
Manager
Mark is a results-oriented consultant who thrives on solving complex problems. He is positive, driven, and motivated to have a positive impact on clients. He can break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable pieces, is a connector who brings stakeholders together, and is passionate about giving training courses and workshops.
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Aviation used to be defined by efficiency and scale. Today, it’s about reimagining the way we fly by finding new ways to move around the world in a smarter and more sustainable way.
Sustainability is no longer a side issue; it has become the engine of innovation, creativity, and long-term value. But how do you make something sustainable that has historically been tied to pollution? How can regulation, funding cycles, and public perception keep pace with the sector’s need for innovation? And above all, how do you keep moving forward in a world that’s constantly changing?
The aviation industry is evolving rapidly, and Luchtvaart in Transitie (LiT) stands at the center of that transformation. As a national platform connecting pioneers from business, research, and government, LiT drives collaboration to make Dutch aviation more innovative, sustainable, and future-ready.
This mission’s importance was continuously emphasized during the LiT Aero Conference, where changemakers found each other. It showed how powerful progress can be when visionary people come together in concrete collaboration and take collective steps forward. Visionaries, experts, and leaders shared insights, aligned ambitions, and explored new partnerships.
Inspiring Voices from Across the Sector
The LiT Aero Conference 2025 offered a dynamic programme that captured the diversity and ambition of today’s aviation community.
Eline van Beest, founder of NightBalance and Partner at Thuja Capital, spoke about the power of balancing masculine and feminine traits in leadership — showing how this balance fosters adaptability and success in times of change.
Minister Robert Tieman shared his personal connection to aviation and reflected on the government’s role in shaping a sustainable future for the sector.
A highlight of the day was the panel “Charting a Wise Course: Combining Sustainable Competitiveness and Competitive Sustainability,” featuring leaders from KLM, Conscious Aerospace, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, and others. Together, they explored how collaboration can turn sustainability from an obligation into a competitive advantage.
Breakouts met nlmtd
Alongside the plenary programme, nlmtd contributed to two breakout sessions that focused on one thing: turning ideas into action.
In the session ‘Harnessing Ecosystems’ Pieter Paul (nlmtd) highlighted what we often forget: “the Netherlands is full of promising initiatives — yet many get stuck in fragmentation”.
To explore the role of structured ecosystems, about 30 participants were invited to simulate a challenging real-world scenario. Using the case of scaling electric flying in 2026 by NRG2fly, each participant took on a stakeholder role within a small, orchestrated ecosystem: from Investor to Researcher and from Industry Expert to Superconnector. All worked together to develop ideas that could help NRG2fly move forward. The gist? Ecosystems don’t create themselves. And hope is not a strategy. We need to organize ecosystems step by step, with intention and structure.
The second session, ‘From Lab to Runway,’ focused on valorization — how to actually bring ideas to market. Mirjam van Ros explained why so many innovations stall in pilot phases or remain stuck on paper. The solution rarely lies in more research, but in earlier collaboration, building trust, taking ownership, and involving the right people at the right time.
Building the Future of Flight, Together
The challenges in aviation are complex, but the opportunities are unmatched. That’s exactly why this is a sector where transition must happen now.
We bring people and ideas together. We build structures that make collaboration easier and help organizations move forward — not by pushing harder, but by connecting smarter.
We drive innovation, enable real progress, and make sure it doesn’t stop at good intentions.
