Anthropologist, educator and politician, Angelien Eijsink served as Member of Parliament representing the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) from 2003 until March 2017, prior to this, working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1995.
Focused on defence and security since entering parliament, Eijsink has been a significant player in parliamentary decision-making. As PvdA spokesperson for Defence, Eijsink was responsible for the evaluation of peacekeeping missions, Common European Security and Defence Policy, and Defence procurement.
From 2012 to 2017 Angelien was Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and was elected Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in 2014. Committed to gender equality, Eijsink was instrumental in initiating a special bi-annual session of the Assembly devoted to the role of women in the forces. She also initiated the Veterans Law, which was ratified in 2012. In 2021, Angelien was appointed chair of the Netherlands Industries for Defence and Security (NIDV).
With an academic background in Cultural Anthropology and Sociology of Non-Western Societies, she has contributed over a decade to upholding democratic values, international collaboration, trust-building, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Outside of her political activities, Eijsink is a member of several Boards and committees, including the Supervisory Board of the Wounded Warriors Foundation and the Advisory Board for Homosexuality and Armed Forces Foundation and the Veterans Platform.