As of 1 June , StartLife proudly welcomes Dr Nicola Harrison as its new Managing Director. She succeeds Bert-Jan Woertman, who has served as interim MD over the past year. Nicola, originally from the UK, brings extensive experience in cluster development, multi-stakeholder program management, and business development in the agri-food and horticulture sectors.
Hailing from the United Kingdom, Nicola (Nikki) brings a wealth of experience in cluster development, multi-stakeholder program management, and business development across the agrifood and horticulture sectors. She most recently served as Director of Growing Kent & Medway, a leading UK innovation cluster dedicated to advancing sustainable horticultural production, food processing, and associated supply chains.
Strengthening Science-Based Innovation and International Collaboration
Nikki’s background uniquely combines scientific-based innovation and startup ecosystem development, making her ideally positioned to guide StartLife’s strategic growth. Her leadership is expected to deepen StartLife’s integration within the Wageningen Campus and the broader Dutch agrifood ecosystem, while expanding its European and global partnerships.
“I have followed StartLife’s development over the years and have always been impressed by the quality of its support programs and the strength of its reputation,” said Nikki.
“I look forward to expanding pre-competitive collaborations, unlocking innovation, and strengthening ties with agrifood ecosystems worldwide.” ~ Nicola Harrison
“I’m excited to join the team and help build on its excellence. Among other priorities, I look forward to expanding collaborations in the pre-competitive space—fostering new partnership opportunities between startups, industry, and regional partners—whilst unlocking innovation and deepening connections with agrifood ecosystems around the world.”
Leadership Transition: Foundation for Next Leap
With Nikki’s arrival, Bert-Jan will officially conclude his role as interim Managing Director. Soon after his appointment in 2024, it became apparent that his long commute from Eindhoven to Wageningen was not sustainable. In close consultation, his position was transitioned to an interim role, focused on ensuring continuity, refining strategy, and preparing StartLife for this next phase.
“StartLife plays a pivotal role in supporting agrifood startups and advancing innovation through a collaborative approach.” ~ Bert-Jan Woertman
“It’s been a privilege to work with the dedicated and talented team at StartLife,” said Bert-Jan. “This organization plays a pivotal role in supporting agrifood startups and advancing innovation through a collaborative approach. I’m confident Nikki will continue to build momentum and lead StartLife to new achievements.”
Sebastiaan Berendse, Chair of the StartLife Foundation, expressed his gratitude to Bert-Jan for his valuable contributions. “In a short time, Bert-Jan has laid a stronger foundation for StartLife’s future. We thank him for his valuable contribution and look forward to staying connected for future collaborations.”
At the same time, the StartLife board is delighted to welcome Nikki to the role. “We look forward to working closely together and continuing to strengthen StartLife’s impact under her leadership, ” said Sebastiaan.
