Currently, Els van Schie is the Director of Enforcement Policy and Interim Director-General of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, an independent agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, and a major client for RIVM. Prior to that, Els van Schie held various management positions in the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate and the former Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.
 
Els van Schie explains: “I am keen to make the link between science and societal issues and these comes together poignantly in my new position in the highly relevant area of environment and safety.” In addition, the new director is enthusiastic that her role is more externally oriented to the scientific world and also to other ministries and government organisations. She sees the challenge for RIVM is to make knowledge available for use by policy makers.