(Credit: Tyn van Amelsfoort) 

With over two decades of experience spanning Europe and Asia, Tyn van Amelsfoort has built an international career in supply chain security, corporate security and business resilience. Originally from the Netherlands and now based in Hong Kong, he serves as Regional Security Director, Asia Pacific at AtkinsRéalis and a PARIMA Hong Kong Board Member. His journey has been shaped not by careful planning, but by curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. 

How Tyn’s Risk Management Journey Began 

For Tyn van Amelsfoort, his journey into risk management was never part of a grand career blueprint. Fresh out of university with a bachelor’s degree in logistics, he expected to begin his career in supply chain management. Instead, during an interview with Acer, the conversation took an unexpected turn.  

Rather than managing logistics, he was offered a role handling cargo claims, loss prevention and transportation security. 

“I never really studied for risk management or planned for it,” Tyn recalled. “It happened by chance.” 

Taking the Leap Beyond Home 

Tyn in Lugano, Switzerland. (Credit: Tyn van Amelsfoort) 

While many young professionals hesitate to leave familiar surroundings, Tyn had always hoped to build an international career. 

His first move took him from the Netherlands to Switzerland, where he quickly realised that adapting to a new country involved far more than adjusting to a different workplace. 

Growing up in the Netherlands, he was accustomed to an open and egalitarian culture where hierarchy was relatively informal, and everyone was encouraged to voice their opinions. 

“In the Netherlands, if you’re in a meeting with your boss or even your boss’s boss, asking them to get coffee wouldn’t be considered disrespectful,” he laughed. 

Switzerland became his first lesson in cultural adjustment, but an even bigger change awaited. 

Finding a New Home in Asia 

Tyn in Shanghai, China. (Credit: Tyn van Amelsfoort) 

Frequent business trips to Asia during his years at Acer introduced Tyn to the region’s rapidly growing manufacturing landscape. Those visits eventually opened the door to an opportunity with McLarens in Shanghai, where he focused on transportation risk assessments, facility audits and global claims programmes. 

Moving to China in 2007 marked the beginning of a completely new chapter. 

While the language barrier presented challenges, what surprised him most was the efficiency and willingness of people to help. 

“If I had an internet problem in Switzerland, it could take a week before someone came to fix it. In China, someone would come even on a Sunday evening.” 

Watching Shanghai transform before his eyes also left a lasting impression. 

“When I arrived, there were only three metro lines. By the time I left three years later, there were ten.” 

Living overseas also taught him to embrace unfamiliar situations, adapt to different ways of working and appreciate perspectives beyond his own. 

The Importance of Cultural Intelligence 

One of the biggest lessons Tyn learned from working across countries is that effective communication looks different in every culture.  

Dutch culture is often known for its directness, a trait that served him well in some situations but created challenges in others.  

“You only have one first impression,” he reflected. “If people perceive you as too direct or too blunt, it can take a long time to rebuild that relationship.” 

Looking back, he admits that learning to adjust his communication style was one of the most valuable lessons of his career. Rather than changing who he was, it meant becoming more aware of how different cultures interpret the same message. 

“It’s about understanding the people you’re working with and adjusting your approach accordingly.” 

Growing Together Through Community 

(Credit: PARIMA) 

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Tyn also serves as a PARIMA Hong Kong Board, where he hopes to broaden conversations beyond traditional insurance topics. 

Having spent much of his career in logistics, transportation security and business resilience, he believes organisations benefit when professionals from different risk disciplines share their experiences. 

“It’s good to bring people together who are open to learn and see things from different perspectives,” he said. “PARIMA has the perfect platform for that.” 

Advice for Risk Professionals Seeking Global Opportunities 

If Tyn could offer one piece of advice to his younger self, it would simply be to slow down. 

Learning to listen before speaking, understanding different cultural expectations and recognising that relationships take time have all become defining lessons throughout his career. 

For professionals aspiring to build an international career, Tyn encourages them to be intentional about their ambitions. 

“Make sure that you really have that ambition to eventually work outside of your home country,” he said. “Don’t be frustrated if the first chance doesn’t go as planned. Things happen for a reason. Keep an open mind, be willing to adapt, and your opportunity will come.” 

After more than two decades living and working away from home, Tyn’s story shows that building an international career isn’t simply about relocating to another country. It’s about embracing new perspectives, respecting different cultures and remaining curious enough to keep learning.  

As he puts it, success abroad begins with having the courage to take the first step, and the patience to trust that the right opportunity will come.