Eduardus Hermannus Theresia Maria "Ed" Nijpels is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and businessman. He is a Member of the Social and Economic Council since 15 August 2014. Nijpels applied at the Radboud University Nijmegen in June 1968 majoring in Civil law and obtaining an Bachelor of Science in Law degree in July 1970 before graduating with an Master of Studies in Law degree in July 1974. Nijpels served as Chairman of the Executive Board of the political youth organisation Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy from February 1974 until November 1975. Nijpels worked as a civics teacher at the :nl:Gertrudis College|Gertrudis College in Roosendaal from August 1974 until June 1977. Nijpels served on the Municipal Council of Bergen op Zoom from April 1976 until April 1982. Nijpels was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1977, taking office on 8 June 1977 serving as a frontbencher chairing the :nl:Tweede Kamercommissie|parliamentary committee for Law enforcement and the :nl:Tweede Kamercommissie|special parliamentary committee for Gambling Reforms and spokesperson for Justice, Ombudsman and deputy spokesperson for Law enforcement, Social Affairs, Emergency Management, Welfare and Minorities. After the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of RepresentativesHans Wiegel unexpectedly announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, he endorsed Nijpels as his successor, Nijpels accepted and became the Leader and Parliamentary leader, taking office on 20 April 1982. For the election of 1982 Nijpels served as Lijsttrekker. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy made a large win, gaining 10 seats and now had 36 seats in the House of Representatives. The following cabinet formation of 1982 resulted in a coalition agreement between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democratic Appeal which formed the Cabinet Lubbers I with Nijpels opting to remain in the House of Representatives instead of accepting a cabinet post in the new cabinet and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as Parliamentary leader. For the election of 1986 Nijpels again served as Lijsttrekker. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy suffered a big loss, losing 9 seats and now had 27 seats in the House of Representatives. On 25 May 1986 shortly after the election Nijpels announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader taking responsibility for the defeat. The Following cabinet formation of 1986 resulted in a continuation of the coalition agreement between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democratic Appeal which formed the Cabinet Lubbers II with Nijpels appointed as Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, taking office on 14 July 1986. The Cabinet Lubbers II fell on 3 May 1989 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity. After the election of 1989 Nijpels returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 14 September 1989 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Housing and Spatial Planning, Environmental Policies, Nature and deputy spokesperson for Social Work, Welfare and Culture. The Cabinet Lubbers II was replaced by the Cabinet Lubbers III following the cabinet formation of 1982 on 7 November 1989. Nijpels also worked as a television presenter for the TROS from December 1989 until April 1990. In March 1990 Nijpels was nominated as Mayor of Breda, he was installed as Mayor, taking office on 1 April 1990 and resigned as a Member of the House of Representatives on 4 April 1990. In June 1995 Nijpels was appointment as Director-General of the :nl:Arbodienst|Occupational Health Service Agency of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, he resigned as Mayor the same day he was installed as Director-General on 1 July 1995. In December 1998 Nijpels was nominated as the Queen's Commissioner of Friesland, he resigned as Director-General the same day he was installed as Queen's Commissioner, serving from 1 January 1999 until 1 May 2008. Nijpels also became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards and served on several :nl:Staatscommissie|state commissions and councils on behalf of the government. Nijpels semi-retired from active politics but remained active in the private sector and public sector and continued to occupy numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director and as an advocate, activist and lobbyist for Environmentalism, Sustainable development, Conservation and Climate change. Nijpels also works as a trade association executive for the Industry and Employers confederation and the :nl:Koninklijke NLingenieurs|Engineering association serving as Chairman of the Executive Board from May 2008 until May 2015 and the GeoBusiness association serving as Chairman of the Executive Board since 1 September 2009 and worked as media administrator for the public broadcasterTROS serving as Chairman of the Supervisory board from 1 June 2008 until 7 September 2014 and its successor AVROTROS as Chairman of the Supervisory board since 7 September 2014.
