Leadership transition: Welcoming Pia Hinz as DFA’s new secretary general

Dear DFA Members and Stakeholders,

This communication is to inform you of an important leadership transition within Danish Farmers Abroad (DFA).

A Note on Leadership Transition
On behalf of the Board, I would first like to acknowledge Tom Axelgaard’s service as Secretary General since October 2022. Tom has contributed to developing DFA’s over the years, and we appreciate his efforts. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Welcoming Pia Hinz: A Visionary New Leader
We are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Pia Hinz as DFA's new Secretary General, effective Monday, December 1, 2025.
Pia joins us with a powerful and highly relevant background that aligns perfectly with DFA’s strategic goals:

Strategic Acumen & Value Creation: Pia is a proven leader with a 25-year track record in business development and results-creation across six diverse industries. She combines a strong understanding of EU lobbying and policy (her early career foundation) with an unwavering ambition for member success. Her drive is to ensure DFA delivers the actionable knowledge and visionary insights necessary for members to become future-ready and resilient agricultural operations and businesses.
The Network Expert: Over the past decade, Pia has specialized in building, scaling, and optimizing professional network organizations. Her expertise lies in facilitating best practice sharing, co-creation, and translating global trends into serious growth levers.
A Front Runner: Pia is a natural people connector, progressive, and visionary. She is eager to
be close to our members to ensure DFA’s offerings consistently add high value.

Pia is taking the helm at a critical time when the agricultural landscape demands visionary and progressive leadership. Her blend of lobbying experience, scaling expertise, and sharp strategic acumen is exactly what DFA needs to future-proof our members’ businesses.

Please join us in giving Pia a warm welcome.

Sincerely,
Jesper Brunhøj Jensen
Chairman of the Board Danish Farmers Abroad

Pia Hinz: Fresh Perspectives, Stronger Connections

Dear DFA Member,

I am thrilled and deeply honoured to join Danish Farmers Abroad (DFA) as your new Secretary General on December 1.
I bring decades of international executive leadership and network experience, but I also bring something even more critical: fresh eyes, unwavering determination, and a mission to amplify your voice and global impact.

My Core Belief: DFA's Strength is Your Openness
DFA's power lies in its members' willingness to openly share dilemmas, successes, and the "work in progress."

My role is to be your dedicated listener, connector, and diplomatic catalyst.
I am here to harness that collective intelligence and openness to drive better decisions and stronger businesses for you.

My Immediate Focus for High Impact
To achieve this high ambition, my immediate focus will be to:

Listen first: Understand your reality, priorities, and which DFA activities (EEG groups,
conferences, study trips, webinars) are most critical to your bottom line.
Maximize relevance: Sharpen our content to ensure all knowledge sharing is highly actionable
and supports your operational and strategic success.
Strengthen connections: Actively facilitate the right peer-to-peer and partner introductions,
making the network easier and more valuable to navigate.
Amplify our voice: Strengthen the visibility of your results and experiences towards key
policymakers and global stakeholders.

My Connection to Your Mission
I am personally passionate about working alongside people whose daily work is intrinsically connected to land, animals, and the future of our planet. As someone who loves being out in nature, I feel a deep connection to your mission. My personal drive is to future-proof and grow a sustainable
and economically resilient agriculture – together.
I need your input to perform at my best. I deeply hope that you will be present at our Winter Conference in Vienna – will you?
If not, I will be proactively reaching out for 1:1 conversations and look forward to meeting you at our other events, on your farms, and online. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to share your ideas, wishes, or concerns with me.

With passion and determination,

Pia Hinz
Secretary General Danish Farmers Abroad
📞 +45 30 51 41 43 | 📧 ph@danishfarmersabroad.dk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/piahinz/ (feel free to connect)

Leadership transition: Welcoming Pia Hinz as DFA’s new secretary general

Danish Farmers Abroad

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