Our Team
Danie Beukman
Director
Danie Beukman is a strategic operator and former diplomat who has spent the last 18 years working across government, venture-backed startups, and global institutions—helping organizations navigate complexity, build influence, and execute under pressure.
He’s worked at the intersection of policy, innovation, and operations, advising Fortune 500s, founders, and governments on how to move when the usual playbooks no longer apply. Most recently, Danie served as COO and Chief of Staff at a venture-backed mobility startup, where he led national operations, fundraising, and regulatory launches. Prior to that, he was Head of Global Government Relations at Cruise, where he built the company’s international strategy for autonomous vehicle regulation and represented the firm at the United Nations, OECD, APEC, and the World Economic Forum.
Earlier in his career, Danie served as a New Zealand diplomat and trade negotiator. He led investment negotiations for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, participated in WTO sustainable development talks, and was part of the negotiating team for the landmark China–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. His postings included Washington, D.C., and Pretoria, where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission and managed commercial and political relationships across 13 African nations during New Zealand’s term on the UN Security Council.
Danie continues to advise on the future of mobility, disruptive technology governance, and public-private partnerships. He has spoken globally on innovation policy and regulatory strategy and has served as an advisor to the World Economic Forum and the US–New Zealand Council.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter and spends his time running, skiing, and finding any excuse to get in the water.