Aydan Holtrigter, MA, MBA

Aydan Holtrigter, MA, MBA, Research Centre Manager, holds two Master of Arts degrees: one in International Relations and Diplomacy from Baku State University (Azerbaijan) and another in International Security Studies from the University of Bergamo (Italy). She also earned an MBA with distinction from Wittenborg.

With nearly five years' experience in the major events industry, Aydan developed strong skills in communication, stakeholder engagement and team management. She began her career in the international relations department of the Baku Old City Administration (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which led to key roles in large-scale events, such as the 2015 European Games and the 2016 Islamic Solidarity Games, where she served as a venue general manager. In these roles she coordinated multidisciplinary teams, oversaw venue operations, delivered training programmes and acted as the primary liaison with external stakeholders.

As an Operational Readiness Consultant, Aydan supported major international events — including Expo 2020 Dubai and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics — by planning and delivering readiness activities such as train-the-trainer sessions, tabletop exercises and simulations.

Since January 2021, Aydan has been with Wittenborg, initially as EU Project Coordinator and now as Research Centre Manager. She leads international academic collaborations, manages research grants and projects and oversees Wittenborg's Erasmus office.

Aydan is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP).