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A first acquaintance with Sjoukje Heimovaara
She is currently director of Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group (AFSG) at WUR but will start July 1 as the new board chair. Resource spoke to her about climate, business and course, among other things.
As usual, the grapevine has occasionally buzzed with names of possible new WUR presidents. But not – at least, to our knowledge, this one: Sjoukje Heimovaara. With this alumna, WUR says it has picked someone with ‘a clear vision, an open mind and a capacity to connect people.’ Heimovaara will start her new job on 1 July. She won’t discuss all the various dossiers until then. But we do get to meet her in Impulse, the prospective new president who is known as a people person, but also as direct, open and rational.’
She kicks off by saying that it is very clear that WUR could take even more responsibility than it does for making the world more sustainable. ‘When you look at what we’ve got to do on the planet: make food systems sustainable, organize things sustainably nationally and internationally, improve the climate. These are major themes and WUR is in a unique position, which we can occupy with even more depth and breadth. I think we must make ourselves heard louder and clearer – within our mandate, of course. Because we are a research and educational institution. We offer facts and a direction to go in, and thereby possible solutions.’
Heimovaara tells much more about her passion, motives and choices in the interview with Resource, the independent news medium of WUR:
