InspiringWomenat WUR
Inspiring Women at WUR
Cover: Sculpture Take My Knowledge by Petra de Vree. Photograph by Petra de Vree.
This sculpture was commissioned by the Network for Wageningen University Women Alumni (Vrouwennetwerk Wageningse
Ingenieurs, VWI) as a gift to Wageningen UR. It stands in Impulse, building number 115 on campus.
Each layer of this strong talented woman's dress has a meaning. The deepest layer stands for earth and agriculture: it is the
University's foundation. In the second layer, literacy is the theme. The initials of the first woman professor at Wageningen
University are included here to represent the women who have followed, or will follow, in her footsteps. The spirals in
different skin tones stand for the international character of the University and refer to growth, progress and development.
The third layer is open: it is possible to see through the sculpture; an open attitude is needed in order to be able to make a
change. The uppermost part of the dress is full of information and refers to this woman's science. In her hand she offers a
piece of knowledge.
Introduction by Louise Fresco, President of the Executive Board of Wageningen UR
Profiles:Horst, Judith van der
Mommer, Liesje
Bai, Yuling
Soede, Nicoline
Hermans, Tia
Vet, Louise
Hemming, Silke
Blilou, Ikram
Stoof, Cathelijne
Barbosa, Maria
Bruggeman, Hedwig
Klaveren, Simone van
Stuiver, Marian
Pikkemaat, Maril
Forlenza, Maria
Molenaar, Esther
Kamperman, Marleen
Boois, Ingeborg de
Broek, Eva van den
Horsman, Karin
Greeff, Astrid de
Gupta, Aarti
Why this book?
Acknowledgements
Credits
Contents
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Introduction
Do we provide better education and management in
departments with a mix of men and women? Does the
quality of our research improve when we employ more
minority and women professors? In short, does diversity
significantly boost creativity and results? Many studies
point to one answer: yes.
Of course, diversity in sex and gender is not the only
important factor: diversity in terms of age, education,
culture, personality and experience also plays a big role.
And yet this book focuses specifically on women at
Wageningen University & Research Centre as women
are, even to this day, under-represented in leadership
positions.
The colleagues whose stories are included in this book
are wonderful examples: women who have impressive
achievements to their names and are a source of
strength for many. Day after day their knowledge and
effectiveness inspire and motivate the people around
them. A number of them hold challenging management
positions as well. This book gives them the platform that
they deserve, but do not necessarily seek for
themselves.
Role models and inspiring examples are invaluable.
These portraits highlight women who have made their
own choices, found their own way with or without
help and continued to push forward! One thing these
women all have in common is the courage to continually
raise the bar and get the very best out of themselves.
Now it's your turn!
Louise FrescoPresident of the Executive Board
Room for talent and growth
| 5
Judith van der Horst will soon be running her second marathon. She often cycles 60 kilometres to work, and she
gave birth to her three children in the space of three years. At Wageningen University & Research Centre she is
part of the FBR-MT, and as R&D manager she keeps more than 30 people busy. Both in and out of the office,
Judith enjoys a challenge.
Originally from Wageningen, Judith earned her PhD in Wageningen UR's Division of Human Nutrition. For the past 18 months,
having held various positions in the food industry, she has been a member of the Management Team and head of the
Consumer Science and Health Group within Food & Biobased Research a contract research organisation at Wageningen UR.
Though content with her last job in the food industry, Judith would nevertheless look regularly at the Wageningen UR website.
'Wageningen is dear to my heart. Although I wasn't looking to make a move, I saw this position and knew at once that it was
made for me. It combines everything I have done so far: managing and staying abreast of developments in a field that links
scientific research with industry.'
In her present position, Judith holds overall responsibility in all areas: not only for the work content but also for strategy; not
only for commercial performance but also for human resources. The scientific quality of her team is not a source of worry. She
has some very senior scientists and it is precisely her team members' wealth of scientific expertise that frees Judith from
being occupied with the day-to-day choices that arise in the course of their work. Where strategy is concerned, by contrast,
she sees many possibilities for her team. 'For a while the team was without an R&D manager, so it was lacking guidance. I
hear that people are now happy with the vision and direction we are pursuing. There's clarity about where we stand, for
example in terms of work in the pipeline and expertise development. There is more management and, above all, more focus:
acquisition pathways are now better managed by two newly hired employees dedicated to this. We are already noticing the
first revenues from this in our group. This year we hope to have our future workload managed even better.'
Judithvan der Horst
Wageningen is dear to my heart
6 |
| 7
Biography
Judith M. van der Horst-Graat is R&D manager of the
Consumer Science and Health Group within Food &
Biobased Research, a contract research organisation of
Wageningen UR.
Dr van der Horst-Graat studied Biological Health
Sciences at Maastricht University, specialising in
Nutrition. Her MSc was followed by a PhD in Human
Nutrition at Wageningen University; she won the 'NWO
Young Investigators Award' for her PhD thesis. After
earning her PhD, she worked for nearly 12 years in the
food industry. Her first job was at the R&D department of
a multinational chocolate confectionary company, first as
senior nutritionist and later as a project leader. She
continued her career at the R&D department of an infant
nutrition company. In this multinational, Dr van der
Horst led an international team of nutritionists, and later
became leader of a multidisciplinary science programme.
She has been a member of the Management Team of
Food & Biobased Research for the past 18 months, and
currently heads the Consumer Science and Health
Group. Dr van der Horst was appointed Theme Director
Food & Health for applied research by the TKI Top Sector
Agri & Food.
8 |
I really only grow when my team grows
Van d
er
Hors
t
Walk-in hours
Why did Judith decide to earn a PhD when she always
aspired to a management role? Rather than having a
scientific motive, she realised that all higher-ranked
managers within R&D organisations held a doctorate.
That is why she wanted a PhD, and the reason she does
not foresee any academic development for herself in the
future. Then, as now, she sees herself fulfilling only
management roles. That she is accessible and will use
unconventional methods to maintain her own
effectiveness goes without saying. 'A number of times a
week I have walk-in hours. Members of my group know
that at these times, instead of planning meetings, I am
available in my office and they can drop by for whatever
reason. It works superbly: sometimes only a few people
come along, but often there's a constant stream of
people.'
'As well as creating clarity about my availability, the
walk-in hours also ensure that my team members take
the initiative for cooperation and contact. In addition,
these hours offer me the opportunity to complete my
own work undisturbed during the rest of the day. Our
Management Team and my Consumer Science and
Health Group are great teams. As an MT member I
experience the unconditional support of my MT
colleagues. That is part of what makes my work as
R&D manager so enjoyable!'
Team player
Like strategy, both financial and commercial performance
are now in clear focus. Through 'learning by doing',
Judith has learned to keep the business afloat financially
too, relying on the people around her. For example, she
has a financial expert who can tell her the cash flow
situation, turnover, costs and margins to two decimal
places so that she can intervene whenever necessary.
This leads to perfect insight into the pipeline which,
although well filled, remains a recurring concern. The
team's sound financial health is due in part to this
ongoing attention. 'And besides, as Food & Biobased
Research MT mem
