Cecile Huber at one of her favourite haunts: IJmuiden harbour. Photo: Guy Ackermans. They are indispensable on campus: cleaners, caretakers, caterers, gardeners, receptionists – the list is long. Resource seeks out these key people. This time meet Cecile Huber (59), an administrator at Wageningen Marine Research in IJmuiden.
‘Last February it was my 40th anniversary as an employee at Wageningen Marine Research (WMR). I worked in the library for the first 30 years. When the library was moved to Wageningen, it was quite a shock since I don’t cope with change very well.
I ended up at the library because I couldn’t find a job as a secretary, the job I had trained for. Now I do post and archiving, and I handle billing and ordering. I archive WMR’s reports and our employees’ scientific publications, presentations and interviews. I also do the ordering of research material such as small technical equipment and large apparatus, or of services such as repairs to fishing nets. Billing wasn’t actually my thing – I’m not really the numbers type – but I grew into it and I like it now. I’ve got a variety of tasks and that suits me.
There are fixed procedures for ordering products and paying bills. I am strict about following those because otherwise it just creates more work for me. I did a course at WMR on giving feedback, and now I have a better idea how to discuss issues. So I don’t let things build up until they come out in an angry outburst. Together we can figure things out.
I want to celebrate my anniversary face-to-face, with coffee and cake
I have experienced three external reviews when the institute’s scientific research was evaluated. I enjoy these reviews because you see how much is published and cited, and how well the institute is doing.
Before the coronavirus outbreak we used to have a lot of nice receptions with music and dancing. Dancing has always been my hobby – I used to want to be a ballet dancer. Nowadays I just dance with the help of YouTube. At first doing everything digitally took a bit of getting used to, because I had never worked at home. Now I plan my own coffee breaks and sign up for online workshops run by WUR. I will keep going with this work for a while longer because I like it so much. I’d like to celebrate my anniversary face-to-face with everyone one day, with coffee and cake. Celebrating it online is just not as nice.’
