Photo WUR Sjoukje Heimovaara succeeds Louise Fresco as president of WUR’s executive board. WUR alumnus Heimovaara was general director of the Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group (AFSG).
Sjoukje Heimovaara (1965) was born in Friesland but has a Finnish surname as she is married to a Delft professor from Finland. She studied Plant Breeding at Wageningen and obtained a doctorate in Leiden. She then worked at TNO for 14 years and the plant breeding company Royal Van Zanten for 17 years, most of which in the capacity of director of R&D (Research & Development). According to insiders, she is very loyal to her employer. She knows the world of plants and research well, and got to know the domain of food and nutrition over her last two years as general director of AFSG. Heimovaara will succeed president of the board Louise O. Fresco, who will step down after eight years at WUR on 1 July.
Difference of opinion
The newly appointed president of WUR is very ‘open, upfront and rational.’ Heimovaara left Royal Van Zanten three years ago following a ‘difference of opinion’ with the investment company that had taken over the business. This shows that she knows what she wants, and is not afraid to step down. She attaches great importance to knowledge and research. Thus, over the past years, she sat on various NWO (Dutch Research Council) committees, as well as VNO/NCW and Plantum, the overarching organisation of plant breeders.
Profile
For six years now, she is also a member of the AWTI, the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. Three years ago, an AWTI committee she headed advised the government on university education. At the time, she concluded that the similarities between universities and university colleges were increasing as a result of government funding. ‘Everyone is chasing the same carrot’. She advised the government to introduce profile funding, so that universities and university colleges would differentiate and collaborate more. We will make this more visible.’
