She obtained her PhD in dairy technology and in 2017, together with fellow scientists/entrepreneurs, asked in a manifesto for more attention and money for science education.
Margrethe Jonkman, Chief Technology Officer at dairy company FrieslandCampina, will be the new chair of the Executive Board of VU Amsterdam as of 1 November.
Innovator of the year
In 2014, MT/Sprout named Jonkman ‘Innovator of the year’. At the time, Jonkman was still Director of Innovation Infant & Toddler Nutrition at CampinaFriesland, and was involved, among other things, in the development of the Breaker, a yoghurt-based snack in squeeze bags with different flavours.
In addition to her current role, Margrethe Jonkman currently serves as Chair of the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation Agri&Food, member of the Supervisory Board of the University Medical Center Groningen, and Chair of the Facilities Applied Research Committee.
“Interesting perspective”
“With her experience, competences and interest as Chief Technology Officer of a global cooperative company and her experiences as a supervisor within the academic world, she offers an interesting perspective on VU Amsterdam”, says Ron Teerlink, chairman of the VU Supervisory Board.
With her experience, competencies, and interests as Chief Technology Officer of a global cooperative enterprise and her experiences as a supervisor within the academic world, she offers an interesting perspective on the VU. Her dedication to themes such as sustainability, multidisciplinarity, and societal impact resonates with the values of the VU.”
Jonkman succeeds Mirjam van Praag, who is stepping down from the Executive Board after 5.5 years, to (partly) return to science. During her term of office, Van Praag placed a clear emphasis on stimulating start-ups and other entrepreneurship among students and scientists. It will become clear in the near future whether FrieslandCampina executive Margrethe Jonkman will continuethis policy.