Positive impact on society

"My name is Gerda Brilleman-Brondijk, I am 51, married to Joost and parent of two amazing sons, Jasper (nearly 18) and Wiebe (16). Helping my fellow human beings and society was instilled in me at an early age. As a youth member of the church, I joined a music club, accompanied a children's choir and occasionally played the organ during (youth) church services.

Volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact on society. In 2000, we moved to Gieten, where I was on the board of Dorpsbelangen Gieten e/o for nine years. We developed a lot of interesting initiatives, for example, a group of volunteers trained as millwrights and got the Hazewind corn mill running again. And as used to be the tradition in agricultural areas, the church bell now rings for a quarter of an hour on Saturday afternoons, to announce the day of rest on Sunday. We also introduced reflective house numbers for the outlying area, organised the Easter fire with the Boermarken (farmer collectives), and designed a village flag. For over ten years, I was also a member of the parents' council of our son's primary school and I was the youth clothing coordinator for the Gieten football club for another seven years.

Since 2009, I have been a technical ‘role model’ for VHTO, the national expertise organisation on girls/women and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This organisation aims to introduce girls in senior general secondary education (HAVO) and pre-university education (VWO) to scientific and technical study programmes at universities and institutes of higher professional education.

Wageningen Regiokringcommissie Noord

Since 2016, I have also been a member of the Board of the Wageningen Regiokringcommissie Noord. Twice a year, this regional committee organises networking events for Wageningen graduates living in the north of the Netherlands. It is great to see everyone enjoying themselves during these events and knowing that all the preparations are worth it. I love organising and it is really nice that I can do that with topics related to Wageningen as well.

I recommend volunteering for the Regiokring to other alumni. You meet people with broad social interests combined with a Wageningen dimension. You also gain valuable knowledge and inspiration, while expanding your network.

One of the things I remember most is when we organised a networking event at Groningen Airport Eelde in 2017. By chance, I read an article mentioning the name of former Director Marco van der Kreeke, and that he had studied in Wageningen. As the Regiokringcommissie Noord, we were interested in his background and started looking for a suitable Wageningen theme that we could link with the airport. The theme we came up with was: ‘How sustainable can the Gateway of the North become?’.

Studying in Wageningen

During my higher professional education at the Van Hall Institute in Groningen, I wanted to do a scientific internship as well as an internship at a consultancy firm. My lecturer, Peter Hofman, had valuable connections at Wageningen University & Research, which enabled me to do an internship in the Department of Microbiology. While interning there, I did research on the aerobic degradation pathway of the herbicide trichloroacetic acid. Moreover, it was a good opportunity to taste the atmosphere in Wageningen and decide whether I wanted to continue studying after graduating. The result was clear: I decided to go on for a two-year university degree (master's)!

The two-year master’s programme turned out to be a perfect fit for me. I was able to change my Saturday job at the PTT from Hoogezand to Wageningen, and I experienced what the weekends were like in Wageningen. Sadly, my mother died suddenly in the late 1990s, which had a huge impact on me. I tried to suppress my grief and focus on my graduation. My thesis supervisors were very supportive and understanding and advised me to take a break. Their advice and support really helped me. That time still reminds me that it is okay to take time for grief and recovery and that personal health should always come first.

Career and hobbies

Since graduating in 2000 (T32 Environmental Sciences, specialisation soil ecotoxicology), I have continued working in the same field. After my studies, I have held various positions at engineering and consultancy firms like Oranjewoud (Antea Group), Grontmij (Sweco) and Arcadis, focusing on water, soil and in-water bottom surveys and remediation. Through the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands, where I had a job as soil secretary, I spent 11 years working for the province of Drenthe as a policy staff member on groundwater protection for drinking water extraction.

However, I missed the technical aspect of my work; Waterbedrijf Groningen could offer this. In September 2018, I joined its Strategy and Research Department as a strategic advisor. My work there involves ensuring the continuity of the present and future drinking water supply for the residents of the province of Groningen.

I also work for VEI as a short-term expert in Zimbabwe, developing climate-resilient drinking water supply plans for the municipal councils of Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare.

In my spare time, I hike, swim and do aerobics. My other hobbies include reading, playing the piano, cooking and gardening. And when I can share these hobbies with friends and family, it is even more enjoyable.

Proud of the WUR DNA

My decision to study Environmental Sciences was influenced by the book ‘Silent Spring‘, written by biologist Rachel Carson in 1962. Unfortunately, the book is still relevant today. Studying Environmental Sciences in Wageningen was the very best choice for me because I feel that Wageningen provides its students with a broad social education. Dynamic interaction between people, society and the environment characterises WUR."