News
Petra Caessens Appointed as Director of Operations of the Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group
The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has appointed Dr Ir. Petra Caessens as Director of Operations of the Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group (AFSG), effective from 1 May 2025. She currently holds the same position within the Plant Sciences Group (PSG) and is thus making a transition to the knowledge unit that aligns with her academic background.
Prof. Dr Richard Harrison, General Director of the Plant Sciences Group, regrets seeing Caessens leave: "Over the past years, Petra has played a crucial role in strengthening our operations and fostering collaboration within our group. We will miss her, but I am confident that she will be just as successful at AFSG."
Perfect candidate
Dr Ir. Gerda Feunekes, General Director of the Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group, shares this confidence: "We are delighted to welcome Petra to our team. Her academic expertise, background in our field, and experience in the private sector make her the perfect candidate for this role. We look forward to working with her and benefiting from the new insights she will bring."
Bittersweet
Caessens herself is, of course, looking forward to starting her new role: "I am really excited. At the same time, it is bittersweet to leave PSG; I will miss the culture and the people. I am proud of what we have achieved together." One of the achievements she looks back on with pride is securing investments in various (research) facilities around Unifarm, Radix, and in Bleiswijk and Lelystad. "These are complex processes that can only be accomplished together. I have high hopes of finding the same team spirit at AFSG."
Petra Caessens studied Food Technology in Wageningen and obtained her PhD in Food Chemistry. She then spent approximately ten years working in the private sector. She began her career at WUR in 2010 as Manager of Shared Research Facilities / Campus Development. In 2019, she took on her current role. Her appointment as Director of Operations of AFSG takes effect on 1 May 2025, with her first working day in the new role set for Tuesday, 6 May 2025.
The Executive Board wishes Petra every success in her new position and looks forward to the positive impact she will continue to have on the organisation.