New directors for Botanic Gardens
Starting on 16 August, Fenna Hanraets - van Charldorp and Edwin Pos will begin working in their new posts as the directors of the Utrecht University Botanic Gardens. In this dual-directorship, Edwin will act as the Scientific Director, with a primary focus on education and research, and Fenna will serve as the Operational Director, with a focus on finance, marketing, HR and housing. Their ambition is to continue to build the Botanic Gardens into the dynamic heart of Utrecht Science Park, and to reinforce the gardens’ knowledge and museum functions.
Together, Edwin and Fenna will be responsible for the day-to-day affairs, the development, implementation and evaluation of the strategy, and the gardens’ policy. They will also direct the Botanic Gardens’ function as a museum and the management of its collection. Edwin and Fenna will represent the gardens within the university, nationally and internationally and work to enhance its reputation. Naturally, the focus will be on the Botanic Gardens’ beautiful collections.
Edwin Pos has been attached to the Botanic Gardens at Utrecht University since he began his studies at Utrecht University. His research as Assistant Professor in the Ecology & Biodiversity group primarily focuses on understanding how biodiversity is created and maintained. His own field of interest is mainly in the tropical rainforests of the Amazon, where he has participated in several expeditions to collect data, but also teached courses on tropical ecology. In addition to his research, he also teaches about evolution, ecology and plant diversity, and is the Chairman of the Biology Department’s educational advisory committee and coordinator of the Evolutionary Biology study programme.”
After finishing her studies in International Business at the University of Maastricht, Fenna Hanraets - van Charldorp worked for organisations such as the children’s rights foundation Save the Children in The Hague, the University of Western Australia in Perth, and in Singapore. She is currently filling the position of the Director of the Utrecht University Fund, and I’m Head of Relations Management at UU. In addition to being an active fundraiser, she also serves as a member of the board of the Faculty Club.
We wish to give both directors a heartfelt welcome, and look forward to working together with Fenna and Edwin as members of the Botanic Gardens team!