Research focus: strengthening the (inter)national position of education and research, One Health

Anton Pijpers (1958) was President of the Executive Board of Utrecht University from 1 October 2017 to 1 November 2025. After he studied Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University, he worked as a veterinarian. He also obtained his doctoral degree at Utrecht University and was appointed as Professor in 1993.

Between 2000 and 2009, Anton Pijpers left the university and worked as the managing director of Royal GD. In 2009, he returned to the university as Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In 2014, he was appointed as Vice-President of the Executive Board. He also played a major role in the establishment of the Netherlands Centre for One Health.

As a bridge builder, he enjoyed working with deans, students and staff on both a strong regional network and the international reputation of the university. In addition, he holds various (unremunerated) ancillary positions. For example, he is a member of the management group Top Sector Life Sciences & Health.

Major issues for the future that Anton Pijpers focused on as President of the Executive Board included: 

• Creating connections between Dutch universities
• International and regional collaborations
• Funding models of the university for academic education and research
• Encouraging personal encounters at the university in an age of digitalisation

Fields of interest: 

• Promoting strategic collaborations for Animal Health Monitoring
• Strong profiling of education and research
• One Health
• Animal Health Monitoring
• Sustainable housing

Photographer profile picture: Arnaud Mooij