Can you briefly introduce yourself?
“My name’s Sita Posthumus. After studying Agroecology and sustainable food systems at Wageningen University, I joined Aviko two years ago as Sustainability Officer Agro. I really enjoy working with growers on future-proof potato cultivation. I’ve also been involved in Young Board since May.”
What new experiences have you had with Young Board?
“The diversity in the positions and the people is great: we really complement each other. The other day, for example, we were discussing strategy. A topic I don’t deal with on a daily basis. I learned a lot. Through Young Board, I now sometimes join meetings that I wouldn’t normally attend.”
What makes participating in Young Board so valuable?
“Being able to put topics on the agenda through Young Board to stimulate change is super. What’s important is that there’s room for discussion within Young Board, so that everyone’s perspective is seen and heard. But as Young Board we only project one voice to management. We can be proud of how well this went during the quarterly sessions of this year.
At the same time, we need to stay realistic. For example, when it comes to sustainability, I obviously want it to go as fast as possible, but I know we can’t go from zero to 100 in one go. It’s one step at a time. Young Board plays an important role in the future-proofing of our cooperative. In a few years, our generation will be at the helm. We’ll then also still need perspective. That’s why it’s important to increase the visibility of Young Board. The younger generation has so many great ideas that we can bring to the boardroom.”
What’s on the agenda for young people?
“Young Board also looks to connect with the younger generation, to brainstorm about Cosun’s future. In collaboration with the Youth Council, for example, we organised a Cosun Young People Day in November for both young growers and young employees. They met to exchange ideas and to connect. And, of course, we enjoyed Friday afternoon drinks afterwards.”
