Showcasing opportunities for young professionals
Activating youth and making sure their voices are heard. Anne Terhorst is committed to these goals on various fronts. For example, she contributed to the creation of Young IFFI while working for IFFI. Now, her focus has shifted to setting up the IFFI Carousel. “I’m hoping for lots of enthusiasm from IFFI members. Together, we can ensure that more young people choose the ingredients industry by showing them the opportunities the sector has to offer!”
Terhorst has a background in food. “I completed the master’s in Health Food Innovation Management at Maastricht University, after earning a bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics at the HAN University of Applied Sciences. During the first years of my career I focused primarily on creating an ecosystem that enables innovation and encourage cooperate between stakeholders in the food domain. How can you match for instance a certain sidestream with the right processing technology and partners to turn it into an attracting product with a business case.”
Voice of the younger generation
After her studies, she joined a leadership program for young professionals, which also explored how to amplify the voice of the younger generation and how they can help shape the future. “That’s why I found the ingredients industry’s goal of creating a youth platform so appealing. In other sectors, such advocacy groups have existed for a long time, but the food industry is lagging a bit in that regard—I experienced that myself during my studies and as a young professional. Yet it’s so valuable for young people to have a space where they can connect and focus on personal growth.”
Valuable insights
Giving more attention to young voices could also bring valuable new insights to the ingredients industry. “The perspective of a young professional or student is different from that of a senior employee—if only because they haven’t been part of ‘the system’ for as long. That means they can look at companies and processes with a fresh perspective, without defaulting to ‘this is just how we’ve always done it.’ But that learning process goes both ways—I believe in the power of co-creation.”
Young IFFI events
In recent months, she has helped establish Young IFFI: the platform for and by young professionals in the ingredients industry. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and professionalism of the young professionals on the board and committee. In a short time, they’ve managed to organize a compelling event, which took place on March 26.” Three more events are scheduled this year, all organized by the young professionals themselves. Personal development, knowledge exchange, and networking are key components of these gatherings.
Bridging the gap
Now that the board and events are in place, it’s time to focus on the IFFI Carousel. The carousel facilitates the sharing of internships, thesis projects, and other activities. “Through this, I hope to bring students and companies closer together. There’s still a lot to gain in this area. By showcasing what the ingredients industry has to offer, we want to attract students to our sector. This is crucial: at many companies, the average age is above forty. We need new talent. Currently, less students enrol in food related studies. By engaging more with students and collaborating with educational institutions, we can not only better highlight what we have to offer but also gain a better understanding of the needs of younger generations.”
Career days
In the coming period, Terhorst will continue working on launching the IFFI Carousel. “In May, we’ll participate in two career days in Wageningen and Leeuwarden. We’re hoping for representation from various companies. One advantage for companies is that they can now choose to attend for just a part of the day instead of committing to a full day. For students, it’s a chance to see the diversity of the sector. They benefit by getting to know multiple companies in one day.”
Connect
Terhorst hopes companies will collaborate in this area rather than seeing each other as competitors. “Ultimately, the goal is to attract and retain more students and young professionals for the entire sector.” She would love to connect with member companies. “On one hand, I’m inviting companies to participate and commit to the IFFI Carousel. On the other hand, I’d also like to understand what companies need. So please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to connect!”
You can contact Anne Terhorst at anne@iffi.nu.
Anne Terhorst
Program Manager Young IFFI