Goodbye gift Gerard Backx

Gerard Backx, former CEO, says goodbye to Royal HZPC Group. He would like to ask anyone who wants to give him a goodbye gift, for a donation to a fund that is close to his heart instead: the Paul Speijer Fund.

Give a goodbye gift to the Paul Speijer Fund

About the Paul Speijer Fund

The Paul Speijer Fund offers talented students from low-income countries in Africa the opportunity to pursue an MSc degree in Plant Sciences at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). They then take the knowledge they gained back to their local communities, where they can make a difference as knowledge leaders for African food institutions, farmers and the food supply.

Gerard and Paul Speijer

Gerard and Paul Speijer were scientific friends until Paul’s airplane had a dramatic crash in Western Africa. Paul lost his life in this event and a scientific career suddenly ended. As Paul was dedicated to the development of plant science in local African institutes, his wife Nicole started a named fund within the University Fund Wageningen to pursue his goal.

Gerard Backx: ‘Like Paul and Nicole, I really endorse the development of powerful and independent African plant institutes. Any donation for this cause will be most welcome; All donations will go towards the Paul Speijer Fund, providing scholarships for promising students from lower income countries in Africa, so that they can pursue a Master’s degree in Plant Sciences at WUR.’