4 minute read
ELS VANDENBERGHE: I LIKE VARIETY
ALUMNUS IN FOCUS
University or industry? In 2015, Els was faced with a choice. As a newly doctored researcher, she was familiar with academia. Industry, on the other hand, was unknown territory. Nevertheless, she took the plunge into limbo. A good decision, it turns out, because less than a decade later, Els is the plant manager of a B2B food company.
Since May 2023, Els has been the top woman at Taura in Olen (Belgium), a subsidiary of US multinational IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), an industry leader in food, beverage, health, and biosciences. “The name Taura may not tell you much, but our products are familiar to everyone,” says Els. “Taura’s fruit pieces and fruit paste can be found in chocolate bars, chocolates, pralines, snacks, cereals, cakes, confectionery and other treats. How many brands use our ingredients and fillings, I would not be able to say even approximately.”
Research
After secondary school, Els had big plans. She wanted to become a general in the Belgian army, attracted as she was by the varied nature of a military career and her eagerness to break into the men’s bastion of the army brass. However, training at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence turned out not to be for her, so Els changed tack and decided to study engineering at the then KH Kempen University College (now KU Leuven-Geel Campus). There she graduated in 2009 with a master’s degree in Food Science and Technology.
“During my studies, I did an internship at the Lab4Food and came into contact with applied scientific research on campus,” Els says. “Gradually, my interest in delving into a specific topic grew. At the MeBioS Division of KU Leuven’s Biosystems Department, I was able to start working as a doctoral researcher. For four years, I concentrated on the finite element modelling of the wire cutting of Gouda cheese. In itself very interesting and also useful, but I must confess that after my PhD I was quite relieved that it was behind me.”
Management
After an interlude as Food Technologist at the Analysis Centre for Food Research (LOVAP) in Geel, Els became Product Development Engineer at the food company Taura Natural Ingredients in 2017. She joins the R&D team and immediately feels like a fish in the water there. In less than two years, Els worked her way up to R&D manager leading a team of seven food technologists and lab technicians with a focus on new product development and innovation.
When Taura is acquired by IFF in 2021, Els’ career also moves into high gear. From R&D management, she evolves into Global Technical Leader of the Inclusions business unit. Both geographically and substantively, it means a significant expansion of her responsibilities. Specifically, Els becomes responsible for the Innovation, Creation & Design Department (ICD) in five plants in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The list of products also gets longer: not just more fruit pieces or paste but also Gelato ice cream and bubble tea. To gain more product knowledge, Els takes classes at the Gelato Master School.
Surroundings
For her daily activities, this promotion did have a big impact, says Els. “I was used to being in the middle of the staff. That personal contact was now largely lost. Added to that was the pandemic. During these years, I was never able to go to Brazil or New Zealand because there was a travel ban. Managing online is not directly my cup of tea.”
Since June 2023, Els has been functioning again in her familiar environment close to or among the employees. There are significantly more of them now than six years ago, because as plant manager, Els is now responsible for all operations in the company: from infrastructure, facilities, and quality assurance to supply chain, safety, and customer service. “Fortunately, I am very familiar with the production processes and know the 70 staff members and they know me. That enables me to focus on the many things I still need to learn. IFF does provide the necessary support through plant management training in the 110 plants worldwide. What struck me immediately was that I am one of very few women in a group of more than one hundred peers. Women in tech are rare but women entrepreneurs in tech are even more so.”
Guest professor
Els will have no lack of professional variety in the next few years. Moreover, she holds another trump card: a guest lectureship at Geel Campus. After her move to industry, Els continued to teach the course ‘Physicochemistry of Foodstuffs’, a ‘spicy’ 5-credit course required for all masters in Life Sciences. They can already consider themselves lucky. Being taught by a plant manager. What future engineer could wish for something better?
Yves Persoons
