Core Position: Programme Coordination
„What impresses me is the systemic approach that Hans Herren fights for. The people are called on not simply to eliminate pests, but also to consider and accommodate possible effects and interdependencies.“
It is thanks to a geography teacher of the Grammar School Zurich Enge that Verena Albertin’s interest in the earth’s system was awakened. The understanding of the world as a system in which everything is interdependent is still important for the scientist’s work today. After completing her degree in Earth Sciences at ETH Zurich, Verena Albertin took part in an expedition to the Andes. And there, at about 5000 metres up, she instantly realised that she no longer wished to deal only with rock, but also with people and their environment. Five years later she not only had a ‚Master of Education in Geography’ under her belt, but also a Master in Development Cooperation (NADEL/Postgraduate Studies on Developing Countries). In addition she has at her command professional experience in various spheres: teaching work in grammar schools was followed by a nine-month project assignment in Gujarat/India and various other assignments in the field of education and development. From 2003 the education specialist worked for a large Swiss NGO as project leader in Somaliland (Northwest Somalia), and was then in Nairobi until 2005, co-ordinating education projects in Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Somaliland. „In order to make a meaningful contribution to sustainable development, it is important to experience the reality of the local people on site and to decide together with them which support would be the most effective.“
Back in Switzerland, Albertin came upon a job advertisement from Biovision Foundation. „What first came to me was that my grandfather had collected insects - and that we as people have a particular relationship with insects. This special focus, combined with my interest in education and development makes my work very rich and exciting.“ Verena Albertin spends her free time with family, on the theatre stage, at the pool table or on the climbing wall. If she fancies some exercise for the brain she devises a crossword puzzle - not surprising considering her interest in systems.
