This evening, Guus Roeselers of TNO, from the experts category, was declared overall winner. Other winners were Martine Bredewold of Tata Steel (advisors category) and Peter Kindt of ING (managers category). The campaign prize was won by Frank van Wessel of Delta Lloyd.

Read more on the results here on NUzakelijk.

Thanks to all who have voted and to all who have supported the campaign! The ballot box on NUzakelijk has been closed today. Thursday June 7th at 9 PM the results will be revealed on the Ocean Diva in Amsterdam! Follow @DSMNederland on Twitter to read the outcomes as soon as these are known!

On May 24th I started the DSM The Netherlands site tour, in which I have visited 9 locations so far. It was a successful tour, thanks to the support of site directors, colleagues that helped at the gate or at the restaurant, and last but no least thanks to the beautiful weather. The tour enabled me to explain who I am, why I am participating in this competition, and why a vote for me is a good choice. In the meantime, the campaign also continued elsewhere. On a local level, by visiting my neighbours in Haarlem, giving a guest lecture for 3rd grade high school students of the Christian Lyceum in Delft, and by hosting a workshop for students of Technology, Policy and Management at the Technical University of Delft. On a national level thanks to campaign supporters such as Continu, Greenwheels and the Dutch Royal Institute of Engineers KIVI NIRIA. And last but not least, internationally via e-mail and social media. Today it is the last campaign day, including 3 visits to DSM locations in Groningen, Zwolle and Emmen.

This week I have been visiting a large part of the DSM sites in The Netherlands. With an enormous stack of muffins and flyers for my colleagues I convince them to vote for me. On Wednesday I have visited Heerlen and Geleen, yesterday Sittard and Urmond and today Delft is on the schedule. Fun to do, because I directly meet everyone at the entrances of the site and in the company restaurants. Next week I will be visiting more DSM sites, including Waalwijk, Hoek van Holland, Rijswijk and Zwolle.

The Young Professional of the Year 2012 ballot box on NUzakelijk.nl opened April 30th on 9 AM. After Queensday (April 30th) and Labour Day (May 1st), on May 2nd it was time for a “Vote for Edwin” campaign day. On that day we have launched this website, published about the campaign video on YouTube and distributed the first set of press releases. A number of articles has already been published (see ‘Media’). I concluded that first campaign day at DSM NEXT in Maastricht. The evening started with a discussion session with Synergo-VHP on the Collective Labour Agreement at DSM. Following that, I have presented the campaign video for the first time to DSM colleagues. Finally, Maarten van Maanen officially opened this website. It is time now to draw as many votes as possible before the ballot box closes again on June 5th on 9 AM!

The second case day took place at Nyenrode University in Breukelen. The stuffed program consisted, among other things, of a business case pitch, a House of Commons debate, a “prisoner’s dilemma” simulation and a sales pitch for a pretty unusual product.

Edwin Berends: “We had just 3 minutes to pitch the business case that we developed on the 1st case day to the jury. That is a very short time. Fortunately I had already learned how short this is during the internal election in February and during the ‘Meet the nominees’ session in March! There was also a number of assignments that were assessed. The one that I liked the most was a pitch to sell a humble pillow. ”

On March 14th the Meet the Nominees session took place at Logica in Amstelveen. On this day the 20 candidates presented themselves by giving a pitch to the jury. In addition, they got to know the other nominees, the jury, the ICA Board and the YPY committee.

Edwin Berends: “The core of the day was a personal presentation – in 3 minutes. With homemade cupcakes I could literally present my business card to the jury. I illustrated my pitch with a childhood photo and a Duplo building.”

After a tough Election Day in Delft on February 23, 2012, Edwin Berends (Manager Innovation Program Office at DSM Food Specialties) has been elected as DSM’s Young Professional of the Year 2012. The audience in the Auditorium of the Beijerincklab enjoyed concise pitches and enthusiastic presentations by six nominees from several business groups before a jury consisting of Manon Pernot (VP Talent Management), Michel de Lepper (Director Advanced Manufacturing), Marcel Wubbolts (CTO DIC) and Patrick Niels (BU Director DCR). The jury praised Edwin for involving his network in his campaign and his clear plans to positively highlight DSM as an employer and as an innovative company during the national campaign.

Edwin Berends: “I feel honored to participate in the national Young Professional of the Year competition on behalf of DSM. It is an excellent opportunity to show that DSM is an attractive employer, where we are fully committed to innovative products and services that enable a sustainable bio-based economy.”