18 Facts About Gerda Verburg

Gerritje "Gerda" Verburg was born on 19 August 1957 and is a Dutch politician and diplomat of the Christian Democratic Appeal party and trade union leader.

From 2011 until 2016, Verburg served as Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations organizations for Food and Agriculture in Rome succeeding former CDA politician Agnes van Ardenne.

Gerda Verburg served as Minister of Agriculture in the fourth Balkenende cabinet from 2007 to 2010.

Gerda Verburg began to work for Christian Rural Youth as general-secretary.

Between 1997 and 1998 Gerda Verburg worked as a businesswoman in communication and projects.

Gerda Verburg has been a member of the Social and Economic Council and the Labour Foundation.

Gerda Verburg has served on the executive committee of the European Trade Union Confederation, and on the boards of the Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation, the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation and Stichting Geuzenverzet.

In Dutch general election of 1998, Gerda Verburg was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives for the Christian Democratic Appeal.

Gerda Verburg was one of the few Christian Democratic Appeal members who voted in favour of the legalisation of same-sex marriages.

In 2003 Gerda Verburg was candidate for President for the House of Representatives, but she was defeated by People's Party for Freedom and Democracy candidate Frans Weisglas.

Gerda Verburg was from 2003 Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Party in House of Representatives.

Gerda Verburg was the chair of the Christian Democratic Appeal commission on social affairs.

From 22 February 2007 until 14 October 2010 Gerda Verburg was Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the Cabinet Balkenende IV, and the first openly lesbian Minister of Christian Democratic signature in a Dutch Cabinet.

From 1 July 2011, Gerda Verburg served as the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations organizations for Food and Agriculture in Rome succeeding former CDA politician Agnes van Ardenne.

In 2014, Gerda Verburg was appointed Chair of the Global Agenda Council for Food and Nutrition Security of the World Economic Forum.

In March 2016, Gerda Verburg was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, an office she held until 2022.

In 2020, Gerda Verburg was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to serve on the Advisory Committee for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, chaired by Inger Andersen.

Gerda Verburg is openly lesbian and lives with her partner Willy Westerlaken in Woerden, whom she married in 2012.