Ir. Henny Kimmels

How Henny Kimmels earned the title of “member of merit”.

'I am motivated by the KNCV. The motto “molecules, people, opinions” suits me well. And when I participate in something, I want to participate well,' is how Henny Kimmels summarises his attitude. Last month, he stepped down from the KNCV Board, which immediately appointed him as a member of merit. And with good reason, because without his efforts, the KNCV would look very different today.

Kimmels graduated in Delft and then worked at Shell for 32 years. He started in research but ended up in human resources. ‘Somewhere in my file it says: “has an above-average interest in people.” I mainly did career planning and development, combining my knowledge of people with my knowledge of the opportunities within Shell.’

ASSOCIATION LIFE
In 1999, Kimmels was able to take early retirement on good terms, giving him more time for association life. ‘First of all, for the Dutch Process Technologists. Then I joined the KNCV as a dean, as career coaches were still called at the time. I was one of the founders of Carrière Magazine and sometimes asked critical questions in the members' council. And then someone asked, “Would you like to join the board?”’ It became the Internal Relations position. ‘At first, I was just a board member. I discussed issues such as Debye, education, the image of chemistry, C2W. But of course, you are mainly judged on your own portfolio.’

PILLARS
When Kimmel arrived, there were 27 sections and 7 circles. “We had regular consultations with the circles, but we had hardly any contact with some of the sections. Partly because I wanted that, the policy plan stated that the sections are the pillars of the KNCV. So I talked to all 27 of them. Since then, a few have been dissolved or merged. Some left the KNCV because they no longer had much to do with chemistry. Now there are 16 sections left, plus 3 working groups and 1 new department, Jong KNCV (Young KNCV). But involvement in the association has become much stronger, partly thanks to the chairpersons' meetings."

As far as Kimmel is concerned, more members should participate so actively. ‘The KNCV is an association of, for and by volunteers. Don't ask what the KNCV can do for you, but what you can do for the KNCV. If you just pay your membership fee and read C2W, you're not having much fun.’

Source: C2W10, 16 May 2008