EXPERT SPEAKERS AND COMPANY VISITS…

Given the relatively heavy program of this March seminar, we opted for relaxed company visits.

Last week, a visit to TEFAF, The European Fine Art Fair, held at the MECC in Maastricht, was scheduled. Expert speaker Prof. Dr. Rachel Pownall, Professor of Arts & Finance at Maastricht University School of Business and Economics and Director of the Executive Master in Cultural Leadership (EMCL), a joint program with the Royal Academy of Arts in London, delivered a presentation as an introduction to the fair visit. Interesting but also fun details and information that greatly enhanced the visit were shared. Even if not everyone loves paintings, antiques, tribal/modern or ancient art, design or La haute Joaillerie, you are amazed by the beautiful fair set-up, with unique floral works and a very interesting crowd of people.

Expert speaker Loek Radix, Chemelot Executive Director, with an impressive career as DSM Corporate Controller and several interim director positions, shared very wise lessons on the role of a business controller with the students. A good picture was formed of the complexity of the Chemelot campus, today’s challenges regarding circularity and stakeholder management issues. Thanks for this interesting session!

This week, after an intensive day on IFRS and cases, discussed by Prof. Dr. Peter Sampers RA, we left by bus to visit Vineyard Apostelhoeve in Maastricht. At one of Limburg’s most beautiful spots on top of the Louwberg, enthrones Limburg’s oldest and one of the largest wine estates in the Netherlands. Other knowledge was gathered during a tour along the vines and around the farm. The Apostelhoeve wine estate currently consists of 20 hectares, where five different grape varieties are planted: Müller-Thurgau, Auxerrois, Riesling, Pinot Gris and, since 2020, Viognier. These produce beautiful, dry, white wines and a selection of these obviously had to be tasted and judged! 🙂