Els van der Spek has been working at SMK since December 2024. As a project leader within the Plant-Based team, she works on the development of certification schemes, particularly On the Way to PlanetProof.

Els studied International Land and Water Management and Plant Sciences at Wageningen University, focusing in these studies on the sustainability of cultivation systems. During her studies, she gained fieldwork experience in Portugal and Uganda. After graduating, she worked as a product manager at Eurofins Agro, where she gained experience in soil, cultivation, and fertilization.

At SMK, Els sees an opportunity to contribute to more sustainable plant cultivation in the Netherlands and abroad, ensuring space for people, a healthy ecosystem, and nature.