Dr. Gertje Petersen

Gertje is an applied scientist with a strong sense of purpose, and a desire to create positive impacts in apiculture and agriculture. After working as a consultant to the New Zealand beekeeping industry for a decade, she returned to her home country of Germany as Director of the State Institute for Apiculture in Celle in 2023.As a trained veterinarian and geneticist, Gertje continues to have a focus on the application of genetic improvement strategies for honeybees, while also running a mid-scale beekeeping operation, a honey quality control and honeybee diagnostics lab, and the only professional school for beekeeping apprentices in Germany. She offers expert consultancy services, training and advice on best practice and is an avid connector to other expertise in the industry. She values building relationships with clients based on empathy and respect. Originally from a sheep and beef stud in northern Germany, she holds a German veterinary degree and a genetics PhD from the University of Otago, New Zealand.