On 20 March, Professor Carry Renders delivered her inaugural lecture at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, outlining her vision for building a healthier society. She emphasized that health should not depend on luck, income, or postcode, and argued for an integrated approach that strengthens families, schools, and neighborhoods.
In her lecture “Koers naar een gezonde samenleving: betrokkenheid, verbinding en flexibiliteit”, Professor Renders highlighted how issues such as overweight and health inequalities arise from a complex interplay of environment, social norms, policy, and economic incentives. Because these factors reinforce one another, she advocates for integrated collaboration across sectors and levels to create conditions that make healthy living easier and more accessible.
Renders’ approach is anchored in three principles: engagement, connection, and flexibility. She focuses on strengthening healthy environments around families, schools, and neighborhoods; building community capacity and health literacy; and continuously learning and adjusting through research. While she examines health and behavioral outcomes, she places particular emphasis on understanding change processes—what works, for whom, and why and on ensuring that interventions reinforce each other and remain sustainable over time.