Career
Higher degree in theology (1984)
NIMA (Netherlands Marketing Institute) A and B diplomas
Lecturer in Life Philosophy (1984)
Foreign Affairs Secretary, Netherlands Mission Council (1984–1988)
Study secretary, VKMO (Association of Catholic Social Organisations) (1988–1999)
Chairwoman, Nijmegen Capital Development Authority
Chairwoman, European Forum of National Committees of the Laity (1996–2000)
Chairwoman, Netherlands Episcopal Committee for the year 2000 (1996–2000)
Commissioner for recreation in the Veluwe area (RGV).
Membership
She is a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal. Since 2011 she has been a member of the Dutch Senate. From 1999 to 2009 she was a Member of the European Parliament.
There she was a member of the bureau of the EPP-Education group in the European Parliament, and sat on the European Parliament"s Committee on Development.
She is also a substitute for the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and a member of the delegation to the American College of Physicians-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly. Member of the party council
Member of the editorial team of Civil Defense Verkenningen
Member of the governing board of the Catholic Theological University, Utrecht (since 1998)
Member of the executive board of the World Population Fund (WPF)
Member of the European Parliament (since 1999).