From rowing umpire to parliament

Long serving FISA commission member Helma Nepperus has been elected into the Dutch parliament. Nepperus has spent her working life as a civil servant and moved into politics in 1998.

Nepperus joined FISA’s women’s commission in 1986 and stayed with it until it came to an end in 1996. She then became part of the umpiring commission until her resignation in 2005.

Rowing began for Nepperus as a student and continued through to the international level when she rowed on the Dutch national team. She remained in the sport after retiring from competition as an umpire and has since umpired at the Junior and World Rowing Championships as well as the Olympic Games.

Last year, when Nepperus decided to dedicate more time to politics, she resigned from her position as a member of the FISA umpiring commission but her involvement in rowing continues. This weekend Nepperus will take time away from parliament to be chief umpire at the Euro Open indoor rowing competition in Amsterdam, 16 December.

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