Four decades of dedication earn Anette Hvitfeldt Hvid SDU's TAP Award

When Anette Hvitfeldt Hvid began her career as an office trainee at Odense Technical College in January 1984, the institution looked very different from the Faculty of Engineering we know today. Almost 43 years later, she is still here.

Along the way, she has witnessed the transformation from an independent engineering college into part of a modern university. Through organisational changes, new educational programmes and generations of colleagues, she has remained a trusted and valued presence.

At SDU's Annual Celebration, her contribution was recognised when she received the university's 2026 TAP Award, which honours outstanding technical and administrative staff.

– A great deal has changed since I started in 1984. Back then, it was a much smaller and more manageable institution. Following the merger with SDU, we became part of a much larger organisation, and both my workplace and my responsibilities have developed considerably, says Anette Hvitfeldt Hvid, secretary at the Department of Technology and Innovation.

The people make the difference

For Anette, the secret to staying at the same workplace for more than four decades is not simply a matter of habit.

– What has kept me here is the wide variety of interesting tasks, the opportunity to develop professionally and all the different people I have met over the years. SDU is a challenging but also an inclusive workplace, where there is room for different people and different ways of contributing.

Throughout her career, Anette has played an important role in supporting educational activities and ensuring that administrative processes run smoothly. Her extensive knowledge of the organisation has made her a valued colleague and a trusted administrative partner for both colleagues and management. But according to the award citation, her contribution goes far beyond administrative expertise.

Anette is praised for her helpfulness, professionalism and ability to make colleagues feel heard and valued. Even in a busy working day, she gives people her full attention, making them feel that their concerns are her priority.

Recognition from colleagues means the most

The TAP Award is not the first recognition of Anette's extraordinary service. In 2024, she was awarded the King's Medal of Merit for her many years of dedicated work.

She has also received the Faculty of Engineering's own TAP Award. But being recognised by her colleagues is what makes the awards particularly meaningful.

– Receiving first the Faculty's TAP Award and now SDU's TAP Award has meant a great deal to me. What makes the recognition particularly special is knowing that my colleagues chose to nominate me.

– It is an enormous pat on the back to know that your efforts are seen and appreciated, and that you are making a difference. It makes me happy, proud and grateful. These awards are special highlights of my working life that I can look back on when everyday life gets a little challenging.

After almost 43 years, Anette remains an example of the dedication and continuity that help keep a university running – and of the difference one colleague can make to the people around them.