Marcel P.L. Vergeer, 38, began his career as a teacher of geography. He joined the Youth Department of the Netherlands Red Cross in 1978, and four years later was transferred to the National Society's Affairs Department to take up the post of editor of the internal magazine published for the Society's 35,000 volunteers. Meanwhile he gained certificates in practical public relations skills and studied mass communication theory at the Rijksuniversiteit of Utrecht. In 1987 he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Rode Kruis Koerier and press officer for international affairs. Since then he has been actively involved in major radio and television campaigns to raise funds for the victims of drought in Africa (1987/88), flooding in Sudan and Bangladesh (1988), the earthquake in Armenia (1988) and, most recently, the events in Romania.