What did you do before you came to WesselinkVanZijst?

From my academic background (law, environmental science, change management), my career has revolved around waste, recycling, and energy. Organizing collaboration is always central to this: providing direction, preparing decision-making, and ensuring that agreements are both feasible and lead to results. I first did this as a project manager at the Ministry of Environment.

Subsequently, I worked as the director of an industrial cooperation association for recycling, a joint waste management scheme for 19 municipalities and the trade association for energy companies during market liberalization and preparation for the energy transition. In all these roles, I worked at the intersection of policy, business, and society, and I regularly sat on management boards in The Hague and Brussels. As a project and process manager, I led an innovative procurement for the rail sector, which enables trains to run on green electricity from new wind farms.

What do you mainly focus on at WesselinkVanZijst?

At WesselinkVanZijst, I work on projects where collaboration with the environment makes the difference. I help clients clarify who is responsible when, which process suits the task, and how to organize environmental management so that it doesn't remain just a plan but also works in practice during execution.

In practice, this means that I provide strategic environmental advice on complex infrastructure projects and design and guide multi-stakeholder programs, from exploration to agreements and decision-making. I also handle process and project management in politically sensitive environments and help organizations with the practical implementation of environmental management and environmentally focused work.

What drives you in your work?

I find great satisfaction in connecting parties and creating progress, especially when political, public, time, or financial pressure is high. My contribution often lies in bringing structure: listening carefully, identifying interests clearly, making choices explicit, and guiding the conversation so that agreements are formed that are both feasible and sustainable.

What do you like to do most when you're not at work?

In my free time, I enjoy cycling on my road bike and gravel bike; being outdoors in nature on a scenic route helps me clear my head. I also consider it important to be socially engaged: I served as a council member and group leader for eight years, am currently active in the Rotary Club Houten, and am the chairman of the local cycling club. In my remaining free time, you can find me in the kitchen, at a restaurant or theater, or having a good conversation with my wife, my daughters, or friends.