What did you do before you came to WesselinkVanZijst?

At a young age, I realized I wanted to work with people in public spaces, which is why I chose to study Social Geography. After completing my studies, I worked for many years as an environmental manager, and in recent years as a strategic environmental manager. I started my career at the consultancy and engineering firm Antea Group, where I worked with great pleasure for 15 years as a consultant and trainer. My clients were primarily government bodies in the north of the Netherlands and Germany, such as provinces, municipalities, and Rijkswaterstaat. Eventually, I left the commercial world and have spent the last six years employed by the province of Groningen and the municipality of Kampen. 

As an environmental manager, I have focused primarily on area developments related to infrastructure and rural areas in recent years. My role was to move the Groningen-Bremen railway line project to the next phase and to build support for it in the region, The Hague, Germany, and Brussels.

In addition to my role as an environmental manager, I have also developed and delivered a number of training courses. I am still extremely proud of the Effective Networking and Environmental Management training courses. I was involved in setting up both of these ten years ago, and these training courses are still delivered within and from Antea Group. 

What do you mainly focus on at WesselinkVanZijst?

At WesselinkVanZijst, I am a trainer and consultant. I do this for various clients and always on themes that matter. For example, together with a group of farmers, I draw up a regional plan to shape the sustainable design of the rural area, where the interests of farmers, Staatsbosbeheer (the Dutch Forestry Commission), municipalities, and provinces converge, and there is a future perspective for everyone. I also find my role at the Wetterskip (Water Board) in Friesland very engaging. This program, which deals with strengthening dikes, aims to implement the SOM (Systematic Operations Management) method. I find that a very exciting challenge: how do you implement the SOM method when there is significant pressure on planning and costs?

What drives you in your work?

I am convinced that connecting people works in finding solutions for societal challenges. Building relationships and trust are therefore huge driving forces in my work. I am a networker, set goals from a vision, enjoy working towards results, and want to connect people and their interests to them. Additionally, I have a natural need to understand others and am curious about the story behind their point of view. This makes my work as a strategic environment manager in important societal themes incredibly engaging and valuable.

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

My work is important to me, but it's not the only thing in my life. Time for my family, myself, relatives, and friends makes my life valuable. In addition, I am active in the political arena: a captivating, educational, and challenging role. What strikes me and also bothers me in that arena is the tendency to emphasize contradictions. The big challenge in that arena is to connect, because connecting provides energy and works in the search for solutions!

To relax amidst all this dynamism, I enjoy reading a book, taking out my racing bike, or putting on my running shoes. I get happy from being active outdoors, preferably in an environment of white, snow-capped mountain peaks.