What did you do before you came to WesselinkVanZijst?

I studied Conflict Resolution & Governance at the University of Amsterdam. After that, I worked in international peace mediation for about 1.5 years. Not long after, in 2012, I started at WesselinkVanZijst. I was the first employee of the company, which gave me the opportunity as a young professional to work with Hans van Zijst and Marc Wesselink on large and (administratively) complex issues.

In 2017, adventure beckoned and I moved to Myanmar. There, for several years, I focused on team development and establishing partnerships between international NGOs, companies, and local organizations. I also worked on strengthening these local businesses and organizations. For example, I assisted local NGOs providing aid to Rohingya refugees in further professionalizing their organizations and improving their collaboration with their donors, the international NGOs.

In 2020, I reconnected with Marc and Hans and was asked if I wanted to come back. It felt right immediately, and in mid-2020, I embarked on the adventure at WesselinkVanZijst once again.

What do you mainly focus on at WesselinkVanZijst?

In recent years, I have been involved in various projects. From large policy dossiers within ministries to concrete projects. I enjoy working for diverse clients such as governments, companies, and non-profit organizations. This diversity, in part, has provided the necessary knowledge to put myself in the wide range of interests we encounter in our projects.

Over the past few years, much of my work has revolved around the energy transition. For example, I spent more than two years looking into the impact of the new construction of nuclear power plants. But I have also worked on projects related to salt mining and underground CO2 storage², ...the final storage of nuclear waste and the greening of heating networks. The specific challenges of the projects are always new. Yet there is a common thread: the complexity and the many stakeholders involved in realizing projects.

In my assignments, I fulfill various roles. Sometimes I act as a strategic environmental manager, connecting initiatives with their surroundings, mapping out interests, and ensuring a careful and transparent participation and communication process. More often, I act as an external advisor for project leaders and executives. In this capacity, I support strategic considerations, help clarify complex issues, and contribute to decision-making in politically and administratively sensitive environments. Additionally, I work as a process facilitator in complex projects where multiple parties, interests, and perspectives converge. I then design and guide the process, create space for dialogue and collaboration, and help stakeholders move forward together, even when the task is under pressure regarding content or relationships.

What drives you in your work?

A great deal is well-organized in the Netherlands. At the same time, we face major challenges in maintaining and improving our quality of life. To properly shape, among other things, the energy transition, the housing construction task, and the nitrogen dossier, it is essential to discuss the diverse interests and seek solutions where all interests have a place. I believe that we at WesselinkVanZijst can make an important contribution to this.

Personally, I get a lot of satisfaction from making real progress on complex tasks. I find it interesting to gain insight into the complexity of interests and to work with others on creative solutions that do justice to the interests of all parties.

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

I enjoy spending time with my young family. When I have time left, I like to swim. I also go to concerts and read as much as possible. What I read is varied: non-fiction, novels, fantasy, and science fiction. For example, I'm a big fan of Frank Herbert's Dune books. But I was also very inspired by Geert Mak's book, "De Wisselwachter." Finally, I like playing strategy board games with friends.