Junior professionals

I did a bachelor in Civil Engineering and a Master in International Land and Water management. During my study I got fascinated by the value of wastewater. As a result, I’m currently working as a policy advisor wastewater at the regional water authority Delfland in the Netherlands. This job enables me to work with the complex (waste)water management issues in this urban region in the Netherlands. In addition, I am eager to further develop myself and really interested in intercultural communication. Besides, I would like to learn more about the political, environmental and social aspects of complex water management issues.

I will start the European junior water program because it enables me to work across borders to learn more about solving water management issues in other parts of Europe.  It gives me the chance to collaborate with other young water professionals in water challenges and to exchange knowledge and experiences with them. Besides, I can work further on my personal development.  As participant in the European Junior Water program, I get the opportunity to improve my skills in working on a sustainable and safe water management system together.

I am passionate about (drinking) water ever since I have lived in an area were potable tap water was not readily available (Guatemala). At university, I have chosen to follow an international Master’s program, Masters of Water Resources Engineering, to gain more knowledge and insight into the water system. After completion of this Master’s program, I pursued a PhD with as title “Integrated river water quantity-quality modelling”. I am currently working as an hydrologist for De Watergroep, the largest drinking water utility in Flanders, serving drinking water to 3 million people. I am following up everything related to the quantity and quality of the sources of our surface water treatment plants among other things modelling, advising permit request, policy making, monitoring.

I am joining the EJWP as I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go out of my comfort zone to learn new things and meet new people. I strongly believe that within Europe many problems we face with regard to the water system are similar e.g. drought, pollution. Thus we can learn from each other and see how others tackle problems instead of reinventing hot water. Doing this in a sustainable and equitable way is important to me personally as a mother of two boys and a girl (7.5, 6 and 2.5 years). In my spare time I like to go walking and be creative (sewing clothes, hand lettering, painting, ..).