Education: MTS (Technical Secondary School), BNA/VTS and STABU
specification writing
Age: 33

What do you do as a lead engineer?  
I work in the Building & Construction department of Iv-Bouw. As a lead engineer, I am responsible for coordinating the architectural and engineering aspects of building projects. I am the go-between for architects, contractors and other parties involved in projects. In addition, I am the assistant head of department and when required, fill in for the head of department.

What has been your favourite project to date?
Iv-Bouw is involved in many areas including healthcare, utility buildings and town planning. One of the projects I worked on was De Parade in Bergen op Zoom, a town planning venture. This was an inner-city renewal project in which ten new apartment complexes, including shops and parking garages, were built. The contract stipulated that the character of the old properties was to be creatively incorporated into the new buildings. This required ingenious architecture with much detail work. On a technical level it was a unique challenge for us to adapt our design to workable solutions.

What was your role in this project?
In the first phase of the project, I started out as draughtsman. Shortly thereafter I became a lead engineer and coordinated the work of five to six people. I learned a great deal during this time as I had direct contact with the construction contractor and was able to gain real insight into how these types of projects are carried out.


Why did you decide to serve on the Works Council?
I think it is important for me to contribute in this way. I find it interesting to keep up with developments concerning strategy and internal business operations. The Works Council is taken very seriously in our organisation and is always properly informed about matters of concern. This makes us an effective sounding board for our directors who are certainly appreciative of it.


Would you recommend working at Iv-Groep?
Yes, Iv-Groep is an appealing company which does a fantastic job of looking after its people. An underlying philosophy is that employees will achieve better results when they experience a high level of job satisfaction. This can be seen in many ways. There is plenty of opportunity for training and personal development. In addition, the company provides great perks such as a gratuity, profit sharing and a generous amount of leave.

"Iv-Groep is an engaging company that does a good job looking after its people."