NVI Annual Conference: The Netherlands - Land of Water
 

First speaker: Marloes van der Kamp

Marloes van der Kamp is an environmental expert passionate about freshwater and marine ecosystems and their interactions with society. In her work she applies a system analysis approach based on the Building with Nature principles to find valuable solutions to overcome social-climate related challenges, such as the depletion of natural ecosystems (biodiversity, water quality, mitigation of drought). It is her strong believe that understanding natural processes and working with them is essential to find valuable solutions for a sustainable future.

Marloes uses state of the art knowledge in application to decision support and policy making. She is an experienced project- and process manager with a demonstrated history of working in the water sector and with international guidelines such as the Water Framework Directive and the EU Habitat Directive. Marloes obtains energy from bringing people together and bridging gaps between knowledge and practice. Hence, Marloes also works as a facilitator.

Second speaker: Anouk te Nijenhuis

Anouk te Nijenhuis will introduce you to the world of flood risk management. How have we managed flood risks in the Netherlands over the past decades? She played a vital role in the Room for the River policy and projects, and was actively involved in shaping flood protection standards based on acceptable risk. Implementing these plans is always a challenge, but the outcome of such hard work can be incredibly rewarding. As former chair of the Rhine Committee on Hydrology, she can also offer insights into the perspectives of neighboring countries.

Bringing people and a variety of perspectives together is key—science and stories, policy and implementation. Anouk began her career as a hydrologist at Witteveen+Bos, later moved to Egypt for work, enjoyed 20 years at the Ministry of Public Works, and went on to join Deltares. She now works for the Dutch Flood Protection Program, a collaboration between the Regional Water Authorities and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Third speaker: Astrid Aukema

Astrid is a water specialist in urban areas. Using hydraulic model studies, she provides guidance and advice to clients facing a wide range of challenges. This requires a holistic view of the entire water system. In her presentation, Astrid takes us on a journey through this fascinating world of water. Rather than focusing on a specific project, she illustrates how different questions can intersect and overlap. She also offers insight into the various ways hydraulic models can be used to develop solutions and visualize the impact of design choices.