KEY QUALIFICATIONS

Rob holds an MSc in Environmental Systems Science from Wageningen Agricultural University (the Netherlands), with a strong specialisation in water systems management. This includes integrated water resources management (IWRM), river basin management/catchment planning, water supply and sanitation, but also management of knowledge, information, and governance systems in these fields. He has 27 years of work experience, of which nearly 20 years in international development and 8 years in integrated urban water and wastewater management, including design and monitoring of treatment wetlands. He was lead author and process/stakeholder manager for the development of urban water plans. In addition to technical and management roles, Rob is the chairman of the Works Council of Mott MacDonald BV, representing the interests of around 100 staff towards management. As Project Principal and Team Leader as well as in expert roles, Rob maintains high standards in managing the quality of his projects, planning, resource mobilisation, and financial management. As senior consultant he is a leader in the advisory work around IWRM and WASH within Euroconsult Mott MacDonald, and has a strong track record of business development and winning work. He combines intellect with creativity and is a key driver of digital innovation. Examples include the GIS- based Catchment Restoration Opportunities Mapping DSS (CROM DSS Rwanda), the Unified Investment Planning and Monitoring System (Egypt), and the first-ever GIS-based web portal of Nepal: the RWSS M&E/MIS/DSS portal – a nationwide decision support system for M&E of, and investment planning in rural water supply and sanitation. The latter inspired the current NWASH portal that is currently being developed in Nepal, under the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management. In Rwanda, as resident IWRM Expert and deputy team leader in a 4-year programme, he introduced and managed a separate component on knowledge management, ranging from a research fund, to monitoring of water resources, M&E of investment projects, and development of models and decision support systems, such as CROM DSS. In 2019 he introduced this tool in Nepal in the Nepal Climate Change Support Programme 2, where it served as starting point for the development of a risk atlas. This atlas built further on the Nepal Water Resources Knowledge Base and Water and Environment Information System, whose development Rob led in the early 2010s. Rob has strong reporting and presentation skills and is good at relationship management. External visibility and communication are key in his recent projects. In every organisation he worked in, Rob is known to reach out to other parts of the company or team, and beyond, always aiming at increased impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, or for enhanced efficiency through standardised and harmonised approaches. Thinks strategically, aiming for the highest quality especially in complex settings. For Mott MacDonald, he received subvention funds in 2 consecutive years to develop a System of Systems mapping methodology and digital tool, to identify and strengthen areas for inter- sectorial collaboration to maximise social outcomes and contribution to SDGs. Rob enjoys managing multi-cultural project staff and employees, as team leader and line manager, collaborating enthusiastically with outstanding experts and academics, as well as coaching junior staff to become their best. He is very representative to clients, donors, beneficiaries and stakeholders, and maintains good relationships often also beyond project completion.