Alumnus testimonial
Tim Rietmeijer - Sustainability & ESG advisor
How do you go from urban planning to leading sustainability transitions in infrastructure? Tim Rietmeijer found the answer during his MSc at Wageningen University & Research. In this interview, he reflects on balancing study and work, and how his degree helped him shape a meaningful career in ESG and sustainability advisory.
While working for KWS I came across the MSc MUE at the WUR and knew this was the master I wanted to follow.
Since you graduated, what kind of jobs did you have?
“I had already been working as a Sustainability Advisor for a 1,5 years when I started my MSc at the WUR.”
And what is your current job?
“Currently I am still working as a Sustainability Advisor 1 day per week. In addition, I have started my role as ESG Advisor on October 1st at the company HQ.”
Is this what you always wanted to be? Why/why not? What has changed?
“Ever since I finished my BSc (Urban Planning) I knew I wanted to work in the field of sustainability, ideally combined with either civil engineering or urban planning. After a short stint as a contract management & planning advisor at Aveco de Bondt I started my role as sustainability advisor at KWS (Koninklijke Wegenbouw Stevin / Royal Road Construction Stevin). After nearly 6 years in this field, I still feel at home and enjoy the work I do.
While working for KWS I came across the MSc MUE at the WUR and knew this was the master I wanted to follow. After discussing the MSc with my manager I got the space to work in part-time and follow my MSc. While it took me a total of 4 years I am still very happy I made the decision to choose for this MSc.”
What are your future goals?
“In the future I hope to climb the corporate ladder towards a management role regarding sustainability, ESG or CSR(D). I’ve set this goal to be able to have greater impact on making the infrastructure branch more sustainable with the knowledge from my MSc and my thesis.”
How do you contribute to a better world (with your job or otherwise)? What role did studying in Wageningen have to achieve this?
“I contribute to a better world by helping my company switch to Zero-emission alternatives for (heavy) machinery and implementing circular business models to diminish our environmental impact.”
What choices have you made that have helped you to get where you are now?
“I specifically chose the BMO thesis track to help prepare me for my future goal of a management function in sustainability. In addition, I was a member of the Erasmus Student Network in Utrecht (where I live) in several committees. As I already had working experience, the university granted me exemption for my internship.”
What challenges have you encountered in your previous and/or current jobs? How has studying in Wageningen helped you to overcome them?
“Implementing sustainable practices in an industry that works with heavy machinery and massive amounts of building materials has been quite the challenge. For instance, the industry is used to working long uninterrupted shifts and are always on a tight schedule to get done in time. Shifting to zero-emission machinery jeopardises the schedule if not implemented properly. In addition, working with large amounts of building materials poses as challenge as not all buildings materials have sustainable alternatives yet.
However, it is these challenges that make this field and my job so interesting!”