While studying electrical engineering at Eindhoven University of
Technology, I became very interested in the interface between
hardware and software. I was then able to put this to good use at
the Dutch Railways during the development and realization of the
first electronic interlocking system for the Groot-Rotterdam
railway yard in 1994.
When the NS engineering firm became independent and became
Holland Railconsult (now Movares), international projects came my
way. This took me to Norway, Sweden, Italy, Romania and
Switzerland, among others. I carried out hazard, risk and safety
analyses, acted as safety manager and put together safety cases. At
the time, this was still a relatively new activity within the
railroad world, so I often had to find my own interpretation of the
standards.
In 1999, Movares and TÜV Süd jointly founded the organization
Railcert. With my experience in preparing safety cases, I felt like
a fish in the water to carry out these assessments as (lead)
assessor at Railcert. Later, I also worked as certification manager
and eventually I was managing director of the company for three
years.
I assessed a large range of rail products and projects in the
Netherlands (including the HSL-Zuid, Betuweroute and Hanzelijn) in
almost all countries in Europe and also abroad. Both in the field
of security/ERTMS, and in the field of infrastructure, energy and
rolling stock.
As certification manager of Railcert, I chaired NB Rail, the
European coordinating body of all European Notified Bodies in
Brussels, for a year. It was an interesting and challenging job to
steer a group of more than 50 organisations from all over Europe
towards cooperation and unambiguous policy.
From 2016 to 2024, I was a member of the board of IRSE
Netherlands, the Dutch branch of the English professional
association of signalling engineers.
Since 2018, I have been seconded to Infrabel in Brussels as an
external consultant for everything related to safety management,
assessment and certification. Within the ETCS Masterplan, I am
pivotal in communication with the ISA/AsBo/NoBo and with the
national safety authority. Because Belgium leads the way within
Europe in the serial roll-out of ETCS/ERTMS, I regularly run up
against the limits of the legislation there and have to come up
with a pragmatic solution.
I am also regularly asked to give courses and training sessions
at home and abroad.
The subject matter continues to fascinate me immensely.
Sometimes it is difficult to find customized solutions within the
limitations that exist, with an eye for both the big picture and
the details. But that is precisely the area of tension where I feel
at my best.
In my spare time I am an avid reader, runner and pianist. First
for almost twenty years in a jazz band and now for years with great
pleasure in an alternative pop cover band. |