Tjeerd Gorter, project manager at the Commission for Environmental Assessment (Commissie MER), works on a variety of projects, from gas mining and infrastructure to housing developments and circular material plans for the Ministry. As circularity is becoming an increasingly important topic in environmental assessments, Tjeerd wanted to refine his advisory approach to waste and circularity. He decided to enrol in the Masterclass Circular Economy, where he gained and refined the knowledge he was looking for.
One of the most impactful aspects of the program for Tjeerd was the Design Thinking component. “We are starting some big organisational changes, and this approach has given me valuable tools to structure and guide these transformations,” he explains. He found the insights from the masterclass immediately applicable, particularly in his work on the Circular Material Plan for the Minister. “I feel more confident in our project for the Minister about the Circular Material Plan,” he says, emphasising how the course strengthened his expertise.
A clear framework with practical applications
For Tjeerd, the broad overview offered by the masterclass was especially valuable. “The overview was most important, as I don’t need too many details,” he notes. Since his role requires balancing multiple environmental factors—such as air quality, noise, and mobility—having a structured understanding of circular economy principles helped him integrate them effectively into environmental impact assessments. “It is one issue of many with possible environmental impact. Of course, we also look at nature, air, noise, safety, mobility, et cetera. We want to do this topic properly, and this masterclass has helped me do that.”
When asked why he would recommend the program, Tjeerd highlights the depth of knowledge behind it. “I would mostly recommend the masterclass because of its scientific framework and the deep scientific knowledge behind it,” he says. He believes that because the masterclass provides professionals with a clear framework and practical applications, it makes a valuable investment for those looking to strengthen their expertise in sustainability and circular economy principles.
