H2O-People B.V. (The Netherlands) develops and executes lifelong learning programmes for personnel in the water sector. We work on the development and implementation of unique programs aimed at development, connection and cooperation of talent = natural quality and potential.Participating professionals in our programs have developed a broader scope in the field, the various organizations, the other and themselves and he/she can be as effective in behaviour and organizations that are committed to a better living environment.
We strive for an overarching of existing initiatives and concepts, and the scope for the development of new stories. The personal attention, commitment and expertise are paramount. Where not only the interaction with our participants is central but also offers space for an inspiring interaction between trainers and program office. We believe in partnership with our participants, and from connectedness creates a nicer living environment. Programs that focus on the link between the content of the work within the physical environment, the projects and personal development is our expertise.
The European Junior Water Programme
The European Junior Water Programme is the flagship programme of H2O People. The programme aims to build a community of young European water management professionals who share a deep commitment to addressing today’s and future water and climate change issues. It is designed with Water Europe and other partners in the water sector to provide participants with the tools, the skills and the appropriate co-creation and cooperation network to find new solutions and share knowledge to create and maintain a sustainable and safe water management system in Europe.
Our ability to develop cross-cutting skills generates integrated programmes for new water managers with the capacity of working in a systemic way, which is a challenging requirement in the water sector to effectively respond to the needs of changes in the needed transformations such as circular economy, climate change and digitalization.
H2O-People in Erasmus+ Projects
H2O People is also a partner in the SPIRE-SAIS (2020-2023), Skills Alliance for Industrial Symbiosis – A Cross-sectoral Blueprint for a Sustainable Process Industry Erasmus+ Project. In which new educational modules and tools for greater awareness of the needs and opportunities provided by improved industrial symbiosis and energy efficiency will be developed. New skills, including digital skills, for the practical implementation of industrial symbiosis in globally competitive industries, will be identified that anticipate the skills requirements of industry and allow proactive, practical activities to meet the future skills needs of the Energy Intensive Industries in Europe and beyond.
H2O-People contribution in SKILLS4WATER
Naomi Timmer will be the main developer and multiplier of the LLL approaches and tools within the Augmented Collaboration Toolkit. H2O-People will also take care of the general communication of the project and will coordinate the training and events work package. As developer and executer of the EJWP, leader of the Working Group Human Capital within Water Europe and contributor to the SPIRE SAIS project identifying new skills and gaps and connect them to the stakeholders is the main contribution. She brings a focus on human capacity development and the use of social innovation and soft skills in an integrated approach.
The H2O People is primarily responsible for the development of the Innovative Training Programme within Work Package 4 (WP4)
for the WP2/O2 (Augmented Collaboration Toolkit), coordination of WP5 (Training and multiplier events) and the coordination on communication and dissemination within WP6.
Naomi Timmer
I have been active for almost 10 years in the water management sector as a programme manager for several personal development programmes in the water sector. I learned to set up a professional programme with the Nationaal Watertraineeship, a young professional programme in The Netherlands, running since 2010. Creating a complete new programme with senior professionals with Project24. At the European Junior Water Programme we created and shared our knowledge within an European context.
In my prior career, I served as a project and communication consultant for several government bodies and NGOs, and as campaign manager during the provincial council elections.
I am a bit of a stranger in the water sector as proud Master in political science and a Bachelor’s degree in religious studies, I specialized in Religion and Violence. I always thought I accidentally turned up into the water sector until I heard Kofi Annan at Making Waves (7 September 2017) conference in The Netherlands connecting the work on water, with the complexities of todays challenges. And see the interlinkage of water, culture and conflict. And the need for a more holistic approach in the water sector.
My multidisciplinary background has provided me with the vision, tools, and insights needed to uncover opportunities for cooperation that will benefit the various clients. I like to make connections and bring the water sector a step forward. My focus and determination, my exceptional planning and organization skills, and my proactive, outward-oriented approach ensure that new ideas are embraced and implemented in collaboration with various partners.
Chrysoula Papacharalampou
Chrysoula Papacharalampou, PhD, is passionate about water research which engulfs societal actors and contributes to solving today’s challenges. She has an interdisciplinary background and a twofold career path in Higher Education: in research and in research administration.
Chrysoula’s research focuses on integrated sustainability impact assessment and socio-hydrology, with emphasis on the development of methods for conceptualizing complex systems (e.g. catchments, value chains, and organizations). In her role as Executive Director of the Erasmus Research Institute of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Chrysoula initiates and leads organizational change in the areas of research policy and assessment, quality assurance, open and responsible science, and inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA).
On Social Impact
“In my role as Social Impact Advisor at H2O-People – and through my involvement in EU-funded research projects – I am eager to contribute to sustainable societal change through robust research, co-creation with and outreach in society.
Educating the younger generations of water professionals and providing them with the tools to navigate and lead change – as advocated and implemented in practice by the EJWP – is a pathway towards longstanding societal impact.
In my view, social impact of water research means the ways in which the research process and outputs affect society in tangible ways. While ranges of people affected and the impact on society differ tremendously through different project themes and focus, the core concept remains the same: it is about what and how the research contributes toward a change: in perceptions, in awareness, in policy-making, in strategy, in design, and more.
It is often argued that this change can only be realized over a longer period of time – usually exceeding the course of a single research project or process. This is why it is essential to create robust approaches for tracing both the short- and long-term impacts of water projects and research.”
Chrysoula holds a BSc in Geology and a MSc with Distinction in catchment management and the EU Water Framework Directive from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and a PhD in water and asset management from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom.
Mark Goos
Strategic & Project Communication Advisor.
