海角视频

Vera Sluijter, Structural Engineer based in Rotterdam

What inspired you to become an engineer in the first place?  

I always knew that I wanted to go into the engineering direction because I always liked maths and puzzles and problem solving. I’ve never experienced any blockers or doubts on becoming an engineer as a woman. I didn’t specifically have a female role model in engineering, but my parents supported me by not making a big deal out of it. I think in the Netherlands there’s quite an open culture for women starting in engineering. 

What’s your current role? And what type of roles did you work in previously? 

I’m a structural engineer at the Rotterdam office. I started with one year of experience at 海角视频 when we were still a team of only five in the structures team.  

What do you think 海角视频 allows you to achieve? 

I get the opportunity to grow as an engineer but also to find and explore my passions and special interest within the engineering field. For me that is sustainability. At 海角视频 I have the chance to grow my knowledge here, apply that to projects and also make an impact for a more sustainable structural engineering practice in the Netherlands and beyond. 

What have been the chances where you could use your skills? 
 
We worked on refugee housing, which was highly interesting to do because it is a project where we combined sustainability with high societal value. Last year I also had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Rwanda with Bridges to Prosperity, a not-for-profit organisation that builds bridges in Africa. That was an opportunity that you don’t get in every company. I was part of a team of eight from the European 海角视频 offices to build the Cyamatare suspended bridge.  

 What other projects have you worked on that you’re very proud of? 

What comes to mind is the Nachteiland project in Amsterdam. What I really like is it was a first big timber building, a first really sustainable new build. This has led to other developers and clients seeing what we can do in timber engineering.  

Thinking ahead to the future, what would you like your legacy to be in engineering as a whole? 

I want to inspire and activate people to build more sustainable buildings. I want to make sure that everyone develops a sustainability mindset and be aware to create projects that not only impact people in a positive way, but also minimise the negative effects of what we built. That鈥檚 the long-term achievement that I would be hoping for in my career.  

This year鈥檚 INWED motto is 鈥淭ogether we engineer鈥�. What have you been working on recently?  
 
I’ve been involved with EDGE Coolsingel, one of the first net-zero office buildings in Rotterdam which is the first project that’s actually being executed by us as the structures team. It is the first contribution to my city and only five minutes from our office. 

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Azam Altaf, Graduate Mechanical Engineer based in Hamburg

What inspired you to become an engineer? 

What first drew me toward engineering was the simple joy of creating something from nothing. As a teenager, I was fascinated by architecture because it gave me the chance to imagine spaces and bring those ideas to life. I loved the thought that something could start as just a vision in your mind and eventually become a real, physical place that you could walk through. That sense of creativity and possibility is what set me on this path.

Who were the key people supporting or mentoring you through your journey to becoming an engineer? 

There have been many people who鈥檝e helped shape my journey. Anyone who believed in me and gave me a chance made a difference. My family was the first and strongest support. Later, I was lucky to learn from teachers and professors who not only shared knowledge but also helped me grow and gain confidence. Their support stayed with me throughout the journey.

I hope that through my work, I can help create cities that are more liveable, thoughtful and balanced.

What鈥檚 your current role and what type of roles did you work in previously? 

Right now, I鈥檓 working as a graduate mechanical engineer. Before this, and before I completed my master鈥檚 degree, I worked in the field of architecture for a few years. But I realised that I wanted to dig deeper – beyond form and aesthetics – and explore how buildings function and perform, especially in terms of sustainability. That led me to pursue further studies and eventually shift my focus toward engineering. 

What does 海角视频 allow you to achieve? 

海角视频 has been an amazing opportunity for me. It鈥檚 a place where I鈥檝e been able to learn, grow and feel part of something bigger. I鈥檝e had the chance to work on exciting projects, develop both technically and personally, and connect with inspiring colleagues. I consider myself very fortunate that my first professional experience in Germany started here. It鈥檚 a supportive and dynamic environment that鈥檚 really helped me build confidence and feel like I belong. 

What project or piece of work are you most proud of? 

Every project I鈥檝e worked on has taught me something, so I appreciate all of them. But I鈥檓 especially proud of being part of the Westfield Hamburg-脺berseequartier project in Hamburg. I鈥檝e been involved in it for over two years now. I had the chance to contribute from the early stages all the way through to its opening. We faced a lot of challenges along the way, but as a team, we managed to overcome them, and that makes the outcome even more rewarding. 

 What would you like your legacy within engineering to be? 

I don鈥檛 think a legacy has to be about doing something extraordinary or being famous. For me, it鈥檚 enough to make a small, positive impact – especially when it comes to the environment. Sustainability has always been at the core of how I see the built world. I hope that through my work, I can help create cities that are more liveable, thoughtful and balanced places where people and nature can thrive together. 

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