meet WA: Liesbeth Omvlee

Liesbeth Omvlee has worked as a project manager at the Water Alliance since June 2020. She is responsible for the VIDA and EEN projects. A brief introduction to the relatively new project manager and her new field of work.

Who are you and what drives you?

Liesbeth Antje Geesje Omvlee, born inEmmen in 1985, named after both mygrandmothers. I am an enterprising andcreative woman. I love coming up withinnovative and sustainable solutions toexisting problems. In doing so, I hopeto contribute to the quality of life of thepeople in our region and the world.

Why did you specifically choose to join the Water Alliance?

There are several elements which Iconsider to be important in my work.Firstly, doing what I am good at,which is project management. I alsoenjoy helping companies with mybackground in business administration,and working towards a moresustainable world is important to me. Ifound all of that in the Water Alliance.

Omvlee: ‘I love coming up with innovative and sustainable solutions to existing problems’

At the Water Alliance, you are primarily responsible for two key projects, which we know by their abbreviated names: VIDA and EEN. For the latter project, we would like to direct the readers’ attention to the info box next to this article, but can you explain what VIDA is?

VIDA stands for Value-added Innovationin fooD chAins. It is a European projectfor SMEs that want to innovate in thefood chain. The project has beenrunning for a year and a half now.Various vouchers have been issued toSMEs recently. The vouchers providefunding that is used for activities in thevarious stages of innovation: research,testing and demonstration. This couldbe anything in the food chain. Thoseinnovations almost always result inwater and energy savings. At theWater Alliance, I am responsible forsupervising Dutch SMEs. This includesgiving feedback on the reports tobe submitted, or helping out when aproject is not going as envisaged andplanned.

Have you already encountered anything particularly inspiring during your relatively short time at the WaterCampus?

Oh, for sure! Last September, I satin on the closing meeting of theWaterFuture project. In cooperationwith a tomato grower and an installationcompany, they have developed anddemonstrated a new, efficient, ionselectivedesalination system. Thissystem makes it possible to producefood without emission of water,nutrients and pesticides, and with anincrease in earnings for the grower.Through their participation in VIDA,they were able to demonstrate theirsystem and make improvements incollaboration with their project partners,which has brought them considerablycloser to the market.

EEN in a nutshell

Liesbeth, what is ‘EEN’?

Enterprise Europe Network: EEN is dividedinto two regions in the Netherlands: North(Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe) and therest of the Netherlands. Together with theNew Energy Coalition, the Hanze University ofApplied Sciences, and Business DevelopmentFryslân, we work for EEN North. The networksupports entrepreneurs looking to set upactivities internationally. Enterprise EuropeNetwork is established in over 50 countriesand has 600 points of contact.

To contact Liesbeth, send an email to:l.omvlee@wateralliance.nl