H.D.M. Sombekke MSc (Heleen)

I work as Coordinator of External Collaboration for the Department of Membrane Science & Technology (MST) and the Faculty of Science & Technology. My main responsibilities include acquiring and establishing new research projects and collaborations in the field of water technology and membrane technology. Additionally, I handle the visibility of the Department of MST through managing the website and LinkedIn presence. I take pride in one of my projects, which involved the establishment of the Waterlab at the Hogekampplein. I actively participate in the Drought inter-faculty working group, which is part of the Resilience program at the UT.
Starting from July 1st, 2023, I work two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) for the TKI Water Technology.

Water technology is my passion, and I particularly enjoy working at the interface of academic research and industry. I actively participate in valorization activities, such as implementing pilot projects and field labs to apply scientific research in practical settings. I have experience in initiating and managing interdisciplinary projects, including European, EFRO, and Interreg projects.

In 1990, I obtained my master's degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Water Management from Delft University of Technology. Since then, I have been working in the water sector. Initially, I worked at KWR from 1990 to 1999 as a project manager in the areas of environment, residues, and technology. In 1999, I joined Waterboard Vechtstromen as a project manager focusing on the water cycle. From 2004 to mid-2019, I held various positions at Wetsus, European center of excellence for sustainable water technology.