My name is Bert Westendorp, and for the past five years I have been working at Bilfinger as a Consultant External & Fire Safety. In this role, I advise clients on every aspect of fire safety: from the initial concept and permitting phase to the actual implementation and delivery. The common thread in my work? Bringing together all disciplines and interests so that fire safety is not seen as a hurdle, but becomes an integral and workable part of the project.

From architecture to fire safety

I once graduated as an architect, but I started my career during a crisis, when the Dutch house prices plummeted and the construction sector came to a standstill. Through a major project at the Ministry of Justice, I was introduced to the field of fire safety. This also involved a postgraduate study in Fire Safety Engineering, and from that moment on, I never left the field. What appeals to me most is that fire safety touches on everything: chemistry, mechanical engineering, process knowledge, construction, legal frameworks, and stakeholder management. It is exactly this versatility that makes every day different.

The puzzle of fire safety

For me, working in fire safety is like solving a complex puzzle. You need knowledge from many different disciplines and must know how to find the right experts. That is also Bilfinger’s strength: we have all these specialists in-house. Whether it is construction details, complex process challenges, or risk calculations, I can always rely on colleagues. This way, we not only present a strong case to the client but also gain the trust of authorities and insurers.

Projects with impact

The projects I am most proud of are mainly related to innovation and the energy transition. Take, for example, the permitting process for a 200-megawatt electrolyzer, or Circtec, where old car tires are recycled into new raw materials. I have also worked on many hydrogen projects, including the first large-scale storage in salt caverns in the Netherlands. These kinds of initiatives are both innovative and complex: often there are no ready-made rules or solutions to rely on. That is when it comes down to applying the right expertise, building strong arguments, and setting up a stakeholder strategy to create a workable and safe concept. This process requires patience, creativity, and collaboration, and it is incredibly rewarding when a project is finally permitted and realized. For me, these are the moments when you can truly see that safety and sustainability go hand in hand. Moreover, they are projects that genuinely contribute to a cleaner, more future-proof industry.

Working together in a close-knit team

What I value about working at Bilfinger is the culture. We tackle the work together, take each other’s interests into account, and divide the expertise within the team. For example, I chose to specialize in hydrogen, while other colleagues focused on nuclear energy. This diversity makes us stronger as a team and ensures that we can respond quickly when new challenges arise. 

Looking ahead

In the coming years, I see my role gradually shifting toward more strategic questions. How do we ensure that our services remain relevant in the future, especially as AI plays an increasingly important role? Which projects will we take on, or consciously not take on? And how do we make sure we have the right expertise in-house to support clients with tomorrow’s challenges? These are the kinds of questions that fascinate me. At the same time, I continue to draw energy from the content of my work: operating at the intersection of technology, safety, and sustainability, together with colleagues and clients. The idea that my work not only makes a difference today but also contributes to shaping Bilfinger’s direction in the years to come is something that excites me.

Would you like to work as a Consultant Fire & External Safety?

Does working on complex safety challenges in a fast-changing environment sound interesting to you? Please contact us.