BLOG – Environmental and Social education in Chile

17 novembre 2017

Quest is an international transfer program which connects Arcadians from all over the world. Quest is sponsored by the Lovinklaan Foundation. Every week we are highlighting one of the stories our employees who went on an exchange. In this blogpost we cover the Quest story of Frank Wildschut who traveled from Amersfoort, the Netherlands to Santiago, Chile.

Why did I apply for a Quest

To secure financial investments in spatial projects, in-depth assessment and management of their Environmental and Social (E&S) Impacts is required. Often international standards such as the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles are setting the pace for the E&S assessment and management. For International Financial Institutions and Multilateral Companies, securing their financiering portfolio is of utmost importance, because in the end, it influences their profitability and stock price. Both in Chile as well as in the Netherlands, Arcadis is offering its clients strategic advisory services to achieve finance ready projects. Since Arcadis operates as a global company, knowledge exchange during a Quest is one method for improving people’s skills and client relationships. Therefore Quest, being funded by the Lovinklaan Foundation, is from my point of view the perfect way to get to know your colleagues and offices worldwide!

“International collaborations lead to closer teamwork!”

Highlight of my quest experience

Last August, in the context of a Quest, I was happy to visit the Chilean office in Santiago. Sofia Lopez Carrasco, who did a perfect job as being my host during the Quest. She introduced me warmly to her team and many other colleagues and shared her and their skills and knowledge in the Chilean office. Besides this activity, Sofia, together with Ronaldo Pellicer, Inge Schreuder and the Dutch Embassy, organized a client event. I was very pleased to be invited to present the implications of the new World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (WB ESF) for a number of Chilean and Dutch clients. Also I was given the floor to train some colleagues in the new WB ESF; I was impressed by their knowledge on E&S issues. I truly believe that all this international teamwork in the end leads to closer collaboration and more international assignments for us as colleagues in the (near) future!

My Quest in one word

Impressive

Learnings and experiences

For me, it was the first time visiting Chile, therefore I decided that my Quest should also contain some informal activities. It was the perfect opportunity to do some sightseeing in the city and the Andes. I must admit that this was a good choice, as you can see in the picture! Overall I think that my Quest was highly successful and I would like to thank everyone who helped me organizing this. Special thanks goes to Sofia, Ronaldo, Inge and Jaap van den Heuvel, who all helped me arranging this Quest.

Finally, I really want to encourage everyone to apply for a Quest and participate in this Lovinklaan program. Whether it is in the Netherlands or somewhere else, I think it always is an incredible experience for every participant!

The international transfer program Quest, which connects Arcadians from all over the world, is sponsored by the Lovinklaan Foundation.

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