NIRAS International Consulting

“The thrill of seeing a tunnel project come to life and knowing that it will improve transportation and people’s living standards, is exhilarating.” 👷 Anıl Güneş is a Senior Tunnel Engineer at NIRAS and is committed to excellence and attention to detail when passionately working with design, construction and maintenance of tunnels in Denmark. 🧱🚧 “These projects are not just about building structures and tunnels that facilitate efficient transportation. They are about creating solutions that enhance people’s lives, improve safety, and promote sustainability. Knowing that my work contributes to the resilience and growth of urban areas and helps protect them from natural disasters, gives me a deep sense of purpose and fulfilment,” says Anil. 🙌🌱 A specific infrastructure project which specifically stands out as being both complex and unique in the Danish infrastructure, yet bringing immense growth potential, is the cloudburst project, Kalvebod Brygge Cloudburst Tunnel, for which NIRAS is advisor on. 🏗️ 💧 “It was thrilling to experience the final tunnelling process under the busy railway lines directing to Copenhagen Central Station, passing under the vibrant Meatpacking District and crossing the existing metro line. The project has overcome a number of complex challenges, and this was a major milestone,” says Anil. ⭐ Anil is working in a highly international department where colleagues hail from diverse countries such as Türkiye, Greece, UK and Ecuador, bringing with them a wealth of strong backgrounds and highly qualitative skills. The collaborative atmosphere and international exposure have a significant impact on Anil's way of working and development journey, while bringing a global perspective on engineering challenges and solutions. 🌐 “In my department, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of engineering to develop cutting-edge sustainable solutions. The department stands out for its multidisciplinary approach, where experts from various fields come together to tackle complex challenges. This collaborative environment ensures that we deliver the best possible outcomes for our projects," he shared. 🤝 Read more about Anil and his joy of working with complex infrastructure projects and not least about how his dream of living in Copenhagen came true: https://lnkd.in/dsr5qsBe #HereWeGrow #Engineering #Tunnels #NIRASProfiles #DanishInfrastructure #Denmark

At first glance, you might wonder how mud found in the Greenlandic fjords relates to development cooperation. Glacial rock flour – as it is known – has been found to be extremely rich in minerals and nutrients, making it an ideal fertiliser for crops, especially in depleted soils in tropical and subtropical countries and a promising step in carbon reduction. 🌍❄️ This finding was a result of years of study by Minik Rosing, a renowned geology professor at the University of Copenhagen and founder of the startup Rock Flour Company. Recent trials in Kenya have already shown crop yield increases of 30%, illustrating its potential impact on food security. "It is feasible to think you could double the crop yield in the tropics," says Rosing who is working to prove this magical mud can really save both the climate and solve global inequality. Rock Flour Company’s aim is to collect glacial rock flour for export around different parts of the globe. 🌐 To accomplish this goal, the company needs to conduct baseline studies. With NIRAS’ vast knowledge of Greenland, we are supporting this innovative project with environmental permitting to enable global distribution of this resource. Initial environmental studies are being conducted in the Ilulialik fjord. 💪 “This is an innovative first-mover project, where the underlying philosophy of potentially both storing CO2 and raising the standard of living for many people in the developing world is something we are of course very proud to be involved with, and which aligns extremely well with our overall ambition to assist and facilitate sustainability and GREENsition,” said Anders Stig-Jørgensen, Environment Market Director at NIRAS Greenland. 📢 🌽🥦 Visit this link to read about the exciting project and the other ways glacial rock flour is a green solution in the food sector: https://lnkd.in/dqi4ucYM There is also a nice video trailer for a documentary film, Magic Mud, about the glacial rock flour project, which premiered at the Danish DOX festival in March 2024. 🎥 #GlacialRockFlour #Fertiliser #FoodProduction #Crops #IlulialikFjord #GREENsition #Greenland

Together with our implementing partner REEEP - Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, NIRAS is pleased to share a new study showing how the Off-Grid Task Force (OGTF) in Zambia — a multi-stakeholder platform led by the Department of Energy — has accelerated the growth of the country’s off-grid energy sector and transformed challenges into opportunities. ☀️ The study shows how the OGTF model is building a sustainable energy market by fostering collaboration, resource mobilisation and policy alignment — an inspiring blueprint now set for expansion across other BGFA countries. 🗺️ These lessons learned from the Zambia programme are being implemented across all countries supported by the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) with the aim of addressing a broad range of key factors through scaling up activities to reach more underserved populations with affordable off-grid electricity solutions. ⚡ Nefco - the Nordic Green Bank established the BGFA programme on Sweden’s initiative in 2019 to conduct ongoing OGTF activities. BGFA is currently a €126 million multi-donor facility operating in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia. 🌍 Today, BGFA has developed a project portfolio of 29 companies. Once implemented, the current programme portfolio will have the potential to reach over 8.7 million people across these six countries. ➡ Read the news release with links to a summary and the full study: https://lnkd.in/d-bJWMgv #EnergyAccess #CleanEnergy #OffGridSolar #NIRASProjects #OGTF #SDG7 #GREENsition #Zambia

For Lerna Melo Magdamo, project management started out as a path born of necessity; eventually, it evolved into a profession of purpose. 🧭 Early in her career, Lerna had to support herself financially before finishing her university education. This compelled her to put her education on hold and pursue work as an administrative assistant for a USAID-funded project. Looking back, she realises this set the stage for her project management career in development. 🌟 Decades later, Lerna has gathered a wealth of international experience. 📈 Not only has she served different financial institutions – including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), for which NIRAS has been a continuing partner – but she has also helped deliver well over 20 projects in water, urban poor communities, climate change and many others. 💧🌞 Needless to say, her work has been invaluable to the company and the communities the projects have served. Lerna has come a long way since joining NIRAS; today she holds the position of Associate Director for International Financial Institutions in the Manila office. 👏🏽 While she continues to drive life-changing projects, she also champions a new responsibility: balancing profitability with social impact. “I want to take on projects with meaningful social impact,” Lerna shares. “What I appreciate about NIRAS is its commitment to the SDGs, which aligns with my own values. It’s about balancing profit with a purpose — achieving both financial and social objectives.” ❤️🤝🏽 💡 Read more about Lerna’s story and her journey in project management and the development sector in this profile feature: https://lnkd.in/eU3UC-pV #HereWeGrow #Leadership #ProjectManagement #NIRASProfiles #SocialImpact #SDGs #Philippines

🌍 Recently, on 23-24 October, NIRAS participated in The Global Impact Investing Network Impact Forum in Amsterdam. Representing us was Lukas James Friga Team Manager for our Fund Management and Finance team in Copenhagen. This event is the world's largest gathering of impact investment professionals 🌟, bringing together investors, development finance institutions (DFIs), family offices, and organisations from every stage of the impact investment cycle. 🚀 The lineup of speakers was inspiring, with leaders like Damilola Ogunbiyi from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) sharing the real life-and-death difference that energy access has on the African population and describing concrete ways to bring financing into that space. She highlighted enormity of the challenge but also the real opportunities that exist for the investment world to make a sustainable financial return even in markets perceived as higher risk. Her call to investors resonated: "Tell us what you need to feel confident investing in these markets, and we’ll provide the data and success stories!" Beyond the sessions, Lukas connected with clients, colleagues, and potential partners. It was fantastic to see initiatives like Mobilising Finance for Forests (MFF) 🌳 and the Global Gender Smart Fund ♀️, where NIRAS supports with Technical Assistance, represented on the ground. Meeting with partners like FMO Investment Management and Innpact reinforced the impact of these programmes in critical areas like nature and gender. With over 1600 attendees, the GIIN Impact Forum was a powerful reminder of the energy driving the impact investment space. “Bridging the financing gap for development is largely led by the institutions present here,” said Lukas. “At NIRAS, we’re excited to play a role in the shift from development assistance to investing for development, supporting both investors and investees to amplify impact and returns.” Thank you to everyone who joined us for inspiring conversations and meaningful connections! 💡 If you're an investor or fund manager looking to explore how consultancy and Technical Assistance services like ours can support your impact strategy, don’t hesitate to reach out to Lukas. #ImpactInvestment #GIINImpactForum #SustainableFinance #NIRAS

"Denmark's infrastructure is constantly evolving, and it is really motivating to work on projects that make a real difference." ⭐ This is according to Ane Mette Walter, who is the project manager for two of NIRAS' largest infrastructure projects: the Nordhavn tunnel and the Hillerød motorway extension. 🛣️👷 ♀️ According to Ane Mette Walter, project management is about three things: Deliverables, economy and quality. In addition, a razor-sharp focus on performance, progress and customer understanding. "As a project manager, it is important to have the chrome-plated overview and ensure that we reach our deliveries on given deadlines. Both of the projects I work on are large infrastructure projects, and that makes it extra fun to be a project manager," says Ane Mette Walter, who has 15 years of experience in project management. According to Ane Mette Walter, it is important to have common goals and close cooperation from the very beginning 🎯🤝 to succeed. "We have a very close collaboration with our customers, and it is crucial that we have common goals. They set a date for when the projects must be completed, and of course we have to comply with that, because there is also pressure on them," says Ane Mette Walter, emphasising that having a really skilled team of colleagues, specialists and design managers means that we can advise on the very large and ambitious infrastructure projects in Denmark and globally. #HereWeGrow #ProjectManagement #NIRASProfiles #Infrastructure #Denmark

A Process Engineer at NIRAS, Mehryar J. has always had a deep passion for advancing his expertise in Chemical Engineering and Sustainability. 📚 He has taken on the ambitious challenge of pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering while continuing his role with us. 🧪After completing his undergraduate studies in Iran and earning a master's degree in Italy, Mehryar found the perfect mix of opportunity and support to continue his global academic journey in the UK when he joined NIRAS. He is now in his second year at the University of Bath, where his research focusses on AI-assisted discovery of next-generation separation membranes. As a process engineer in Food and Beverage process design, Mehryar is primarily responsible for ensuring projects meet both technical and quality standards. He is also a member of the Project Management Office and is leading in advancing and implementing digital initiatives and solutions within our team, including exploring and adopting AI with the goal of driving innovation and improving our operational efficiency. 💡 Mehryar is studying two days a week and working the rest of the working week with his team having successfully adjusted his workload to fit around his study commitments. 📝📐 "Investing in the development of our team's knowledge and skills is not just a commitment to individual growth, but a powerful catalyst for collective success. When each team member evolves, they bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a renewed sense of purpose to our company," commented Head of Department Mark Eccleston. 💬 "This continuous learning culture enhances our ability to adapt in a rapidly changing world, foster collaboration, and drive us to exceed our goals. By nurturing personal and professional development, we empower not only our team but also secure the long-term growth and sustainability of our business." This dual commitment is no easy task, but the NIRAS team are supporting Mehryar all the way and look forward to seeing him complete his studies and bring his new expertise back to us full-time. 👏 ✅ Find out more about career opportunities at NIRAS. Visit this link: https://ow.ly/Vh0b50TeZKz #HereWeGrow #ProcessEngineer #FoodandBeverage #NIRASProfiles #ChemicalEngineering

Recently, NIRAS had the privilege of co-hosting a workshop with the European Union Delegation to Honduras. 🌎 We brought together key stakeholders — including Honduran government entities, cooperation agencies, representatives from the private sector and civil society — to discuss the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). 📜 NIRAS is implementing the 'Technical Assistance to Facilitate the Implementation of the EUDRs' project, which hosted this webinar. 🌟 Our goal was to equip actors in the coffee value chain with the latest information on EUDR implementation and support them in preparing for compliance. ☕ Project Manager Alejandra Cancino explained the webinar focussed on: 📌 Sharing updates on the regulation's application and the Honduran Government's coordination efforts; 📌 Highlighting available platforms for traceability and supply chain management; 📌 Identifying potential bottlenecks and discussing mitigation strategies to ensure compliance; 📌 Providing operators with the information needed to meet EU import requirements. To reach a wider audience, we conducted workshops in both San Pedro Sula and Santa Rosa, engaging coffee producers, intermediaries, processors and exporters. 🤎 By fostering dialogue and collaboration, NIRAS aim to support Honduras in meeting its sustainability goals and strengthening its position in the global market. 🌐 #EUDR #Sustainability #SupplyChain #Coffee #PalmOil #Cocoa #EU #NIRASProjects #Traceability #Workshop #Honduras

The NIRAS Manila team participated in events organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), namely Business Opportunities Seminar (BOS) and Business Opportunities Fair (BOF) in September and October this year. BOS tackled the processes involved in working with the ADB and the development bank’s focus sectors, while BOF connected different groups seeking to provide work, services and goods for ADB’s projects. 🌏 These gave attending independent consultants and development firms, such as NIRAS, an avenue to network with fellow professionals in the field as well as with ADB representatives and stakeholders. The fair brought together over 1600 guests, the NIRAS team shared.   The team was also invited to a cocktail dinner by the ADB attended by ambassadors and representatives of Denmark, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria and Germany, as well as ADB executive directors and advisors. During these events, NIRAS Manila not only connected with other attendees and ADB officers but also gained insights into the development bank’s pipeline for the coming year. “Most opportunities are driven to solve climate change,” said Bid Manager for International Financial Institutions (IFIs) Gheila Selosa. 🌱🌞   More than understanding ADB’s pipeline for the coming year, NIRAS Manila also learned about updates in the bidding process with the development bank. “It was very important for us to know the ADB has a new policy for gender that is being developed and will be added to future projects,” said Associate Director for Project Delivery for IFIs Lerna Melo Magdamo, referring to the upcoming policy on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). “It’s good to know that, when we’re forming bids, we will not only have to prepare, say, an environmental management plan, but also a plan against SEAH.”   Attending the BOF for the first time, Business Development Analyst for IFIs Charisse Kirsty L. said it gave her a greater appreciation and understanding of ADB’s expectations. "It’s nice to see that in many ways, NIRAS’ experience aligns with what the ADB is looking for," she said.   For Gheila and Lerna, the events served as a “refresher course” updating NIRAS on ADB’s strategic priorities. But for the most part, the BOS and BOF reaffirmed NIRAS’ commitment to its new strategy moving forward. “It cements the fact that we’re on the right track,” Lerna said. “We are aligned with the direction ADB is heading.” 💡 #BOS2024 #BOF2024 #Parnterships #NIRASNews #IFIs #Philippines

Have you seen this story? 👏 The NIRAS Life Science & Food Graduate Programme has welcomed its 10th team of graduates! 🎉 Designed to provide budding professionals access to invaluable courses, this NIRAS-sponsored two-year programme aims to build their skillsets within the food or pharma scene. It gives learners unique insights into the food and pharma industries and on-the-job training for specialist roles or as production supporters or project managers. 👩🏫🥦👨🏫 But more than these, the programme also puts these students on a personal growth and development track to help them build a solid foundation for collaborating and interacting with others. 👩🏻🤝🧑🏽 Since 2016, recent graduates from across the life science and food sectors have come through our professional programme, and NIRAS’ recently welcoming Team 10 just marked the company’s 8th year of helping young professionals fast-track their careers. 🚀 “The graduate programme is a great way to build a bridge between student life and full-scale work-life, and it allows me to continue my journey with NIRAS, but with a focus on giving me the best possible transition while maximising my skills and knowledge. I haven’t heard of many companies that has this kind of focus on enabling young professionals to transition from student to full-time employee, and it’s a perfect opportunity for me to grow,” says Jacopo Renzi, a Team 9 graduate and now a consultant at NIRAS. 💬 We keep in close contact with all our graduates through our alumni and are proud to see so many of our graduates on their way to great things, either internally with NIRAS or with clients. 🤝 If you’re a company looking to hire a graduate or a graduate looking for career opportunities, visit us at: https://lnkd.in/gT638fcm. Or you can contact Annette Myrup, the Head of NIRAS' Life Science Academy. #HereWeGrow #GraduateProgramme #LifeScience #FoodandPharma #YoungProfessionals