Team Member

Erik Klaassen – Resident Representative Blue Dragon Program Vietnam is a senior project manager/expert consultant with extensive civil and hydraulic expertise, having over 20 years broad experience in water-related projects such as rivers, flood management, (urban) drainage, and water resources. 

For most of his professional career, he has been working in Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, South Korea, and China):

He completed projects for International Financial Institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. He has been involved in a large number of projects in Vietnam. Some of these projects are Development of Vietnam Mekong Delta Master Plan to 2030 with an outlook to 2050; the establishment of Flood Risk Management Information System in Can Tho City; Feasibility study – Nga Bay resilient city project in Mekong Delta – Hau Giang Province; and Flood protection and drainage of medium-sized coastal towns in Vietnam to adapt to climate change.

As a resident representative, he has the following responsibilities: 

1) functions as an intermediary between the Vietnamese and Dutch sides of the Blue Dragon Program, acts as a Dutch representative at the senior level in Vietnam, and supports general activities, e.g. contact with existing and new provinces, local NGO’s, ideas for new pilots; 

2) Support in continuity and commitment of pool training, including assignments and implementation of plans; 

3) Support in pilot projects. Including technical support and advice; 

4) Technical and other advice and comments on reports from hired consultants.
 

Blue Dragon Program Role

Trainer Flood Risk Management
Trainer Geographic Information Systems
KIWI – Nature Based Solution pilot
Skills
Flood Protection
Geographic Information Systems
Project development
Background
MSc Earth Sciences with Science for Sustainability minor
Experience
Visited Vietnam for the first time in 2019 and started working for Blue Dragon Program in 2022.
Has work and study experience in Luxembourg, Spain, Tenerife, Peru, and South Africa.
Currently also working on European projects and part of the Leading Group of Blue Deal Focal
Point Nature-Based Solutions.
Contact information
Email: h.versteegh@hhnk.nl

Blue Dragon Program Role 

Pool 3 Flood Risk Management Trainer 
Skills
Working in projects on dike-reinforcement, ecological enhancement and locks and pumps
Environmental management for projects
Stakeholder engagement and management
Problem Solving, Communication and Teamwork
Background
Nationality: Dutch
Education:
o BSc Soil, Water and Atmosphere Sciences
o MSc Soil Science
o PhD Paleontology and Stratigraphy

Experience
10 years working as an environmental and stakeholder manager on water related projects
5 years working as a policy advisor on water and soil management, sustainability, and strategy
for long-term on water management
Contact information
Lafman@aaenmaas.nl