It’s a festive time at Stichting NMD: we’re celebrating a lustrum! And not just as an organization—three of our colleagues are also celebrating their five-year anniversaries this year. Earlier this year, Monique Vos marked her five-year milestone. And now, this month, Heleen Scholte and Jara Schulz are each celebrating five years with us. Two colleagues who both started during a special period and have since become key pillars within the team.

We asked Heleen and Jara ten questions about their beginnings, challenges, memorable moments, and expectations for the future. A double interview with two colleagues who have been closely involved in shaping the story of Stichting NMD.

Heleen and Jara on Five Years at Stichting NMD

1. What is your role at Stichting NMD – and what does your work involve?

Heleen: 
I am a communications advisor and I mainly focus on the online channels: the website, social media, and the newsletter. In addition, I manage various projects within the organization.

Jara: 
I work at Stichting NMD in the data team as a data manager. Although my job title is "data manager," the work I do is much broader. I’m involved in various content-related topics and projects that contribute to the sustainability of the construction sector, such as improving the quality of environmental data, managing the databases, the (further development of the) Assessment Method, applying environmental data in practice, and the (further) development of various software applications connected to these activities.

2. How did your journey at Stichting NMD begin? What do you remember from your first days or weeks?

Jara: 
My time at Stichting NMD began during the COVID period. I started on the same day as Heleen, in a small team of seven people at the time, including us. There wasn't much internal information available, so we had to figure out a lot ourselves. New challenges constantly popped up that needed solutions. Although this was demanding, it was also an incredibly educational period.

Heleen: 
The first period was quite unique. I started on June 1, 2020  (during COVID), at the same time as Jara. Our then-office at Visseringlaan was quite small, but I shared my room with the accountant, who happened to be there only on the days I wasn’t. So I had the luxury of a private office. Everywhere there were stickers about keeping a 1.5-meter distance. With Jara and me included, we were a team of seven. In terms of communication, I was able to build a lot from scratch. That pioneering was really enjoyable and refreshing.

3. What did you find the most challenging or intimidating at the beginning?

Heleen: 
The biggest challenge was really understanding the content. I came from a company where I wrote about vacations and cars—something completely different. But I read a lot and luckily I could always turn to my colleagues with questions.

Jara: 
The biggest challenge in the beginning was that we often had to respond ad hoc and flexibly to unexpected situations. Not everything always went smoothly, which required a lot of adaptability. At the same time, the situation offered a lot of freedom to proactively contribute to the system, which was really nice.

4. Is there a moment, project, or event from that early period you look back on fondly?

Jara: 
What I look back on with great pleasure is working together with Heleen. Despite our different backgrounds and expertise, we were able to work well together from the very start and complement each other in our knowledge. And we always had a great time when we saw each other. :)

Heleen: 
Right from the beginning, I had lots of new and interesting things to do. I came from the online world, but I suddenly also got to work on completely different things, like getting the Assessment Method printed and organizing the symposium. That was incredibly educational and fun, and it gave me the chance to try new things and develop myself more broadly.

The second symposium was quite a unique challenge. Due to the COVID rules, we could only host a limited number of people. Just before the symposium, Rutte announced in a press conference that the allowed number would be reduced even further. That caused quite a bit of organizational hassle, but in the end, we made it work—and looking back, it was a very special experience.

Something that really helped in those first months was starting at the same time as Jara. We were in the same boat and could really figure things out together. It was great to have someone to spar with and to explore everything with.

5. What do you think has changed the most since those early years – in your work, the organization, or the field?

Jara: 
So much has changed. The team has become much larger and younger, which is great fun. Also, the database infrastructure has improved significantly, with a new data model and new applications, allowing for more active and structured management and further development. The overall professionalization within the organization makes the work much more enjoyable.

Heleen: 
When we started, there were seven of us working hard on the system and the database, while many people thought there was a large organization behind it. Now we’ve grown into a mature organization with much more capability.

6. What are you most proud of when you look at what you or Stichting NMD has achieved?

Heleen: 
The pioneering at the beginning was incredibly fun, but it’s also great that we’ve now become a serious organization that can handle challenges. Because we have more colleagues, we can switch gears faster, work more effectively, and make a bigger impact.

Jara: 
I’m proud of how we’ve worked together as a team over the past years to improve the quality of the database and the surrounding system.

7. How would you describe the organization or culture within Stichting NMD today?

Jara: 
The team has become larger and more diverse, which has changed the dynamics and brought a lot more knowledge in-house. In November, we moved from a somewhat outdated and small office to a modern office in The Hague. Besides improving the workspace itself, this has also positively influenced the team atmosphere!

Heleen: 
The organization has grown rapidly over the past three years, but we’ve managed to stay a close-knit and supportive group. Everyone takes responsibility for their own role, and when something goes wrong, we solve it together. There’s plenty of room for personal ideas and initiatives, which makes it a very pleasant place to work.

8. Which topic in environmental data or sustainability deserves more attention or understanding, in your opinion?

Heleen: 
We write a lot about environmental data and life cycle analyses. In my opinion, this deserves much more attention, not only from other organizations but also beyond our own sector. It’s a valuable tool for producers to identify where they can still improve in terms of sustainability within their processes.

Jara: 
To make truly sustainable choices, the use of uniform and transparently prepared environmental data is crucial. Spreading knowledge about how environmental data is compiled and how it can be applied in practice is important and offers many opportunities. Through the redevelopment of the NMD Academy, I’m working with my colleague Lotte to further contribute to this.

9. What makes working at Stichting NMD valuable to you?

Jara: 
The contribution we make as an organization to the sustainability of the construction sector motivates me and makes it valuable to work here. It gives me energy to work with motivated colleagues towards the same goal.

Heleen: 
At NMD, I work on something I truly believe in. I worked for years at a commercial company, where in the end, it was all about profit. That no longer felt right to me. At NMD, I contribute to making the construction sector more sustainable. It’s not only relevant in terms of content but also personally very fulfilling.

10. What advice would you give to someone starting at Stichting NMD today?

Heleen: 
Give yourself the space to grow. At first, it might seem overwhelming, but that’s normal. Stay curious, ask questions, and take initiative. You don’t need to understand everything immediately to be valuable. Before you know it, you’ll be fully involved and really making a difference.

Jara: 
I completely agree with this!

Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

Jara: 
It’s special to see how the organization has developed over the past years, and I’m grateful I’ve been able to contribute to that. It will always be a dynamic field; developments continue at a rapid pace, so we never have to stand still. The new European legislation, for example, brings many new challenges and opportunities for the organization and the database. But with the knowledge, dedication, and collaboration within the entire organization, I’m confident we’ll handle it well!

Heleen: 
Yes, maybe it’s nice to close with a look toward the future. In my view, in ten years, it will be natural for Stichting NMD to be an integral part of the construction process. Our data and methodology will then be widely recognized and applied from the design phase to demolition. In doing so, we will make a significant contribution to a transparent, circular, and sustainable construction economy—with strong international connections so we can exchange knowledge and support each other in the transition to a sustainable built environment.