Niell

You don’t often hear of a graduate going to a job interview dressed in shorts, but that’s how Niell’s journey at Royal HaskoningDHV started in 2011.

“I was invited to a casual job interview, so I went directly after my university classes and was still dressed in shorts and tekkies. They didn’t seem to mind at all and were understanding of the situation. When I asked when I should start, the answer was ‘yesterday’. I’ve been with RHDHV ever since.”

Although Niell doesn’t go to work in shorts and tekkies anymore, he feels comfortable in the company’s down-to-earth culture.

As a Geographic Information Scientist, Niell was initially trained for an office job, but it wasn’t long before he found himself knee-deep in a dam, working on a water pipe. Now, he can’t wait for the next on-site project so he can experience places he never knew existed.

“I’ve been involved in remote projects where I was in the middle of the Northern Cape with no one around me for kilometres. But at the end of such a challenging project, when I delivered my assessment, and the client was happy, I realised just how amazing the experience was.”

Although climbing in and out of manholes is not what Niell had in mind when he started his career, he finds solace in the places he gets to see during these projects.

“You’re given a laptop and a pair of gumboots before a project, and I must say, I’ve been through a few laptops, but the gumboots outlived them all.”

Niell’s role is unique in that his projects aren’t specifically focused on short- or medium-term results but on long-term impact. It involves capturing geographical information into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve how we understand nature and the world.

Favourite memory?

“The first time I worked on a remote project, I explored the area alone. I ended up on this hilltop overlooking a wind turbine farm. It was so quiet, and the Karoo was unusually green.”

"Whether you’re making an impact in one person’s life or an entire community, knowing you have an impact makes a big difference.”

Throughout his career at RHDHV, Niell saw a lot of change and restructuring happening in the company. He believes having an adaptive mindset creates room to develop himself personally and professionally.

“The company has evolved a lot since I started, but the world is also constantly changing. So, I think change allows me to evolve with the company.”

Best part of your job?

“Seeing things I wouldn’t otherwise have seen, meeting people I wouldn’t otherwise have met, and overcoming challenges I never thought I’d face.”