Liam’s International Impact in Maritime & Renewables as a BIM Modeller

What does it take to turn a complex engineering concept into a massive offshore energy island? For Liam, the answer lies in a comprehensive 3D model. As a BIM Modeller within Martime & Renewables, he acts as the vital bridge between visionary engineering and real-world construction. After making the leap from Australia to join the team in the Netherlands, he has quickly become an essential link in a chain that spans from Amersfoort to Vietnam. "It's a shame that not many people know what working in this sector is like," she says. "You discover the world, help clients solve complex challenges, and prepare for the future of their business.

“People often think modelling is just drafting, but it’s so much more,” Liam explains. “We are the key step between the engineers and the construction workers. We take complex engineering inputs and turn them into high-detail 3D models, using software like Revit, that drawings and data can be extracted from. It’s my job to ensure that what we design on a screen is technically precise, coordinated, and buildable in the middle of the ocean. It’s a role with real technical impact.”

Pushing the Boundaries of Revit: The Princess Elisabeth Energy Island

One of Liam’s first challenges was the Princess Elisabeth Energy Island, a world-first energy hub in the North Sea. “Because it was the first of its kind, everything we were doing was new. You’re constantly collaborating with engineers to translate complex technical inputs into buildable, high-quality designs. There are no templates for a project like this. You’re constantly figuring things out — and that makes the work interesting.”

The scale of the project required a level of international collaboration Liam hadn't experienced before. “We had a whole international team of modellers working together in shared Revit environments. We were syncing models from the Netherlands, Vietnam, India, and Australia in real-time. It was a massive, coordinated effort where everyone in the office was part of it in some way. You’re not doing repetitive work here; you’re managing complex sub-models that contribute to a global first in the industry.”

A Working Environment Where Everyone Helps Each Other

This multidisciplinary team, rich in diversity and senior expertise, provides the essential mentorship and varied perspectives needed to navigate complex projects. “Beyond the technical challenges, the culture at Haskoning and the Maritime & Renewables advisory group, stood out immediately. Everyone’s happy to help — there’s no hierarchy that anyone enforces. When you run into a modelling challenge or coordination issue, you simply reach out to a colleague. That atmosphere makes it easy to learn from each other and solve problems quickly.”

Liam also enjoys the fluidity of the modern workspace. “I have the flexibility to work from Amersfoort, Utrecht, or even Australia or Spain depending on the project or where the team is. It’s a very fluid way of working that gives you a lot of variety in your environment, which keeps the energy high.”

Continuous Learning and the Pathway Forward

Haskoning places a heavy emphasis on staying at the forefront of BIM technology. “My manager pushes me to do training and actively creates the time for it. It’s not just about meeting deadlines; it’s about learning how to work better using the latest Revit features and BIM workflows. You’re encouraged to stay ahead of the curve.”

The organization’s structured development cycle also helps him think about what’s next. “There’s a structured but flexible pathway forward. I’m currently exploring a combined modelling-and-engineering role, a direction where I can manage a scope that encompasses the entire technical process. You get the chance to define your own future here.”