Patrick Walison, Senior Consultant Maritime Strategy & Economics
From master plans to market studies
With a background as an economist and fifteen years of experience in energy transition within the corporate world, Patrick Walison has shifted his focus to consultancy within the maritime sector. His expertise lies in the development of ports and energy infrastructure, where he is involved in commercial decision-making and strategic services.
"My work is international and very diverse," Patrick explains. "An important part involves drawing up master plans and providing advice for ports, with financial feasibility as a central focus. We do this in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. In addition, we are involved in acquisitions in the port sector, creating market forecasts, financial models, and social cost-benefit analyses, as well as conducting market studies for various public and private parties.
The maritime world is incredibly fascinating, partly due to its international aspect. It truly gives your work an extra dimension. The connection with the energy transition makes it even more challenging and socially relevant.
Energy transition in the maritime sector
Patrick is particularly involved in the impact of the energy transition on the maritime sector. "I focus on developing ports for the offshore wind sector, scaling up sustainable fuels for shipping, and implementing shore power for vessels." The ambitions in offshore wind energy are enormous, with many new wind farms under development. "This creates a significant demand for more port capacity to serve all these projects, from the supply and storage of foundations and turbine components to support for installation and maintenance at sea. For this, we conduct many feasibility studies and develop commercial strategies to map out the possibilities and work towards a strong business case that is both economically and socially relevant."Challenging projects and internal synergy
"Our work is challenging and involves a lot of strategic thinking, creativity, and a combination of qualitative knowledge to truly help the client with complex issues," says Patrick. The variety in projects, the client focus, the social relevance, and the relatively short lead times create a dynamic working environment. "We are always sharp and make optimal use of our internal knowledge."
Patrick adds: "The synergy within the team is fantastic; we know how to find each other and together we arrive at the best solutions for the client. Projects typically last three to six months, with a clear focus on the specific case. We work very project and client-oriented, and we try to organize internal processes and meetings as efficiently as possible."
International character and personal growth
"The international character of our work is something I really appreciate," Patrick emphasizes. "It doesn't necessarily mean you're constantly traveling, but you do come into contact with the international dynamics and the local perspective in a wide range of issues, which makes the work extra interesting. Our team is also international, which creates a nice cultural mix.
There is a lot of attention for the development of employees. "They really look at your expertise, and you are given the space to develop further internally. The organization is a good figurehead, and there is a lot of attention for personal growth, so you can grow in the direction that suits you and where your expertise lies." Patrick himself has been given the space to further specialize in the energy transition and develop this further within the Business Consultancy team. "This has allowed me to develop from a medior to a strong senior with substantive and commercial responsibility."
Within Haskoning, I get plenty of opportunities to challenge myself and develop in a pleasant working environment where there is a lot of attention for a healthy work-life balance. This last point, especially with a family, I find very valuable.
Do you also want to be part of our maritime consultants team?
Do you also want to contribute to these important developments and truly make an impact on a sector that connects the world? With us, you'll get that opportunity! We are looking for talent to strengthen our team and tackle the challenges of the future.
