Matthijs - Auditor and Trainer

The Story

From client to auditor

Matthijs studied Environmental Science and Environmental Health Science at Maastricht University. He began his career at General Electric, working in quality, environment, health, and safety. Experiencing audits from the client side led to an unexpected insight.

“I realised that asking the questions seemed more appealing than answering them. That’s why I sent an open application to DNV – a turning point I never looked back on,” says Matthijs.

Variety and continuous growth

Matthijs started as a full‑time auditor focusing on environment and health and safety, later expanding into quality and energy management systems. What has kept the work engaging over the years is the variety: new industries, new standards, and new challenges.

“I’ve experienced first-hand that if you are open to new experiences, there are plenty of opportunities here and my career evolved naturally through curiosity and openness,” he reflects.

Discovering a passion for training

Around ten years into his journey, Matthijs discovered a new passion after supporting a training session. Today, he focuses primarily on training, delivering workshops and developing new auditors across industries.

“What drives me is inspiring people. If one participant leaves with a new insight, my day is already successful, he reflects”

Although teaching was not an obvious choice early on, sharing knowledge and working with people turned out to be what motivates him most.

Trust, autonomy, and purpose

For Matthijs, working at DNV is about more than professional growth. The company’s purpose – safeguarding life, property, and the environment – strongly resonates with him. He also values the culture of trust and autonomy, where you can manage your own schedules and make decisions, which allows for both flexibility and responsibility.

“You are in charge of your own agenda. If you manage it well, a healthy work‑life balance is possible,” he summarizes.

Advice to newcomers

For those entering the profession, Matthijs believes mindset matters most. A good auditor is open‑minded and adaptable. You can be flexible, but you never compromise on quality, Matthijs says.

After more than two decades, Matthijs still sees DNV as a place full of opportunities.

“Opportunities are there, but you have to seize them. Nothing happens by itself.”