Ask Warren who he is outside of work, and the answer paints a lively picture. He’s active, social, someone who hits the gym four to five times a week, and enjoys being around people as much as he enjoys putting on headphones and disappearing into focus mode. He lives comfortably between two modes: “I’m an introvert as much as an extravert,” he says. “The team in Amsterdam would say I’m the loud engineer, but I can also be quiet when focused.”
It’s a balance he naturally carries into everything he does. Whether he’s spending a Saturday walking through Rembrandtpark, or fixing things around the house, it’s all part of a rhythm that keeps him grounded. Warren grew up in South Africa and moved to the Netherlands four years ago. And while he has settled naturally into Amsterdam life, he does miss pieces from South Africa. “For example the spontaneous community culture. There, you see your parents every week, you have a braai with friends, you gather without planning.” But at the same time, living in Amsterdam gives him something else he values: accessibility, independence, new environments, and the chance to extend his experience in the solar industry.
“My extravert side comes out at Ecorus. I make jokes, people can make jokes, it’s a really great culture. I can be myself here.”
Warren wasn’t planning to move to Europe: the opportunity found him. A recruiter contacted him for a role that later fell through, but the conversation led to something better: Ecorus. “It was a no-brainer,” he says. “The projects were in line with what I wanted to do. But next to that, the conversations I had with the Ecorus team went very smoothly. I got along with them straight away. It ticked all the boxes for me.”
Leaving family and friends behind wasn’t easy, although his father encouraged him, shaped by his own missed opportunity years ago. “He always told me he regretted rejecting a similar opportunity so he motivated me to not make the same mistake.” And while he’s still flying back home for Christmas every year, his parents also come to visit him every year or so: “When you live in South Africa, you don’t travel to Europe often, but now they have a good reason to do so”, he laughs.
But there was more for Warren that pulled him to come and work for Ecorus. “I studied engineering, with a degree focussed on the electrical side. The courses I followed were mostly about power and energy. One of them touched on a solar park and that got me very interested.” As soon as he was graduated, he started searching for jobs in the solar industry. “I’ve been in solar for about 10 years now. What caught me is the generation of clean energy. Providing people with clean power is exciting and fulfilling. Sustainability has always been a part of my life, doing the best I can on a personal level and from a responsibility point of view. Now I’m also doing my bit on the impact side. For me it’s all about balance.”
And that’s probably what makes his role at Ecorus perfectly suited for him. “I’m a Project Engineer, doing half sales engineering, half project engineering. So on one side I’m being creative and am looking at what I can design on a roof. And on the other side I’m busy with making changes to projects, doing site visits and checking in on what’s happening while the design is coming alive.” It’s that diversity part of his job that he enjoys the most. “I like the variety and taking on multiple projects at the same time. My worst nightmare is being bored.”
“I love to see projects come alive. When I see what I created being built, it proves the impact someone can make.”
The best thing of his job? “Seeing a project coming alive”, he says. “To start a design and then see it being built on a rooftop, that’s great.” One of the projects that stand out for him, is one of the largest currently being built, he says. “It’s an 8 MW-peak rooftop project in Moerdijk. You start with a clean roof, and then create it in a way so that it is aesthetically pleasing, but also electrically sound. Again, it’s the right balance for me between the electrical and creative world.”
He’s also proud of the work no one asked him to do: volunteering to help a Dutch company who finances solar PV systems in South Africa, sharing his knowledge for over a year and a half. “I like helping others. I speak a lot to people about their projects. I love teaching new engineers about our processes or designing a project.” It’s something that happens outside of work as well: “Yes, friends also come to me with electrical questions. But I enjoy giving advice, am happy to help.”
When thinking of the future, he knows he will stay in the renewable energy business. “The solar industry is expanding, and that’s where my experience is. But I’d like to broaden my knowledge in the electrical world. Expanding my knowledge on batteries and being able to grow with Ecorus with this technology.”
Until then, he enjoys spending time with his colleagues. “Especially during the drinks on Friday afternoon. It’s the social aspect that remains important to me. It’s good to have fun with each other apart from the daily focus time.” So as long as he can create, help others grow and keep a bit of both worlds with him, Warren’s exactly where he needs to be – headphones on or off.
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