Trainer of the Year 2024/2025: Henri van den Akker!

Which Subject Matter Expert (SME) Trainer at World Water Academy excels at sharing practical expertise with enthusiasm, resonates well with participants, and contributes to the quality of the training programs? During the symposium “Acceleration in water knowledge” on September 3rd, director Gabrielle Knufman announced the Trainer of the Year: Mr. Henri van den Akker.

In addition to being the director of Van den Akker Cleaning & Inspection Services, Henri is a well-known figure in the field of Sewerage and Urban Water. Together with fellow trainers Martin Nederlof and Kees Groeneveld, he guides participants through the world of sewer system inspections—both in the Visual Sewer Inspection for Inspectors course and the Refresher Course on Visual Sewer Inspection.

Inspiring and Critically Engaged

During the award ceremony, Gabrielle Knufman quoted the jury’s verdict: “As a trainer, Henri knows how to engage participants with enthusiasm. He conveys his extensive practical experience clearly, using hands-on examples and compelling anecdotes. Moreover, Henri is deeply involved in the ongoing development of the courses he teaches. His critical and constructive perspective is a valuable contribution to improving the examination process.”

The final conclusion: thanks to the consistently high ratings Henri receives from participants, he has become a highly respected trainer. A well-deserved recognition! And Henri himself? He prefers to share the honor with his two co-instructors: “We truly do this together!”