Meet The Committee

Hello and Good Day! My name is Samuel Steiner, and I am the chair of the Value of Design Committee in its 2026 edition. I am from Maracaibo, Venezuela, a lively city in South America. Also, I am a second-year master’s student in Construction Management and engineering.

Personally, I am interested in football, cooking, dancing, and learning from and of others. This edition’s symposium brings a unique factor to the table that relates to my interests, visualizing and applying circularity into design and construction. This way of thinking is highly pertinent to the way of thought that the future holds for the industry, this aim interests me as it shows the next steps that civil engineers and architects can follow. From this thought does this event take shape, with personalities and ideas clashing and combining to add each other into the discussions of circular thought. And the ones doing this building of the event, this VoD Committee which I am a part of, have been a great enjoyment working and sharing quality time with. I am looking forward to seeing all of those attending this event, and that each takes away with them some insights that can change how we all think about the future of the built environment.

Hi! I’m Thieme Sjoerdsma, a second-year Structural Engineering student specialised in concrete structures. Within the Value of Design committee, I’ve been responsible for Acquisition. Like many students reading this, I have big ambitions to work with circularity in the future, but I’ll admit: circularity still feels a bit vague to me. That’s exactly why I wanted this symposium to bring together a broad range of perspectives; clients, pioneers in circularity, engineering firms, contractors and architects. Not only to get a clearer understanding of what circularity looks like in practice, but also to acquire knowledge of the state-of-the-art.

While acquiring participants, I’ve focused not just on their expertise, but also on how we could create real moments of interaction between professionals and students with different background and interests. We’ve designed the programme to encourage interaction; whether to deepen your knowledge, get inspired or even connect with a potential future employer.

Through my role, I've had the chance to connect with many inspiring parties and learn about their working philosophies. It’s been a truly valuable and enjoyable experience and I think the symposium will be exactly that: fun and educational. I hope to see you all on 6 May in the Aula. Let’s make it an unforgettable day together!

Hi everyone, my name is Louise and I am from Sweden, currently in my second year of MSc Structural Engineering.
Climate change is what ultimately drove me towards structural engineering, the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions on a large scale. The importance of collaboration between architects and engineers has never been more vital as global warming cannot be addressed without a strong interdisciplinary cooperation. I am excited for the Value of Design Symposium bringing us together as our once shared profession of the “Master Builder”. 
I am looking forward to listening, participating in passionate discussions, and exchanging ideas on circular design with both students and professionals. This symposium is a unique opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives within the industry, learn from real-world experiences, and shape your own views on designing circular. I can’t wait to share this symposium with you and be part of the conversations that will shape the future of circular design!

Hey there! My name is Paula, and I’m half Dutch and half Malaysian. After living in different parts of the world, I’m incredibly happy to now be living and studying Civil Engineering in the beautiful city of Delft. I love dancing salsa, cooking good food, doing lots of sports, and spending quality time with friends.

This year, I’m honored to be part of organizing the Value of Design Symposium. As secretary, I help capture important discussions during meetings and support the team wherever needed. This year’s theme is Circularity, a topic I’ve been interested in for quite some time. At first, I saw it as something that was often treated as an afterthought. However, I’ve come to realize how important it is to consider circularity from the very beginning and throughout every step of designing and creating something.

This approach not only helps ensure more sustainable outcomes, but also improves how processes connect and work together. Of course, that requires all of us to start thinking this way. That’s why I’m so excited about the theme of our symposium—I hope it will encourage others to think more circularly and be inspired by real-life examples from companies that are already putting these ideas into practice.

Heyhey! My name is Jeanet Horbach, and I started my master’s in civil engineering this very year, specialising in Hydraulics and Offshore Structures. I also completed my bachelor’s degree here in Delft. Within the Value of Design committee, I am the Treasurer, which means I take care of the finances and make sure all our ideas can actually come to life, one spreadsheet at a time.


No matter the track within civil engineering, sustainability is always part of the story, but often an afterthought. What I like about the theme ‘Resource to Re:source’ is that it invites us to look beyond purely technical solutions and think more consciously about how we value materials and resources, in all different kind of ways. With many inspiring speakers and hands on workshops to boast, the symposium offers plenty of room for new ideas and perspectives. Working with such a diverse and motivated committee has been a great experience, and I hope participants leave feeling inspired, engaged, and encouraged to take on new challenges.

Hi everyone!
My name is Julie and I am currently a first-year student in Hydraulic and Offshore Structures. Within the Value of Design committee, I take on the role of Logistics. This means that both in the run-up to the event and on the day itself, I’ll be constantly on the move to make sure everything runs smoothly, so that the day is as enjoyable and educational as possible for everyone.

Our committee consists of a group of enthusiastic and friendly people, all with different backgrounds and interests. This diversity creates a great dynamic within the team and is also reflected in our symposium. We truly want it to be accessible to everyone, regardless of your field of study, perspective, or background. With the help of inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops led by professionals from the field, and of course some great food, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Hello! My name is Andrea and I am a MSc Civil Engineering student, specializing in Structural Engineering. Within the VoD committee, I am responsible for contacting and coordinating the speakers for this year’s symposium. Being part of this committee is a very enriching experience, as it allows me to work with professionals and with the motivated members of the committee, which is truly amazing! 
This year, we aim to bring together speakers from diverse backgrounds, each contributing their own expertise to create the most accomplished symposium possible. I find it very rewarding to connect people from different studies, specializations, and industries around a topic that unites everyone. The theme of circularity reaches far beyond its initial interpretation, and I hope the symposium will inspire participants to explore its relevance from multiple perspectives. Hope to see you there!

Hey everyone! I’m Jens, and I’m one of the QQs for the Value of Design Symposium. I’m Dutch, and I’m happy to be supporting the team behind this year’s event. Looking forward to contributing and helping make it a great symposium!

Namastay everyone! I’m Lakshmi, and I’m one of the QQs for the Value of Design Committee 2026. I’m a second-year MSc Civil Engineering student specialising in Structural Engineering, and I’m genuinely excited to be part of the team organizing this year’s symposium. It already feels really special to be working with such an enthusiastic and fun group of people, and I’m very much looking forward to what’s ahead.
This year’s focus is on circularity, and as an aspiring structural engineer, I personally feel strongly connected to this topic. As engineers, we are slowly realising that designing something new isn’t always the answer. It’s time to understand that sometimes the real challenge lies in rethinking, reusing, and redesigning what already exists. Through this symposium, we want to introduce students to real-world projects and practical perspectives on circular engineering. I truly hope you enjoy the symposium as much as we’ve enjoyed organising it. See you all on May 6th!