About Helena van der Vegt

Helena van der Vegt leads the Resilient Ports & Coasts (RPC) department at Deltares. With over eight years of experience at Deltares and a PhD in Applied Earth Sciences, she combines technical expertise with strategic leadership.
Her background includes sediment dynamics, morphodynamics and computational modelling, relevant to understanding and predicting changes in coastal and port systems. The RPC department advances coastal engineering and port resilience through cutting-edge research and applied solutions. Their expertise spans hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and coastal and offshore morphology, supporting the design of sustainable and resilient infrastructure for ports and coastal zones worldwide.

The team works with a wide range of clients, including government agencies, port authorities, engineering consultants, and project developers. Together, they deliver solutions that balance economic development with environmental stewardship, supporting decision-making on safe navigation, efficient sediment management, and adaptation to sea-level rise and extreme events.

In addition, Helena contributes to Deltares’ Innovation Team, driving organisational development through digital tools and collaborative innovation approaches. She also coordinates Deltares' academic positions with a strong ambition to cement strong partnerships with universities and foster knowledge exchange.