Meet our Project Manager, Derly Mateus

Q&As with Derly

Who are you?
I am Derly Mateus. I was born in Colombia, but I have been living in Italy for almost 20 years.

How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as being very resourceful, adaptable to change and committed.

What do you do at European Energy?
I work as Project Manager in the Italian team. Working in this position, I oversee renewable energy initiatives in their entirety from securing land rights, leading permitting processes, monitoring project progress and drawing up cost estimates. I am also involved in the marketing efforts to boost the quality of our projects.

How do you try to be a creative enabler of the green transition?
A couple of months ago, my son had a written assignment on climate change for school, and he developed a theme of “How does my mother help with Clean Energy?” Until this moment, his teacher did not know what I do at work. Now, we are working together to have some speeches during classes and probably organizing a one-day educational visit to a wind or solar power plant.
We claim we are “The Power of Tomorrow, Today”. Therefore, sharing our knowledge with new generations is the best way to achieve that goal.

What are the best things about working at European Energy? 
Definitely a healthy work-life balance, which allows all of us to excel at work and take care of our personal wellbeing outside of the office. I recently learned that in Denmark, it is mandatory to have an established Work Environment Committee. This is a concrete demonstration of how important it is to show consideration between colleagues. It is not just work at headquarters. Everybody is welcome to join sports activities for free: running club, mountain biking, football matches, yoga, etc.

Why is it important for you that European Energy is a driving force in the green transition?
The global energy crisis is accelerating the renewable energy expansion. In European Energy, we already have access to low-cost renewable electricity. This year, we have secured the largest e-methanol electrolyser and now we are running to produce cost-effective fuel for shipping companies. It is such an amazing starting point into CO2-neutral shipping in large-scale, greener and more efficient solutions!

What are the best things about your colleagues?
My colleagues are genuinely approachable, regardless of their place in the hierarchy. This results in more transparency, new ideas, and a stronger affinity between us and the company.

European Energy has six core values. In it together, Excitement, Inclusion, Agility, Trust & Courage, and Ambition. What are the most important values for you and why?
Firstly, “Trust & Courage”. It is true that in the energy sector, the majority of workers are men, mainly for socio-cultural reasons. In my experience, I have always seen more men than women in a meeting room, but I think it is becoming more evident that the decision of the future of energy demands more and more women sitting at the table and taking part in decision-making.

Secondly, “Ambition”. We want to provide renewable energy to the world, which is a huge ambition that drives us to achieve great things. Nothing truly great happens in the world without a healthy dose of ambition behind it.

What has been your best experience so far at European Energy?
Last July, I was named Brand Ambassador for European Energy, which gives me the opportunity to participate in workshops, get tips and training in how to better communicate our core values and of course, meet and network with the other ambassadors from Denmark, Spain, Poland, France, etc.

What do you like to do outside work?
Horseback riding is still my passion. When I was a child, I spent all my school holidays going on glorious hacks. Nevertheless, what I have left is the desire to spend time totally immersed in the natural environment. Every now and then I get this close proximity to the natural world that gives me such a sense of escapism and relaxation. Now I have a child and we love going outdoors, traveling and learning from different cultures.