“On my days off, I polish up old furniture and use materials that others would have thrown away.”

Portrait Ralf Eggert (c) ifok GmbH

Ralf Eggert

What made you decide to work at ifok?  

Infrastructure projects have an impact on people. They are tied up with hope but can also generate fear. Stakeholder management brings together totally different perspectives and interests. There is no textbook solution to any topic – there are always new challenges. That’s what makes work interesting. When you interlock analysis, strategy and participation in a coherent way, stakeholder management leads to better planning and therefore greater acceptance. That’s what appeals to me about new projects. 

When did you join ifok and where were you beforehand?

As a proud Mannheimer, I decided early on to travel the world but in terms of my personal and working life to remain true to this region. I studied Geography, Biology and Environmental Law at the University of Heidelberg and joined IFOK shortly afterwards. Infrastructure projects always have effects on people and nature – this gives me an opportunity to bring in my expertise as well as my enthusiasm for communication. I have been doing this for 20 years.

What sets you apart at the office? 

ifok means variety – both in terms of the projects and the colleagues working with us. Seeing a whole project developing out of an idea and the way new colleagues, in a short time, develop into key players is so much fun. I think people notice this enthusiasm about me in daily working life.

What do you particularly like doing in your free time?

Quite a long time ago, I bought a construction trailer in the countryside. My goal was to create as much cosiness as possible with the least amount of stuff. In my free time, you will often find me upcycling old furniture and using materials that others have thrown away.

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