At the age of 16, Umer Moten, who is originally from Pakistan, saw himself as a future climate activist. He spent his secondary school years at a British educational institution with a strong focus on social sciences. “I quickly made the connections between climate and sustainability. I knew that what was happening in Pakistan was not a local issue, but the result of a global game,” Umer explains. ”That made me decide to make it my job to help countries with social issues related to climate and sustainability.”
Hello Rotterdam!
In 2021, during Covid, Umer arrived in Rotterdam. He started studying Management of International Social Challenges at Erasmus University. It was a perfect fit and a very conscious choice, given the insights he gained in high school in Pakistan. As a student, I did a lot of things alongside my studies, including working for student organizations. I also worked for a design company for six months, first as a student assistant and then, until December 2024, in a full-time position. With my goal still clear in mind, I continued to apply for jobs and was advised to inquire about work at Salacia Solutions.”
Internship accepted out of idealism
Umer’s first contact at Salacia was with Tim. “A very good and pleasant introduction,” says Umer. “I really wanted a full-time job, but Salacia couldn’t offer me that at the time. However, they did offer me an internship. Because ESG is extremely important to me and I wanted to gain more experience, I accepted the internship. Now I am an ESG & Product Development intern and can put everything I have learned into practice. What’s more, I can work on expanding my knowledge and network. I have been part of the ESG team here in Rotterdam since late-February.” Umer’s work includes conducting research and modeling formulas. He didn’t have to get used to the Rotterdam vibe at Salacia: “I’ve been living in this beautiful city for 3.5 years,” he says with a smile.
Learning what accountability mechanisms mean on a broad scale
Salacia Solutions offers Umer a great mix of opportunities to not only put everything he has learned into practice, but also to engage in a focused learning process. Umer: “I would like to learn what accountability mechanisms mean on a broad scale. I can do that by delving deeper into ESG tracking & reporting. My goal is to keep learning and developing myself further. Those are my personal core values. If you ask me where I see myself in the future, I would say in a role as a Design Consultant in Sustainability. I want to help countries.” Does he want to do that from the Netherlands? He replies: ”I’m not tied to the Netherlands, I’m very flexible. I can stay here until August, and then I’ll see what opportunities arise.”
