We sat down with Maarten de Vries, PASMA’s head of operations, systems & innovation, to celebrate his ten-year milestone at the association.
From pioneering digital tools to revolutionising PASMA’s operations, Maarten’s journey has been one of transformation, innovation and discovery.
From the Netherlands to Scotland
Maarten grew up in the Netherlands with a curiosity for how things worked—a passion that led him to study mechanical engineering before transitioning to business informatics.
“I started in engineering, but the use of computers in my course wasn’t sufficient,” he explains. “I’ve been tinkering with them since I was 15, which wasn’t very common at the time. I could already see how technology was going to change the world.”
Maarten’s studies included an exchange programme at Glasgow University Business School in the 1990s, when he first moved to the country. “I always wanted to live in Scotland,” he says. “The opportunity came with the exchange programme, but I had to work hard to make it happen. Once I got settled in Scotland, I knew I wanted to stay.”
Pioneering frame access towers
Maarten’s first steps into the access industry came with Turner Access, a PASMA member that manufactured, hired out, sold and delivered training on mobile access towers. It was there that he first met Peter Bennett OBE, who hired him to help expand the company’s footprint across Europe.
“One of my main tasks was to adapt our towers to meet continental tower design expectations,” Maarten recalls. “On the continent, they preferred frame access systems over clip-in ladders. So, I worked on designing a completely new tower system to meet that demand.”
That new system became the Octo Tower, Turner Access’ first frame access tower. Peter saw its potential and used it to win over a major client. “It was a real game-changer,” Maarten reflects. “The Octo Tower disrupted the market and kickstarted the acceptance of frame access systems in the UK.”
This innovation positioned Turner Access as an industry leader and helped introduce frame access towers to the UK market, where they are now widely used.
From the Highlands to PASMA
After leaving Turner Access, Maarten spent the next decade consulting on e-commerce and systems projects across Scotland, working with over 500 businesses. “It was exciting to help companies embrace technology at a time when it wasn’t as mainstream as it is today,” he shares.
Among his projects, Maarten developed booking software for a Loch Ness cruise company and delivered PRINCE2 project management training across Scotland. “I’ve always enjoyed combining practical problem-solving with teaching others to achieve their goals,” he says.
In recognition of this work, and thanks to the wealth of strategic experience he had built up, Maarten was granted a Fellowship with the Institute of Consulting, the professional body for consultants and business advisers in the UK.
In 2014, Maarten reconnected with Peter Bennett OBE, who was then PASMA’s managing director. “Peter told me the association was growing quickly but struggling with its systems and processes,” Maarten explains. “I liked the challenge, so I joined the team.”
Transforming the association’s systems
“When I started at PASMA, there was no formal project management method, and few systems were integrated,” Maarten recalls. “I introduced project management methodologies and tools like Asana to help streamline processes and ensure everyone was on the same page.”
He also led the redesign of PASMA’s online registration system. “The old system was outdated and no longer supported by developers,” he says. “We rebuilt it from the ground up, redesigning the database to integrate it with our operations, making it future-proof and user-friendlier.”
The online registration system now supports all aspects of PASMA’s training and certification processes, with features like prerequisite checks and online access to PASMA courses.
Introducing TowerSure and other innovations
Maarten also played a key role in developing TowerSure, a digital platform enabling operators to log and verify tower builds. “TowerSure is transformative,” he explains. “It’s not just about compliance—it’s a tool for improving safety and efficiency.”
The platform provides PASMA with insights into how towers are used in the field, helping to refine training programmes. “It’s a feedback loop,” Maarten says. “For the first time, we can see how effective our training is in real-world scenarios.”
He is also supporting PASMA’s efforts to reduce its reliance on paper. “We’re moving towards fully digital systems,” he notes. “Soon, delegates will be able to complete their exams on tablets or phones, eliminating paper entirely.”
Life beyond the office
Outside of work, Maarten is a man of many interests. A lifelong physics enthusiast, he enjoys exploring the universe’s mysteries through books, lectures and an ongoing quantum physics course at the Open University. “Physics gives me a different perspective on the world,” he says.
Another of his passions is skûtsje sailing, a traditional Dutch pastime he hopes to return to one day. “It’s a connection to my roots and a way to recharge,” he says, though it’s not easy to do outside of Friesland, where both Maarten and the tradition originate.
He is also active in an electronic music club, where he composes and performs. Recently, Maarten played at a sold-out gig, combining his music with a space-themed slideshow. “It’s a creative outlet that merges my love for science and art,” he shares. Members might even recognise his EDM tracks from intermissions during PASMA webinars and other events!
Looking at the past, present and future
Reflecting on his ten years at PASMA, Maarten feels a deep sense of pride. “We’ve come a long way,” he says. “From modernising our systems to pioneering digital tools, it’s been a journey of continuous improvement.”
Looking ahead, he’s excited about PASMA’s ongoing digital transformation. “There’s still so much we can do to innovate and enhance safety in the access industry,” Maarten says. “I’m proud to be part of such a talented and dedicated team – the next ten years are full of potential, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.”
