Energy & commodities · Independent consultancy
Haarlem, the Netherlands · Working internationally
I help energy businesses build and improve their credit risk frameworks, processes and systems.
Discuss an assignmentExpertise
Focused reviews, framework development and specialist support through a programme of change.
Assessing the current approach and helping establish or strengthen the credit risk function. Developing risk appetite, policy, responsibilities, decision processes and reporting around the needs of the business.
Current-state review · Policy · Governance
Developing practical approaches to counterparty assessment, exposure measurement, limits and mitigation. Connecting the methodology to trading and procurement activity, collateral, guarantees and contractual protections.
Current & future exposure · Risk appetite · EFET / ISDA
Translating trading and risk needs into clear scope, requirements and workflows. Working with business and delivery teams through system design, testing and implementation, including the wider contract and pricing processes within ETRM.
Business analysis · Requirements · Testing & delivery
Subject-matter input for software providers and market infrastructure businesses. Understanding client needs, reviewing delivery priorities and bringing user feedback and industry practice into product discussions.
Product SME · Client workshops · Industry engagement
Making credit risk and energy trading topics understandable for management and practitioners. Practical sessions on frameworks, exposure, collateral and the credit implications of trading agreements.
Management discussions · Team training · Industry presentations
Experience & perspective
More than 17 years of credit risk experience, with a view across energy businesses and the technology they use.
Working with both energy companies and software providers lets me compare how policies, processes and systems operate in different organisations. I use that experience to challenge existing approaches and adapt best practice to the business.
I connect clients with relevant expertise and bring market participants together around shared challenges. My work includes gathering user perspectives and supporting dialogue between the industry and the providers developing its systems and services.
I make complex topics understandable in management discussions, workshops, training and industry presentations. I help business, risk, legal and technology teams understand each other and agree on practical next steps.
I work with legal specialists who understand energy trading and its contractual structures.
BluErrow combines legal and credit risk expertise, including support for EFET, ISDA, PPA and CSA negotiations.
Correggio Consulting brings experience in drafting, negotiating and implementing energy trading agreements, including collateral, netting and default provisions.
Together, this connects credit risk practice with specialist legal input where an assignment needs it.
How I work
My work centres on improving the processes, policies, methodologies and systems used to manage risk.
I typically start by reviewing the current approach: how the processes work, which methodologies and systems are in use, and how these align with best practice and the needs of the business.
I work with your team to define the risk appetite and propose suitable processes and systems. I help develop the policies and methodologies to support that approach, including responsibilities, limits and decision-making.
I then support implementation: translating the agreed approach into requirements, testing it with the people who will use it, and helping embed it in day-to-day processes. The scope can range from a focused review to a broader programme of change.
You work directly with me throughout the assignment.
Selected assignment experience
Examples from my independent work since 2022.
Renewable energy
Establishing and developing a framework covering procurement, energy markets and partners. Work spanning policy, risk appetite, exposure methodology, data-provider assessment and portfolio reporting.
Credit risk technology
Supporting scoping, implementation and product improvement across energy and commodity clients. Working with users and delivery teams to translate risk requirements and client feedback into practical system changes.
ETRM implementation
Reviewing gaps between business needs and software delivery, facilitating client workshops and defining requirements and testing outcomes. Work extending into trading, contracts, pricing and operational workflows.
Training & industry webinars
Preparing and presenting the credit risk content of energy trading sessions alongside legal specialists, including exposure, performance assurance, close-out netting and termination settlement.
About
Independent credit risk consultant
& subject matter expert
I established Van Meel Credit Risk Management in 2022, following a career in credit risk within energy and commodities. Since then, my independent work has combined credit risk function development, system implementation, product input and training.
Credit risk remains my specialist area. My ETRM work also covers the wider trading, origination, contract, pricing and workflow requirements that come with implementing a system. I work directly with client teams and bring in complementary expertise where the assignment calls for it.
I am based in Haarlem and work with clients internationally, in English, Dutch and German.
My professional background on LinkedInContact
To discuss an assignment or ask about my availability, contact me by email or LinkedIn.
ward@energycreditrisk.comConnect with me on LinkedIn