by Sarah Nicastro, Managing Director, Future of Assets and Creator, Future of Field Service
Before I introduce you to Berend, let me say hello myself – my name is Sarah, and I created the Future of Field Service platform around seven years ago. I am truly passionate about creating a space for honest discussions about business and service transformation, prioritizing real-world voices and input, and helping nurture community among leaders who are stronger together.
Last year, I was asked if I’d mentor Berend – I was told he really admired my approach and aspired to create something similar for the world he serves, enterprise asset management. While honored and happy to engage, I didn’t expect just how well we’d hit it off, how well suited to the role he’d be, or the opportunities that would present themselves as the year unfolded.
Now, here we are – early 2026 – and we’ve been able to bring to life Future of Assets, modeled after Future of Field Service. After a year of brainstorming, strategizing, and many heart-to-hearts, Berend gets to step into the role he’d not too long ago just imagined – and I’m honored to support him.
Moreover, I’m thrilled for you all to get to meet and know him! He’s an interesting, thoughtful, kind, and curious person and has so much to offer to Future of Assets and beyond. So, without further ado, here’s a little Q&A with Berend so you can learn more about the person at the helm of this exciting new resource.
Sarah: Tell everyone a bit about yourself & how you got into the EAM space.
Berend: Me being in this space is a classic case of happenstance. I used to work in consultancy and change management at Cisco, where I got fascinated by exploring how complex systems support real people doing critical work. That same curiosity drew me into the asset management space and over time, I fell in love with the depth, responsbility and long-term planning that this space demands.
Sarah: What are you most excited about as FoA launches?
Berend: What excites me most is building the connection with the community. I look forward to creating a space for open and honest conversations, bringing together people from different industries, roles and backgrounds to engage, exchange and learn. I'm excited to learn alongside the community and to see how the Future of Assets takes shape through participation.
Sarah: Fatherhood is very important to you – what’s one parallel you’ve been struck by between parenthood and asset management?
Berend: One concept that I have been exploring lately is that of stewardship. I am incredibly humbled by my role as a father; it is by far the most rewarding role I have ever held. In my love and care for my sons, I am constantly thinking about how I can prepare them for the future, how I can raise them to be loving, caring, resilient and best prepared for what is to come. In asset management, you adopt a similar mindset when it comes to the care and protection of an asset throughout its entire lifecycle. You are also constantly balancing today's needs with tomorrow's consequences. At the end of the day, I feel that for both fatherhood and asset management, responsibility, patience, and intent matter a great deal.
"At the end of the day, I feel that for both fatherhood and asset management, responsibility, patience, and intent matter a great deal."
Sarah: Will you share five fun, interesting, or surprising facts about yourself?
Berend: Sure!
#1: I majored in history, so I have a tendency of looking at the past in order to make sense of the present or talk about the future.
#2: I love reading, some of my favorite authors are Albert Camus, Aldous Huxley, Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson and Walter Moers.
#3: Languages fascinate me; besides Dutch and English, we also speak Armenian and Arabic at home thanks to my wife and extended family.
#4: When I was younger, I wanted to become a veterinarian. I did an internship and very quickly changed my mind.
#5: I love sports and will watch most sports with great joy. My guilty pleasure is cricket; after seeing it played on the streets in India, I learnt the rules and have been watching most major tournaments ever since.
Sarah: What three words do you hope the audience comes to associate with Future of Assets?
Berend: Curious, Conversational, Community