Dirk Hermsen is the Director of Barham United Welldrillers (BUW), a family-owned drilling company established in 1937, specialising in water well, geothermal, geotechnical and environmental drilling throughout New Zealand.

Dirk has over 25 years’ experience in agriculture before moving into the drilling industry, where he trained in Non-Hydrocarbon Drilling and progressed through the industry drilling in New Zealand and Australia.

His experience includes air rotary, mud rotary, down-the-hole hammer and wireline coring, as well as working in challenging geothermal environments involving artesian conditions, high temperatures and H₂S risks.

Dirk is passionate about advancing geothermal development in New Zealand by sharing practical drilling experience and helping deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective geothermal solutions.