The BE-CYBER Experience Sharing Day is the highlight of the year for the Coalition community and cybersecurity enthusiasts alike. Our flagship event brings together a diverse audience to engage in cutting-edge discussions on cybersecurity, new technologies, regulatory challenges, and evolving threats.
The venue for this edition of BE-CYBER will be the HI! site in Grimbergen, located on the former grounds of coffee manufacturer Douwe Egberts. That is why this fourth edition will be a coffee edition!
The conference will be shaped by geopolitical developments, which will be the focus of our keynote, and will feature five tracks and three workshops.
We will finalise the content part of the programme with a series of lightning talks, where participants are encouraged to actively engage by pitching a statement in just six minutes.
Beyond the content-rich sessions, there will be plenty of networking opportunities, culminating in a walking dinner with a Jazzcombo SoWhat playing in the background – the perfect setting to continue the conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. As a special treat, enjoy an entertainment act by Stefan Paridaen.
9:00 am
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
9:30 am
Marktplaats
- Plenary
Track:None
Hosted by
Jan De Blauwe
Chair
Cyber Security Coalition
Jan De Blauwe is chair of the Cyber Security Coalition. As COO and Managing Director of NVISO, Jan focuses on the international development of this Belgian provider of cybersecurity solutions. Until September 2021, Jan was head of global security at the bank BNP Paribas Fortis. In that role, he was responsible for cybersecurity, business continuity, data protection and privacy, and IT risk management of this major bank. He was also known as chair of Secursys, the Febelfin committee responsible for cyber security. Between 1998 and 2007, Jan held management positions in the US, first at Lucent Technologies / Bell Labs, and then as vice-president corporate accounts at Ubizen/Cybertrust (now part of Verizon Business). Jan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Leuven, a postgraduate degree in Data Analytics from the University of Leuven and an MBA from New York University.
Jan De Blauwe
Chair
Cyber Security Coalition
Jan De Blauwe is chair of the Cyber Security Coalition. As COO and Managing Director of NVISO, Jan focuses on the international development of this Belgian provider of cybersecurity solutions. Until September 2021, Jan was head of global security at the bank BNP Paribas Fortis. In that role, he was responsible for cybersecurity, business continuity, data protection and privacy, and IT risk management of this major bank. He was also known as chair of Secursys, the Febelfin committee responsible for cyber security. Between 1998 and 2007, Jan held management positions in the US, first at Lucent Technologies / Bell Labs, and then as vice-president corporate accounts at Ubizen/Cybertrust (now part of Verizon Business). Jan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Leuven, a postgraduate degree in Data Analytics from the University of Leuven and an MBA from New York University.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
9:45 am
Theatre 2 + Broadcast Theatre 1
- Plenary
Track:None
Hosted by
Caroline De Gruyter
Keynote Speaker
Foreign Policy - NRC Handelsblad, Carnegie Europe, ECFR
Caroline de Gruyter is a Europe correspondent and columnist for the Dutch newspaper NRC. Based in Brussels, she is also a columnist for Foreign Policy, De Standaard and EUobserver, and a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Caroline has covered European politics for 25 years. She has also lived in the Gaza strip, Jerusalem, Geneva, Vienna and Oslo. Her latest book, about the lessons today’s Europe can draw from the equally multinational Habsburg Empire, became a bestseller. It has been translated into German, French, Swedish and Hungarian. www.carolinedegruyter.eu
Caroline De Gruyter
Keynote Speaker
Foreign Policy - NRC Handelsblad, Carnegie Europe, ECFR
Caroline de Gruyter is a Europe correspondent and columnist for the Dutch newspaper NRC. Based in Brussels, she is also a columnist for Foreign Policy, De Standaard and EUobserver, and a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Caroline has covered European politics for 25 years. She has also lived in the Gaza strip, Jerusalem, Geneva, Vienna and Oslo. Her latest book, about the lessons today’s Europe can draw from the equally multinational Habsburg Empire, became a bestseller. It has been translated into German, French, Swedish and Hungarian. www.carolinedegruyter.eu
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
10:20 am
Theatre 2 + Broadcast Theatre 1
- Plenary
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
10:40 am
Theatre 1
- Espresso
Track:Cloud Macchiato
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
10:40 am
Theatre 2
- Dark Roast
Track:Dark Roast Defences
Hosted by
Suyin Aerts
Host
Suyin.be
Suyin Aerts, a former professional ballet dancer and actress, transitioned to an unconventional path by joining her partner’s company, X-Treme Creations. This company specializes in designing, producing, and implementing visual marketing materials for various projects. Suyin’s accolades include the Talent Award of Women in Marketing and Communication (2012) and the Networker of the Year Award in Belgium (2016). As a female entrepreneur, she balances her professional life with a freelance career as a multilingual presenter and journalist for television (Kanaal Z/Canal Z) and event moderator. In 2019, she received the Wintrade Award for Women in the Media (sponsored by Microsoft). With a master's degree in industrial business policy, diverse marketing courses, and an International Trade degree from the International Chamber of Commerce, Suyin remains committed to expanding her vision, knowledge, and creativity. She also earned a digital transformation degree from Vlerick Business School in 2020. In April 2022, Suyin published her first book, “Time for the Creative Generalist” (NL) through LannooCampus. This same publishing house launched her second book called 10 Quintessential Questions, released in English on the importance of asking the right questions and the flow of an interview.
Michel Van Strythem
Major General, Commander Belgian Cyber Command
Belgian Defence
Major General Michel Van Strythem has a Master of Science in Engineering in Telecommunications from the Royal Military Academy, Brussels. He graduated also as Safety Engineer at the University of Brussels, as Master in Total Quality Management at the Facultés Polytechniques de Mons and he followed the Higher Staff Course (2005). On June 26th, 2021, Michel Van Strythem was appointed Brigadier General to fulfil the duty of Cyber & Influence Project Officer for Belgian Defence. On September 26th, 2022, he was appointed to the rank of Major General. Since October 19th , 2022, he has been trusted the command of the Belgian Cyber Command as its first Cyber Commander.
Michel Van Strythem
Major General, Commander Belgian Cyber Command
Belgian Defence
Major General Michel Van Strythem has a Master of Science in Engineering in Telecommunications from the Royal Military Academy, Brussels. He graduated also as Safety Engineer at the University of Brussels, as Master in Total Quality Management at the Facultés Polytechniques de Mons and he followed the Higher Staff Course (2005). On June 26th, 2021, Michel Van Strythem was appointed Brigadier General to fulfil the duty of Cyber & Influence Project Officer for Belgian Defence. On September 26th, 2022, he was appointed to the rank of Major General. Since October 19th , 2022, he has been trusted the command of the Belgian Cyber Command as its first Cyber Commander.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
11:15 am
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
11:35 am
Theatre 1
- Espresso
Track:Cloud Macchiato
Hosted by
Ulrich Seldeslachts
Executive Director
LSEC - Leaders in Security
Ulrich Seldeslachts is executive director of LSEC.eu, a not for profit industry association focused on Cyber Security and Data Protection in Europe, based in Belgium and with operations in the Netherlands, UK and Germany. LSEC is a cyber security catalyst, bringing together enterprise and government users, with industrial ICT Security expertise and academic experts and researchers. As a spinoff of KU Leuven university, LSEC is a thought leader on Cyber Security since 2002. Next to GDPR and data protection, LSEC has been active in domains of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), Insider Threats, and Cyber Security Market Analysis. Prior to LSEC, Ulrich was responsible for the corporate development of a US-European Broadband wireless operator (Sprint-Clearwire), held operational ICT security positions at Orange and ran Cybersecurity investments at a Corporate Venture Capital. LSEC runs 3IF.be, a transformation platform to digitize manufacturing with IoT and Industrial Internet, and is within the European Connected Factory responsible for the Cyber Security and Privacy challenges for advanced manufacturing platforms. LSEC participates with its expertise in the support on targeting Organized Crime and Terrorist Networks from a Cyber Crime perspective. Ulrich holds a BA in Communications, postgraduates in CS and an MBA from LBS. Within LSEC, Ulrich supports a team of 13 experts paving the way for a more secure industrial internet. Ulrich is Board Member of the Privacysalon, the organiser of the CPDPConferences.org, the leading European conference on privacy and data protection.
Alexandre Ferreira Gomes
Research Fellow
The Clingendael Institute
Alexandre Gomes is a Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for International Relations ‘Clingendael’, where he is part of the EU & Global Affairs Unit and of the ‘Geopolitics of Technology and Digitalisation’ programme. Geopolitics of technology covers (inter)national security issues and discussions on economic security, de-risking and the changing global order. Alexandre looks at the position and role of the European Union in the technology rivalry between the US and China, both from the Protect and Promote policy points of view. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and quantum technologies, as well as topics like cloud sovereignty or export controls, also capture his attention. He looks at power dynamics of public and private actors in the digital domain and their collaboration and partnerships, exemplified by the EU Global Gateway initiative.
Florence Steenackers
Director - Privacy and Data Governance Services
Approach Cyber
Florence operates at the intersection of data protection, cybersecurity, data governance, and AI ethics, with a robust academic foundation and extensive professional experience. She holds a Master in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, specializing in Sustainable Development. Her academic journey also includes international programs, one of them at Universidad del Pacífico in Peru, enhancing her global perspective.
Florence’s expertise is further strengthened through specialized private education in Data Management and European Data Protection Law.
She currently serves as Privacy & Data Governance Director and AI Taskforce Lead at Approach Cyber, one of Belgium's leading cybersecurity and privacy pure-players. Her role involves supporting private and public sectors in navigating and operationalizing data protection, security, and AI legislations and frameworks. She collaborates closely with Belgian Defense, EU, and NATO allies, particularly in the fields of AI use for cyberdefense and ethics, and is regularly called to contribute to the Cybersecurity Coalition and Women 4 Privacy networks.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Florence is committed to the academic and educational community. She delivers or co-delivers lectures, including sessions with Pr Bart Preneel, teacher at KU Leuven and internationally renowned expert in cryptography and cybersecurity.
Florence’s passions range from her children, sports, and nature to the potential benefits of technology for society.
Through her professional and educational efforts, she humbly contributes to her field and the broader community.
Pascal Steichen
Chair
ECCC Governing Board
Founder and CEO of the Luxembourg House of Cybersecurity. For 20 years, Pascal is involved in the main cybersecurity initiatives of the Luxembourg government, CYBERSECURITY Luxembourg, the national platform to foster and empower the Luxembourg Ecosystem in the field of cybersecurity, being his latest achievement. Laureate of the Information Security Personality of the Year in 2017, Pascal Steichen has dedicated his professional career to cybersecurity. In 2022 he was elected as the first chairman of the ECCC (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre). Pascal holds a master's degree in astrophysics and, in parallel of starting his career as a software engineer, he graduated in applied information technology. In 2002 he joined the Luxembourg Government, as advisor and project manager in network and information security for the Ministry of Economy, where he participated in the creation of LuxTrust (www.luxtrust.com), CASES (www.cases.lu), and CIRCL (www.circl/lu) as part of his activities. From 2003 to 2014, he was representing Luxembourg as an alternative member of the management board of ENISA. In 2017, Pascal led and contributed to the creation of the Cybersecurity Competence Centre, a unique facility to strengthen the resilience of the Luxembourg economy by helping organisations to test and improve their cybersecurity competence, which evolved into the National Cybersecurity Competence Centre (NC3 – www.nc3.lu). Building on a huge experience in cybersecurity, today, Pascal is involved in key communities in Luxembourg and Europe. Member of the Luxembourg Cybersecurity Board, lecturer in information security at the University of Luxembourg, member of the WomenCyberForce, and involved in the curricular board of BTS cybersecurity. At an international level, Pascal was involved in the founding of ECSO, is an active member of the FIC advisory board, was part of the 2021 judging panel at the IFSEC Global Influencers in Security and Fire Award, and since 2022 represents Luxembourg at the Governing Board of the ECCC, where he was elected as its first Chairperson.
Pascal Rogiest
General Manager
Clarence
Pascal Rogiest, a graduate in engineering from the University of Liège, began his career at SES as a Satellite Engineer. In 2002, he co-founded SES Astra TechCom, where he served as General Manager and Vice President of Sales. From 2016 to 2020, Pascal was the CEO of LuxTrust, after working there as an International Business Developer. He then joined RHEA Group, where he held various leadership positions, including Managing Director of Luxembourg and Chief Commercial Officer. In June 2024, Pascal became the first General Manager of Clarence, a joint venture between LuxConnect and Proximus.
Ulrich Seldeslachts
Executive Director
LSEC - Leaders in Security
Ulrich Seldeslachts is executive director of LSEC.eu, a not for profit industry association focused on Cyber Security and Data Protection in Europe, based in Belgium and with operations in the Netherlands, UK and Germany. LSEC is a cyber security catalyst, bringing together enterprise and government users, with industrial ICT Security expertise and academic experts and researchers. As a spinoff of KU Leuven university, LSEC is a thought leader on Cyber Security since 2002. Next to GDPR and data protection, LSEC has been active in domains of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), Insider Threats, and Cyber Security Market Analysis. Prior to LSEC, Ulrich was responsible for the corporate development of a US-European Broadband wireless operator (Sprint-Clearwire), held operational ICT security positions at Orange and ran Cybersecurity investments at a Corporate Venture Capital. LSEC runs 3IF.be, a transformation platform to digitize manufacturing with IoT and Industrial Internet, and is within the European Connected Factory responsible for the Cyber Security and Privacy challenges for advanced manufacturing platforms. LSEC participates with its expertise in the support on targeting Organized Crime and Terrorist Networks from a Cyber Crime perspective. Ulrich holds a BA in Communications, postgraduates in CS and an MBA from LBS. Within LSEC, Ulrich supports a team of 13 experts paving the way for a more secure industrial internet. Ulrich is Board Member of the Privacysalon, the organiser of the CPDPConferences.org, the leading European conference on privacy and data protection.
Alexandre Ferreira Gomes
Research Fellow
The Clingendael Institute
Alexandre Gomes is a Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for International Relations ‘Clingendael’, where he is part of the EU & Global Affairs Unit and of the ‘Geopolitics of Technology and Digitalisation’ programme. Geopolitics of technology covers (inter)national security issues and discussions on economic security, de-risking and the changing global order. Alexandre looks at the position and role of the European Union in the technology rivalry between the US and China, both from the Protect and Promote policy points of view. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and quantum technologies, as well as topics like cloud sovereignty or export controls, also capture his attention. He looks at power dynamics of public and private actors in the digital domain and their collaboration and partnerships, exemplified by the EU Global Gateway initiative.
Florence Steenackers
Director - Privacy and Data Governance Services
Approach Cyber
Florence operates at the intersection of data protection, cybersecurity, data governance, and AI ethics, with a robust academic foundation and extensive professional experience. She holds a Master in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, specializing in Sustainable Development. Her academic journey also includes international programs, one of them at Universidad del Pacífico in Peru, enhancing her global perspective.
Florence’s expertise is further strengthened through specialized private education in Data Management and European Data Protection Law.
She currently serves as Privacy & Data Governance Director and AI Taskforce Lead at Approach Cyber, one of Belgium's leading cybersecurity and privacy pure-players. Her role involves supporting private and public sectors in navigating and operationalizing data protection, security, and AI legislations and frameworks. She collaborates closely with Belgian Defense, EU, and NATO allies, particularly in the fields of AI use for cyberdefense and ethics, and is regularly called to contribute to the Cybersecurity Coalition and Women 4 Privacy networks.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Florence is committed to the academic and educational community. She delivers or co-delivers lectures, including sessions with Pr Bart Preneel, teacher at KU Leuven and internationally renowned expert in cryptography and cybersecurity.
Florence’s passions range from her children, sports, and nature to the potential benefits of technology for society.
Through her professional and educational efforts, she humbly contributes to her field and the broader community.
Pascal Steichen
Chair
ECCC Governing Board
Founder and CEO of the Luxembourg House of Cybersecurity. For 20 years, Pascal is involved in the main cybersecurity initiatives of the Luxembourg government, CYBERSECURITY Luxembourg, the national platform to foster and empower the Luxembourg Ecosystem in the field of cybersecurity, being his latest achievement. Laureate of the Information Security Personality of the Year in 2017, Pascal Steichen has dedicated his professional career to cybersecurity. In 2022 he was elected as the first chairman of the ECCC (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre). Pascal holds a master's degree in astrophysics and, in parallel of starting his career as a software engineer, he graduated in applied information technology. In 2002 he joined the Luxembourg Government, as advisor and project manager in network and information security for the Ministry of Economy, where he participated in the creation of LuxTrust (www.luxtrust.com), CASES (www.cases.lu), and CIRCL (www.circl/lu) as part of his activities. From 2003 to 2014, he was representing Luxembourg as an alternative member of the management board of ENISA. In 2017, Pascal led and contributed to the creation of the Cybersecurity Competence Centre, a unique facility to strengthen the resilience of the Luxembourg economy by helping organisations to test and improve their cybersecurity competence, which evolved into the National Cybersecurity Competence Centre (NC3 – www.nc3.lu). Building on a huge experience in cybersecurity, today, Pascal is involved in key communities in Luxembourg and Europe. Member of the Luxembourg Cybersecurity Board, lecturer in information security at the University of Luxembourg, member of the WomenCyberForce, and involved in the curricular board of BTS cybersecurity. At an international level, Pascal was involved in the founding of ECSO, is an active member of the FIC advisory board, was part of the 2021 judging panel at the IFSEC Global Influencers in Security and Fire Award, and since 2022 represents Luxembourg at the Governing Board of the ECCC, where he was elected as its first Chairperson.
Pascal Rogiest
General Manager
Clarence
Pascal Rogiest, a graduate in engineering from the University of Liège, began his career at SES as a Satellite Engineer. In 2002, he co-founded SES Astra TechCom, where he served as General Manager and Vice President of Sales. From 2016 to 2020, Pascal was the CEO of LuxTrust, after working there as an International Business Developer. He then joined RHEA Group, where he held various leadership positions, including Managing Director of Luxembourg and Chief Commercial Officer. In June 2024, Pascal became the first General Manager of Clarence, a joint venture between LuxConnect and Proximus.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
11:35 am
Theatre 2
- Dark Roast
Track:Dark Roast Defences
Hosted by
Bernard Siman O.B.E.
Senior Associate Fellow
Egmont Institute
Bernard Siman, O.B.E. is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute covering Hybrid Threats and Warfare. He is also Head of Cyber and Financial Diplomacy at the Brussels Diplomatic Academy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He teaches graduates and diplomats “The International Monetary Policy & Financial Architecture” and “Cyber Diplomacy & Statecraft”. He also teaches regularly at the Belgian Royal Military Academy. He was one of the authors of one of the first applied research reports on Hybrid Warfare in the Middle East, published by LSEideas, the foreign policy and security think tank of his alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science. In addition to financial services and security, he specialises in Hybrid Warfare and Mediterranean, Black Sea and Maritime and Middle East geopolitics, advising both governments and corporates. He has written extensively on these topics. He is a Member of both Chatham House and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
His background spans both the private sector, academia as well as public service. He was the UK Special Representative to the UAE for Financial and Professional Services, and Co-Chair of the bilateral “Financial and Professional services Working Group” and the “Shipping and Maritime Task Force”, advising both governments on market access as well as on opportunities. He has worked in financial services in London, Tokyo, Turkey, the Mediterranean region, and the Gulf (where he lived for 13 years). He was a Visiting Fellow at the Cass Business School, City University of London.
He obtained, inter alia, an MPhil in Government from the LSE and a Graduate Diploma in Civil Engineering from Kyoto University, Japan where he lived and worked for 10 years. He was honoured by HM The Queen as an Officer in the Order of the British Empire, and by HM King Filip of the Belgians as a Knight in the Order of Leopold.
In addition to English and Dutch, he speaks Japanese, Arabic, and some German. He has a lifelong interest in military history!
Dominika Hajdu
Director for Policy and Programming
GLOBSEC
Dominika Hajdu oversees policy and programming at GLOBSEC, a policy institution founded in Central Europe. Having led GLOBSEC’s Centre for Democracy & Resilience since 2019, her research has focused on foreign malign influence and its impact on democratic societies, the intersection of technology and democracy, and strategic communications. She has led large-scale international projects aimed at research, awareness-raising, and capacity-building across diverse target groups, with the goal of strengthening societal and state resilience.
Previously, Dominika gained experience in the advertising sector and EU public affairs.
She holds an MA in EU Foreign Policy from the University of Leuven in Belgium.
She holds an MA in EU Foreign Policy from the University of Leuven in Belgium, speaks English, French, and Slovak, and is based in GLOBSEC’s Brussels office.
Peter Van Aelst
Professor
University of Antwerp
Peter Van Aelst is professor in Political Communication at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and member of the research group ‘Media, Movements and Politics (M²P). His current work mainly deals with online disinformation in a global perspective and ways to go against it.
Bernard Siman O.B.E.
Senior Associate Fellow
Egmont Institute
Bernard Siman, O.B.E. is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute covering Hybrid Threats and Warfare. He is also Head of Cyber and Financial Diplomacy at the Brussels Diplomatic Academy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He teaches graduates and diplomats “The International Monetary Policy & Financial Architecture” and “Cyber Diplomacy & Statecraft”. He also teaches regularly at the Belgian Royal Military Academy. He was one of the authors of one of the first applied research reports on Hybrid Warfare in the Middle East, published by LSEideas, the foreign policy and security think tank of his alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science. In addition to financial services and security, he specialises in Hybrid Warfare and Mediterranean, Black Sea and Maritime and Middle East geopolitics, advising both governments and corporates. He has written extensively on these topics. He is a Member of both Chatham House and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
His background spans both the private sector, academia as well as public service. He was the UK Special Representative to the UAE for Financial and Professional Services, and Co-Chair of the bilateral “Financial and Professional services Working Group” and the “Shipping and Maritime Task Force”, advising both governments on market access as well as on opportunities. He has worked in financial services in London, Tokyo, Turkey, the Mediterranean region, and the Gulf (where he lived for 13 years). He was a Visiting Fellow at the Cass Business School, City University of London.
He obtained, inter alia, an MPhil in Government from the LSE and a Graduate Diploma in Civil Engineering from Kyoto University, Japan where he lived and worked for 10 years. He was honoured by HM The Queen as an Officer in the Order of the British Empire, and by HM King Filip of the Belgians as a Knight in the Order of Leopold.
In addition to English and Dutch, he speaks Japanese, Arabic, and some German. He has a lifelong interest in military history!
Dominika Hajdu
Director for Policy and Programming
GLOBSEC
Dominika Hajdu oversees policy and programming at GLOBSEC, a policy institution founded in Central Europe. Having led GLOBSEC’s Centre for Democracy & Resilience since 2019, her research has focused on foreign malign influence and its impact on democratic societies, the intersection of technology and democracy, and strategic communications. She has led large-scale international projects aimed at research, awareness-raising, and capacity-building across diverse target groups, with the goal of strengthening societal and state resilience.
Previously, Dominika gained experience in the advertising sector and EU public affairs.
She holds an MA in EU Foreign Policy from the University of Leuven in Belgium.
She holds an MA in EU Foreign Policy from the University of Leuven in Belgium, speaks English, French, and Slovak, and is based in GLOBSEC’s Brussels office.
Peter Van Aelst
Professor
University of Antwerp
Peter Van Aelst is professor in Political Communication at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and member of the research group ‘Media, Movements and Politics (M²P). His current work mainly deals with online disinformation in a global perspective and ways to go against it.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
12:25 pm
Theatre 1
- Espresso
Track:Cloud Macchiato
Hosted by
Robin Bruynseels
Senior Cyber Security Analyst & Partner
EASI
Robin Bruynseels is 26 years old and has studied Applied Computer Science at Thomas More Geel. His day-to-day role is in our Security Operations Center (SOC), where he coordinates part of the team, assists in decision-making, and supports deeper analysis of alerts and investigations. He also focuses on optimizing processes and procedures to ensure that the SOC runs efficiently. In addition to his SOC responsibilities, he works closely with the sales team as a technical pre-sales. Together, they design and deliver tailored cybersecurity solutions that meet our customers' needs. As co-chairman of the Cyber Security Coalition's CIDR (Cyber Incident Detection and Response) focus group in Belgium, he helps facilitate meetings and fosters collaboration within the community. His goal is to contribute to shared knowledge and advance cybersecurity practices.
Thomas Hayen
Senior Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator
EASI
Thomas Hayen is 27 years old and has studied Applied Computer Science at Thomas More Geel. As a Senior Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator at Easi, his journey began with a foundational internship in cybersecurity, where he developed a keen understanding of network security principles. Progressing to a role as a Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator, he deepened his skills in identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. This period was instrumental in refining his abilities in ethical hacking, network analysis, and security testing. His approach combined meticulous planning with a creative application of security tools and techniques. In his current position as a Senior Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator, he has taken on a more strategic yet deep technical role. This involves leading complex penetration testing projects, developing innovative security solutions, and mentoring junior team members. His focus is on staying ahead of emerging threats and continuously enhancing our red teaming methodologies.
Additionally, as an Ambassador for Hack The Box, he contributes to the broader cybersecurity community, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices in ethical hacking.
Robin Bruynseels
Senior Cyber Security Analyst & Partner
EASI
Robin Bruynseels is 26 years old and has studied Applied Computer Science at Thomas More Geel. His day-to-day role is in our Security Operations Center (SOC), where he coordinates part of the team, assists in decision-making, and supports deeper analysis of alerts and investigations. He also focuses on optimizing processes and procedures to ensure that the SOC runs efficiently. In addition to his SOC responsibilities, he works closely with the sales team as a technical pre-sales. Together, they design and deliver tailored cybersecurity solutions that meet our customers' needs. As co-chairman of the Cyber Security Coalition's CIDR (Cyber Incident Detection and Response) focus group in Belgium, he helps facilitate meetings and fosters collaboration within the community. His goal is to contribute to shared knowledge and advance cybersecurity practices.
Thomas Hayen
Senior Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator
EASI
Thomas Hayen is 27 years old and has studied Applied Computer Science at Thomas More Geel. As a Senior Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator at Easi, his journey began with a foundational internship in cybersecurity, where he developed a keen understanding of network security principles. Progressing to a role as a Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator, he deepened his skills in identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. This period was instrumental in refining his abilities in ethical hacking, network analysis, and security testing. His approach combined meticulous planning with a creative application of security tools and techniques. In his current position as a Senior Penetration Tester and Red Team Operator, he has taken on a more strategic yet deep technical role. This involves leading complex penetration testing projects, developing innovative security solutions, and mentoring junior team members. His focus is on staying ahead of emerging threats and continuously enhancing our red teaming methodologies.
Additionally, as an Ambassador for Hack The Box, he contributes to the broader cybersecurity community, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices in ethical hacking.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
12:25 pm
Theatre 2
- Dark Roast
Track:Dark Roast Defences
Hosted by
Miguel De Bruycker
Managing Director General
Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium
Miguel De Bruycker studied at the Royal Military School and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In 2005, he authored a vision paper on Cyber Defence. Subsequently, he joined the General Intelligence and Security Service, where he assumed responsibility for securing classified networks and established the first cybersecurity unit within the Belgian Defence. From 2008 onward, De Bruycker and his cyberteam actively handled major cyber incidents in Belgium. In 2014, De Bruycker played a pivotal role in establishing the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB). On August 17, 2015, he became the CCB’s inaugural Managing Director. His leadership continued as his mandate was extended for a second five-year term in 2020. Also, from December 2015 to April 2022, he was the Cyber Security Coalition director. In recognition of his contributions, De Bruycker was elected Belgium’s Cyber Security Personality of the Year in 2023.
Miguel De Bruycker
Managing Director General
Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium
Miguel De Bruycker studied at the Royal Military School and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In 2005, he authored a vision paper on Cyber Defence. Subsequently, he joined the General Intelligence and Security Service, where he assumed responsibility for securing classified networks and established the first cybersecurity unit within the Belgian Defence. From 2008 onward, De Bruycker and his cyberteam actively handled major cyber incidents in Belgium. In 2014, De Bruycker played a pivotal role in establishing the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB). On August 17, 2015, he became the CCB’s inaugural Managing Director. His leadership continued as his mandate was extended for a second five-year term in 2020. Also, from December 2015 to April 2022, he was the Cyber Security Coalition director. In recognition of his contributions, De Bruycker was elected Belgium’s Cyber Security Personality of the Year in 2023.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
2:00 pm
Theatre 1
- None
Track:Barista
Hosted by
Suyin Aerts
Host
Suyin.be
Suyin Aerts, a former professional ballet dancer and actress, transitioned to an unconventional path by joining her partner’s company, X-Treme Creations. This company specializes in designing, producing, and implementing visual marketing materials for various projects. Suyin’s accolades include the Talent Award of Women in Marketing and Communication (2012) and the Networker of the Year Award in Belgium (2016). As a female entrepreneur, she balances her professional life with a freelance career as a multilingual presenter and journalist for television (Kanaal Z/Canal Z) and event moderator. In 2019, she received the Wintrade Award for Women in the Media (sponsored by Microsoft). With a master's degree in industrial business policy, diverse marketing courses, and an International Trade degree from the International Chamber of Commerce, Suyin remains committed to expanding her vision, knowledge, and creativity. She also earned a digital transformation degree from Vlerick Business School in 2020. In April 2022, Suyin published her first book, “Time for the Creative Generalist” (NL) through LannooCampus. This same publishing house launched her second book called 10 Quintessential Questions, released in English on the importance of asking the right questions and the flow of an interview.
M. Angela Sasse
Professor
Ruhr University Bochum
M. Angela Sasse is the Professor of Human-Centred Security at Ruhr University Bochum. She obtained an M.Sc. in Occupational Psychology from Sheffield University and a PhD in Computer Science from Birmingham University. From 1990-2018 she was a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at UCL. She started researching usability issues in IT security in the late nineties, and her 1999 paper with Anne Adams, Users are Not the Enemy, is the most cited paper on the topic. She is one of the pioneers of interdisciplinary security research and led the UK Reseach Institute in Socio-Technical Securiity from 2012-2018. In 2018, she moved to Ruhr University Bochum to establish the Chair in Human-Centred Security. She is a Speaker of the Exzellenzclusterprojekt CASA and of the interdisciplinary Graduate School SecHuman. She was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK in 2015, and to the NRW Akademie in 2021.
M. Angela Sasse
Professor
Ruhr University Bochum
M. Angela Sasse is the Professor of Human-Centred Security at Ruhr University Bochum. She obtained an M.Sc. in Occupational Psychology from Sheffield University and a PhD in Computer Science from Birmingham University. From 1990-2018 she was a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at UCL. She started researching usability issues in IT security in the late nineties, and her 1999 paper with Anne Adams, Users are Not the Enemy, is the most cited paper on the topic. She is one of the pioneers of interdisciplinary security research and led the UK Reseach Institute in Socio-Technical Securiity from 2012-2018. In 2018, she moved to Ruhr University Bochum to establish the Chair in Human-Centred Security. She is a Speaker of the Exzellenzclusterprojekt CASA and of the interdisciplinary Graduate School SecHuman. She was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK in 2015, and to the NRW Akademie in 2021.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
2:00 pm
Theatre 2
- Dark Roast
Track:Espresso Innovation
Hosted by
Erik Van Zuuren
Founder
TrustCore.EU
Erik Van Zuuren is actively engaged in several jobs / activities, including: Founder TrustCore.EU Topic Leader ITSE-S2 “Security Practices” at Solvay Brussels School Security advisor and architect at BNP Paribas Fortis - Global Security Advisor/Expert on Trust/eID/eSig/eSeal/Blockchain at Flemish Government Expert / PM regarding (Qualified) Trust Services related guidelines for ENISA Since January 2015 Erik left a big4 to start up TrustCore.EU and is currently active in the roles mentioned in the list above. Erik has years of experience/expertise in amongst others: Governance/Risk/Compliance, eGovernment/eBusiness/eBanking, Trust Services and Trusted/Trustworthy (eco-)systems, Enterprise (Security) Architectures, Service Oriented Architectures and Cloud Platforms, Information & CyberSecurity (Management) etc. Erik's engagements include activities in public sector (Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal ICT Department (Fedict), the eGov & ICT agency of the Flemish Gov, DG Connect, DG Employment, DG RTD, EC-ISA, etc.) as well as activities in a diverse spectrum of private sector organisations (incl. NBB, ING, KBC, Electrabel Suez, Infrabel, DeLijn, BPost, Euroclear). Erik's achievements include being one of the fathers/authors of the blueprint for the Belgian Personal Identity Card Project (BelPIC) and being one of the fathers of key egov-supporting services at the Flemish government (wide range of (trust-)services with respect to e-identification / e-authentication / authorisation / e-signing / stamping, etc). Currently Erik is focusing on Enterprise (Security) Architecture, on the effects/implementation of the eIDAS-Trust Regulation and on the upcoming Payment Services Directive 2.
Anthony Belpaire
Head of AI
BNP Paribas Fortis
Anthony Belpaire is heading the AI team and AI transformation of BNP Paribas Fortis. The AI team is a central organisation that covers business analysts, data scientists, ML engineers and MLOps to develop and run applications for the retail, private, and corporate banking segments. Prior to joining BNP Paribas Fortis, Anthony was CEO of various scaled ups in the field of eCommerce and Digital Media (Certipost, GlobalSign...) and a business leader in larger corporates such as Google and Alcatel-Lucent. The red pattern was always to be at the front of introducing new transformative technologies such as AI, Cloud, Mobile and the Internet. Anthony has a master’s in engineering in AI (Valencia/Ghent) and followed special courses at MIT.
Anthony Belpaire
Head of AI
BNP Paribas Fortis
Anthony Belpaire is heading the AI team and AI transformation of BNP Paribas Fortis. The AI team is a central organisation that covers business analysts, data scientists, ML engineers and MLOps to develop and run applications for the retail, private, and corporate banking segments. Prior to joining BNP Paribas Fortis, Anthony was CEO of various scaled ups in the field of eCommerce and Digital Media (Certipost, GlobalSign...) and a business leader in larger corporates such as Google and Alcatel-Lucent. The red pattern was always to be at the front of introducing new transformative technologies such as AI, Cloud, Mobile and the Internet. Anthony has a master’s in engineering in AI (Valencia/Ghent) and followed special courses at MIT.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
2:35 pm
Theatre 1
- None
Track:Barista
Hosted by
Mark Brown
Founder & CEO
Psybersafe
Mark Brown is the driving force behind Psybersafe. With more than 25 years’ experience in designing new initiatives and a strong background in complex areas of financial services, risk management, technology initiatives, management and leadership development, Mark’s skill is in using technology creatively to transform businesses and organisations. He is fascinated by the way we behave, so he has studied psychology and worked with interesting people like the behavioural scientists at University College London’s Centre for Behaviour Change. He understands how we tick, and that has helped him to develop technology solutions like Psybersafe that use what we know about people to help protect them and the places they work.
Mark Brown
Founder & CEO
Psybersafe
Mark Brown is the driving force behind Psybersafe. With more than 25 years’ experience in designing new initiatives and a strong background in complex areas of financial services, risk management, technology initiatives, management and leadership development, Mark’s skill is in using technology creatively to transform businesses and organisations. He is fascinated by the way we behave, so he has studied psychology and worked with interesting people like the behavioural scientists at University College London’s Centre for Behaviour Change. He understands how we tick, and that has helped him to develop technology solutions like Psybersafe that use what we know about people to help protect them and the places they work.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
2:35 pm
Theatre 2
- Dark Roast
Track:Espresso Innovation
Hosted by
Hans Graux
President
Flemish Supervisory Committee
Hans specialises in matters that require a thorough knowledge of both technical aspects and legal issues. He supported the creation of the current legislation on electronic identification and trust services (including electronic signatures, electronic stamps and time stamps), and advises both governments and private companies on the correct application of the law, and on the necessary contractual framework. He supported multiple projects relating to the issuance and management of smart cards and PKI infrastructure, and around mobile identification.
Hans also provides legal assistance in software development and data exploitation initiatives, including open source software development and open data applications. He has extensive experience in the re-use of public sector information, and is familiar with all common open source licenses. In addition, he has carried out projects on setting up data warehouses, data lakes, and big data analytics, as well as on AI services based on such data sources.
He is a frequently consulted expert for both national and international governments and companies on cloud computing, information security and certification services, and has worked on e-government projects on digital archiving, electronic identification and electronic signatures, privacy protection, free flow of data, electronic communication via e-boxes, and data exchange via the only-once principle. For over 15 years he has been involved in pioneering research projects, including studies for the European Commission and for various European agencies, and in Horizon2020 initiatives.
With regard to data protection and privacy protection, Hans supports companies in all their compliance activities, including audits, data transfers/data sharing, impact assessments, settlement of data breaches, and assists companies in specialized sectors, including health tech, fintech, data analytics, and the public sector.
Hans is a guest lecturer on ICT and privacy protection law at the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT) and at the AP Hogeschool Antwerpen. He was also a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT (ICRI) (today the Centre for IT & IP Law) of the Faculty of Law of the KU Leuven.
He is President of the Flemish Supervisory Committee, and he is a member of the ICT Committees of the Order of Flemish Bars, and of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
Hans Graux
President
Flemish Supervisory Committee
Hans specialises in matters that require a thorough knowledge of both technical aspects and legal issues. He supported the creation of the current legislation on electronic identification and trust services (including electronic signatures, electronic stamps and time stamps), and advises both governments and private companies on the correct application of the law, and on the necessary contractual framework. He supported multiple projects relating to the issuance and management of smart cards and PKI infrastructure, and around mobile identification.
Hans also provides legal assistance in software development and data exploitation initiatives, including open source software development and open data applications. He has extensive experience in the re-use of public sector information, and is familiar with all common open source licenses. In addition, he has carried out projects on setting up data warehouses, data lakes, and big data analytics, as well as on AI services based on such data sources.
He is a frequently consulted expert for both national and international governments and companies on cloud computing, information security and certification services, and has worked on e-government projects on digital archiving, electronic identification and electronic signatures, privacy protection, free flow of data, electronic communication via e-boxes, and data exchange via the only-once principle. For over 15 years he has been involved in pioneering research projects, including studies for the European Commission and for various European agencies, and in Horizon2020 initiatives.
With regard to data protection and privacy protection, Hans supports companies in all their compliance activities, including audits, data transfers/data sharing, impact assessments, settlement of data breaches, and assists companies in specialized sectors, including health tech, fintech, data analytics, and the public sector.
Hans is a guest lecturer on ICT and privacy protection law at the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT) and at the AP Hogeschool Antwerpen. He was also a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT (ICRI) (today the Centre for IT & IP Law) of the Faculty of Law of the KU Leuven.
He is President of the Flemish Supervisory Committee, and he is a member of the ICT Committees of the Order of Flemish Bars, and of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
3:10 pm
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
3:30 pm
Theatre 1
- Espresso
Track:Barista
Hosted by
Ann Mennens
Cyber Aware Programme Manager
European Commission
Ann Mennens is a seasoned cybersecurity and communication professional specialising in cybersecurity awareness and training with a focus on the human factor. Currently, she manages the European Commission's CyberAware Programme within the Cybersecurity Directorate of DIGIT, raising the cyber awareness of the whole Commission staff, highlighting their role in contributing to the safeguarding of the Commission assets and systems, while promoting a safe online experience. She is in charge of training and communication on cybersecurity and oversees the network of Local Informatics Security Officers (LISOs). Ann is the Chair of the interinstitutional Technical Advisory Group for the Interinstitutional Cybersecurity Board on the Human Factor in Cybersecurity, guiding collaborative efforts to enhance cybersecurity awareness raising, training and skills development, enhancing the cybersecurity culture in and among Union entities.
Ann was involved in the creation of Women4Cyber Foundation and is a board member of the Women4Cyber Belgium Chapter. She is a longstanding member of the Belgian Cyber Security Coalition, actively contributing to its Awareness Raising Focus Group, and a member of ENISA's Ad-Hoc Working Group on Awareness Raising. She is a strong supporter of reskilling in cybersecurity, from any type of background, bringing diversity and increasing gender balance in the cybersecurity sector.
Ann was manager of the Belgian Cybercrime Centre of Excellence for Training, Research, and Education (B-CCENTRE) at the KU Leuven (2011-2016), coordinating activities of several academic research groups, public sector bodies and businesses. Before 2011, she was managing several European projects in areas like health, food safety, drugs, justice, transport, law enforcement, crisis management, migration, accession to the EU.
Ann holds a master's in European studies and a master's in history from KU Leuven.
Rosanna T. Kurrer
Co-founder & Managing Director
CyberWayFinder
Rosanna is an architectural engineer by training and holds a masters degree in building physics from Kyoto university in Japan. She runs a rapidly expanding European platform growing next-generation diverse cyber security professionals. She consults and leads design thinking, corporate innovation and coding seminars to corporates and individuals. An accomplished public speaker, Rosanna emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, as well as a bias to action approach, and radical collaboration. Rosanna is also a certified MIT master trainer in educational mobile computing, as well as EU Codeweek Ambassador. She is a passionate design thinker and is trained to teach students, teachers and entrepreneurs the design thinking methodology.
Ann Mennens
Cyber Aware Programme Manager
European Commission
Ann Mennens is a seasoned cybersecurity and communication professional specialising in cybersecurity awareness and training with a focus on the human factor. Currently, she manages the European Commission's CyberAware Programme within the Cybersecurity Directorate of DIGIT, raising the cyber awareness of the whole Commission staff, highlighting their role in contributing to the safeguarding of the Commission assets and systems, while promoting a safe online experience. She is in charge of training and communication on cybersecurity and oversees the network of Local Informatics Security Officers (LISOs). Ann is the Chair of the interinstitutional Technical Advisory Group for the Interinstitutional Cybersecurity Board on the Human Factor in Cybersecurity, guiding collaborative efforts to enhance cybersecurity awareness raising, training and skills development, enhancing the cybersecurity culture in and among Union entities.
Ann was involved in the creation of Women4Cyber Foundation and is a board member of the Women4Cyber Belgium Chapter. She is a longstanding member of the Belgian Cyber Security Coalition, actively contributing to its Awareness Raising Focus Group, and a member of ENISA's Ad-Hoc Working Group on Awareness Raising. She is a strong supporter of reskilling in cybersecurity, from any type of background, bringing diversity and increasing gender balance in the cybersecurity sector.
Ann was manager of the Belgian Cybercrime Centre of Excellence for Training, Research, and Education (B-CCENTRE) at the KU Leuven (2011-2016), coordinating activities of several academic research groups, public sector bodies and businesses. Before 2011, she was managing several European projects in areas like health, food safety, drugs, justice, transport, law enforcement, crisis management, migration, accession to the EU.
Ann holds a master's in European studies and a master's in history from KU Leuven.
Rosanna T. Kurrer
Co-founder & Managing Director
CyberWayFinder
Rosanna is an architectural engineer by training and holds a masters degree in building physics from Kyoto university in Japan. She runs a rapidly expanding European platform growing next-generation diverse cyber security professionals. She consults and leads design thinking, corporate innovation and coding seminars to corporates and individuals. An accomplished public speaker, Rosanna emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, as well as a bias to action approach, and radical collaboration. Rosanna is also a certified MIT master trainer in educational mobile computing, as well as EU Codeweek Ambassador. She is a passionate design thinker and is trained to teach students, teachers and entrepreneurs the design thinking methodology.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
3:30 pm
Theatre 2
- Dark Roast
Track:Espresso Innovation
Hosted by
Philippe Massonet
Scientific Officer
CETIC
Philippe Massonet is scientific coordinator at CETIC, a Belgian ICT applied research center. His research interest covers the areas of software, service and security engineering, as well as distributed systems such as Grids and service-oriented infrastructures. He was recently coordinator of the GridTrust IST European project (Strep) dealing with trust and security in next generation grids and is responsible for dissemination and security in the RESERVOIR IST European project (Integrated project) led by IBM research. He is currently the coordinator of the PONTE eHealth project that is looking into using semantic web technologies to build decision support systems for the design clinical trials. He is active in the NESSI ETP working groups, and the ERCIM working groups. At CETIC he also works as a consultant for industry and government in his areas of research. He has experience in the prototyping and commercial development of advanced requirements engineering tools. Previously he was manager of the requirements engineering team at CETIC. He has experience in the management of international R&D projects (Eurescom MESSAGE, IST FP6 GridTrust, and FP7 PONTE) and is or has been involved in several IST FP6/FP7 research projects (RESERVOIR, HPC4U, AssessGrid, CoreGrid, GridTrust and Oldes).
Philip Struyf
Program Manager Domain Name Abuse Prevention
EURid
Philip Struyf is a seasoned programme manager with a robust background in domaining and internet technology. Since the start of this year, he has been leading EURid’s initiatives to protect the .eu top-level domain from online domain name abuse. Over the past fifteen years, he has accumulated extensive experience in the domain name industry, working at both registry and registrar levels, including in brand protection services and rights protection mechanisms. In the increasingly crucial realm of online safety, he is spearheading EURid’s abuse prevention strategy through intelligence analysis, identity validation processes, and effective stakeholder relationship management. His clear mission is to foster a safer online environment under the .eu TLD.
Philippe Massonet
Scientific Officer
CETIC
Philippe Massonet is scientific coordinator at CETIC, a Belgian ICT applied research center. His research interest covers the areas of software, service and security engineering, as well as distributed systems such as Grids and service-oriented infrastructures. He was recently coordinator of the GridTrust IST European project (Strep) dealing with trust and security in next generation grids and is responsible for dissemination and security in the RESERVOIR IST European project (Integrated project) led by IBM research. He is currently the coordinator of the PONTE eHealth project that is looking into using semantic web technologies to build decision support systems for the design clinical trials. He is active in the NESSI ETP working groups, and the ERCIM working groups. At CETIC he also works as a consultant for industry and government in his areas of research. He has experience in the prototyping and commercial development of advanced requirements engineering tools. Previously he was manager of the requirements engineering team at CETIC. He has experience in the management of international R&D projects (Eurescom MESSAGE, IST FP6 GridTrust, and FP7 PONTE) and is or has been involved in several IST FP6/FP7 research projects (RESERVOIR, HPC4U, AssessGrid, CoreGrid, GridTrust and Oldes).
Philip Struyf
Program Manager Domain Name Abuse Prevention
EURid
Philip Struyf is a seasoned programme manager with a robust background in domaining and internet technology. Since the start of this year, he has been leading EURid’s initiatives to protect the .eu top-level domain from online domain name abuse. Over the past fifteen years, he has accumulated extensive experience in the domain name industry, working at both registry and registrar levels, including in brand protection services and rights protection mechanisms. In the increasingly crucial realm of online safety, he is spearheading EURid’s abuse prevention strategy through intelligence analysis, identity validation processes, and effective stakeholder relationship management. His clear mission is to foster a safer online environment under the .eu TLD.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:ORANGE
4:10 pm
Theatre 1
- Espresso
Track:Quantum Brew
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
4:10 pm
Theatre 2
- None
Track:Espresso your ideas
Hosted by
Suyin Aerts
Host
Suyin.be
Suyin Aerts, a former professional ballet dancer and actress, transitioned to an unconventional path by joining her partner’s company, X-Treme Creations. This company specializes in designing, producing, and implementing visual marketing materials for various projects. Suyin’s accolades include the Talent Award of Women in Marketing and Communication (2012) and the Networker of the Year Award in Belgium (2016). As a female entrepreneur, she balances her professional life with a freelance career as a multilingual presenter and journalist for television (Kanaal Z/Canal Z) and event moderator. In 2019, she received the Wintrade Award for Women in the Media (sponsored by Microsoft). With a master's degree in industrial business policy, diverse marketing courses, and an International Trade degree from the International Chamber of Commerce, Suyin remains committed to expanding her vision, knowledge, and creativity. She also earned a digital transformation degree from Vlerick Business School in 2020. In April 2022, Suyin published her first book, “Time for the Creative Generalist” (NL) through LannooCampus. This same publishing house launched her second book called 10 Quintessential Questions, released in English on the importance of asking the right questions and the flow of an interview.
4:10 pm
Theatre 2
Track: Espresso your ideas
Cybersecurity and Digital Inclusion in Belgium: A Vital Connection
Belgium’s push for digital inclusion relies on robust cybersecurity to protect vulnerable users and ensure trust in expanding access. As digital skills programs and infrastructure investments grow, integrating cybersecurity education becomes critical to safeguarding participation in an increasingly digitally connected society.
Ali Chari
Community Lead
DigitAll
Passionate about social innovation, Ali Chari has multiple years of experience in facilitating innovation with a societal impact. Since December 2023, he puts his experience into practice as Community Lead at DigitAll by connecting an ecosystem of more than 150 organisations to collaborate and work on solutions towards a more digitally inclusive Belgium.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
4:50 pm
Marktplaats
- Plenary
Track:None
Hosted by
Jan De Blauwe
Chair
Cyber Security Coalition
Jan De Blauwe is chair of the Cyber Security Coalition. As COO and Managing Director of NVISO, Jan focuses on the international development of this Belgian provider of cybersecurity solutions. Until September 2021, Jan was head of global security at the bank BNP Paribas Fortis. In that role, he was responsible for cybersecurity, business continuity, data protection and privacy, and IT risk management of this major bank. He was also known as chair of Secursys, the Febelfin committee responsible for cyber security. Between 1998 and 2007, Jan held management positions in the US, first at Lucent Technologies / Bell Labs, and then as vice-president corporate accounts at Ubizen/Cybertrust (now part of Verizon Business). Jan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Leuven, a postgraduate degree in Data Analytics from the University of Leuven and an MBA from New York University.
Jan De Blauwe
Chair
Cyber Security Coalition
Jan De Blauwe is chair of the Cyber Security Coalition. As COO and Managing Director of NVISO, Jan focuses on the international development of this Belgian provider of cybersecurity solutions. Until September 2021, Jan was head of global security at the bank BNP Paribas Fortis. In that role, he was responsible for cybersecurity, business continuity, data protection and privacy, and IT risk management of this major bank. He was also known as chair of Secursys, the Febelfin committee responsible for cyber security. Between 1998 and 2007, Jan held management positions in the US, first at Lucent Technologies / Bell Labs, and then as vice-president corporate accounts at Ubizen/Cybertrust (now part of Verizon Business). Jan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Leuven, a postgraduate degree in Data Analytics from the University of Leuven and an MBA from New York University.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
5:00 pm
Theatre 2 + Broadcast Theatre 1
- Plenary
Track:None
Hosted by
Stefan Paridaen
Professional Mentalist
With a deep fascination for the human mind, Stefan explores how we think, make decisions, and fall into patterns of behavior. His work delves into the subtle art of influence and prediction, using a variety of mentalism techniques rooted in psychology and neuroscience.
While his performances are designed to entertain and amaze, Stefan also brings his expertise to the corporate world. Through lectures and interactive sessions, he offers audiences a deeper understanding of mentalism as a tool for insight into human behavior and decision-making.
Whether on stage or in the boardroom, Stefan Paridaen delivers experiences that are not only memorable but also thought-provoking—perfect for anyone looking to add a unique and impactful touch to their event.
Stefan Paridaen
Professional Mentalist
With a deep fascination for the human mind, Stefan explores how we think, make decisions, and fall into patterns of behavior. His work delves into the subtle art of influence and prediction, using a variety of mentalism techniques rooted in psychology and neuroscience.
While his performances are designed to entertain and amaze, Stefan also brings his expertise to the corporate world. Through lectures and interactive sessions, he offers audiences a deeper understanding of mentalism as a tool for insight into human behavior and decision-making.
Whether on stage or in the boardroom, Stefan Paridaen delivers experiences that are not only memorable but also thought-provoking—perfect for anyone looking to add a unique and impactful touch to their event.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
5:30 pm
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
9:00 am
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
10:40 am
Break-Out
- Workshop
Track:Café connect
Hosted by
Stanislas Van Oost
GRC Executive Advisor
Cyber Security Management
Information Security professional with over 11 years' experience. A former CISO at Selligent Marketing Cloud, he is currently a consultant, through his company Easiance, to medium-sized organizations seeking ISO 27001 certification or CyFun® recognition. He specializes in the design and implementation of tailored cybersecurity strategies to protect digital assets and ensure regulatory compliance. His expertise covers security governance, incident response and the integration of emerging technologies. He has successfully guided organizations in improving their security posture and achieving certification in a world of constantly evolving threats. Known for his strategic insight and ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
Stanislas Van Oost
GRC Executive Advisor
Cyber Security Management
Information Security professional with over 11 years' experience. A former CISO at Selligent Marketing Cloud, he is currently a consultant, through his company Easiance, to medium-sized organizations seeking ISO 27001 certification or CyFun® recognition. He specializes in the design and implementation of tailored cybersecurity strategies to protect digital assets and ensure regulatory compliance. His expertise covers security governance, incident response and the integration of emerging technologies. He has successfully guided organizations in improving their security posture and achieving certification in a world of constantly evolving threats. Known for his strategic insight and ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
11:15 am
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
11:35 am
Break-Out
- Workshop
Track:Café connect
Hosted by
Laurie Phillips
CISO, Crisis manager Cybersecurity & Data, President s Office
FPS Economy, SMEs, Middle Classes & Energy
Laurie Phillips first became interested in ancient languages (Egyptology) before turning to law (international contracts). She then worked for the French Community's IT services integrator, where she caught the ‘IT bug’ before joining the FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy. She initially worked in security and crisis management (telecommunications, etc.) before becoming CISO of the FPS Economy and team leader of the FPS Economy's Departmental Crisis Unit. She has been passionate about personal data protection, civil resilience and cybersecurity for many years.
Laurie Phillips
CISO, Crisis manager Cybersecurity & Data, President s Office
FPS Economy, SMEs, Middle Classes & Energy
Laurie Phillips first became interested in ancient languages (Egyptology) before turning to law (international contracts). She then worked for the French Community's IT services integrator, where she caught the ‘IT bug’ before joining the FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy. She initially worked in security and crisis management (telecommunications, etc.) before becoming CISO of the FPS Economy and team leader of the FPS Economy's Departmental Crisis Unit. She has been passionate about personal data protection, civil resilience and cybersecurity for many years.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
2:00 pm
Break-Out
- Workshop
Track:Café Secure
Hosted by
Stijn Boussemaere
Owner & Co-founder
Spinae
Stijn Boussemaere is co-founder of Spinae, a vendor-independent advice and services company specialized in OT cybersecurity. He has extensive experience helping industrial organizations secure their operational environments, with a strong focus on IEC 62443 and the practical implementation of OT security controls. Stijn is known for bridging the gap between technical measures and real-world industrial processes, making him a trusted advisor in industrial infrastructure protection.
Stijn Boussemaere
Owner & Co-founder
Spinae
Stijn Boussemaere is co-founder of Spinae, a vendor-independent advice and services company specialized in OT cybersecurity. He has extensive experience helping industrial organizations secure their operational environments, with a strong focus on IEC 62443 and the practical implementation of OT security controls. Stijn is known for bridging the gap between technical measures and real-world industrial processes, making him a trusted advisor in industrial infrastructure protection.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
2:35 pm
Break-Out
- Workshop
Track:Café Secure
Hosted by
Vincent Haerinck
Business Area Lead - OT Security
Toreon
Vincent Haerinck has been active in the sweet spot between Cyber Security and the Energy sector for over a decade, with endeavours ranging from assisting smart meter manufacturers over various distribution grid operators to energy production companies. With a focus on risk management, he has been working on getting the OT world incorporated into the overall enterprise risk frameworks.
Dieter Sarrazyn
Industrial Security Advisor & Founder
Secudea
Dieter Sarrazyn is working extensively within operational technology and industrial environments since 2008 for which he provides security consultancy, assessments, training and awareness sessions with regards to industrial security. He performs different kinds of maturity, risk and technical security assessments within these industrial environments. A large part is about helping organisations to manage security within new solutions deployed by their suppliers or integrators. This is done by setting up vendor security validation programmes, which consists in setting and verifying security requirements and performing security FAT and SAT tests. He also helps industrial organisations in achieving NIS2 and IEC62443 compliancy.
Vincent Haerinck
Business Area Lead - OT Security
Toreon
Vincent Haerinck has been active in the sweet spot between Cyber Security and the Energy sector for over a decade, with endeavours ranging from assisting smart meter manufacturers over various distribution grid operators to energy production companies. With a focus on risk management, he has been working on getting the OT world incorporated into the overall enterprise risk frameworks.
Dieter Sarrazyn
Industrial Security Advisor & Founder
Secudea
Dieter Sarrazyn is working extensively within operational technology and industrial environments since 2008 for which he provides security consultancy, assessments, training and awareness sessions with regards to industrial security. He performs different kinds of maturity, risk and technical security assessments within these industrial environments. A large part is about helping organisations to manage security within new solutions deployed by their suppliers or integrators. This is done by setting up vendor security validation programmes, which consists in setting and verifying security requirements and performing security FAT and SAT tests. He also helps industrial organisations in achieving NIS2 and IEC62443 compliancy.
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
TLP:CLEAR
3:10 pm
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
5:30 pm
Marktplaats
- Break
Track:None
Hosted by
Pascal Champagne
Business Development Manager
The venue for this edition of BE-CYBER will be the HI! site in Grimbergen, located on the former grounds of coffee manufacturer Douwe Egberts, nestled between the Brussels Ring and the A12.
This site is a great example of sustainable redevelopment, where existing structures and materials have been repurposed in a circular way.
The venue’s address is Antwerpselaan 1, 1853 Grimbergen. You can easily reach us by car, bike, or public transport.
- By bike: Thanks to the cycling highway along the A12, you can get here without any problems! There is also a bicycle parking area.
- By public transport: The De Lijn bus stop 260 ‘Meise Potaarde’ is just a 3-minute walk from the Hi! Site.
- Parking: There are 300 parking places on site.
Is the conference in-person, virtual, or hybrid?
BE-CYBER is an in-person event. We do not provide any streaming service. Exceptionally speakers will attend the conference remotely, but only in cases where their presence on-site is not possible.
Is the event free to attend?
Members of the Cyber Security Coalition do not have to pay. They will receive an invitation from our event tool including a unique voucher to be used for the registration.
If you have not received an invitation, please reach out to the Operations team at [email protected]. Please, check the member page on the Coalition website if you do not know whether your organisation is a member of our association.
Sponsors are allocated a specific number of complimentary seats based on their selected sponsorship package. Please note that each voucher is single-use only. If a registered participant cancels their registration, the voucher used cannot be reactivated or transferred to another person.
All other interested persons must pay a registration fee of EUR 100.00 (+ EUR 21 VAT). The fee is charged to cover part of the catering and rental costs.
What do I need to access the conference?
You need to bring the confirmation e-mail you have received after your registration. You do not need to print the confirmation e-mail. A digital document is sufficient as long as we can scan the QR code it contains. The QR code will allow us to print your badge.
What are the payment options for the conference?
You will be able to pay with the major credit cards, and online payment platforms such as PayPal, Bancontact/Payconiq.
Can I get an invoice for my payment?
No invoices will be issued for this event.
Will I receive a payment confirmation?
Payment must be completed during the registration process. Once the payment processing app Stipe confirms your transaction, you will be redirected back to the InviteDesk event app. Please note that you will not receive payment confirmation by email—confirmation is shown only on screen. If the payment is not finalised at that time, you’ll be asked to complete it during event onboarding.
Is there a deadline for payment?
All payments must be completed during the registration process. You will have 15 minutes to finalise your payment. If the transaction is not completed within this timeframe, you will be required to settle the payment during the event check-in. We kindly inform you that cash payments will not be accepted. Only credit cards and standard online payment platforms will be supported.
Are refunds available if I cannot attend?
Yes, you can cancel your registration by unregistering in the tool until October 1st, 2025. Cancellations made before this date are eligible for a full refund, with no cancellation fee. Please note that no refunds will be issued after October 1st, 2025.
Can I transfer my paid ticket to someone else?
Unfortunately, ticket transfers are not allowed. Registrations are personal and linked to the original participant’s details provided during sign-up.
Can I register additional people as guests?
No, you can only register yourself.
If you work for a member organisation and would like peers to join, please check whether they have received an invitation with a voucher—especially if they are members, as they may already be listed in our CRM. If they haven’t received an invitation, they can always request one from us.
Non-members can always register for the event using the registration link on this website.
Are there discounts for group registrations or early bird tickets?
We do not offer group discounts or early bird tickets.
What happens if my payment fails?
If your payment fails during registration, you will not be redirected back to the InviteDesk event app, and your registration may not be completed. In that case, you best restart the registration process and try again using a valid payment method.
Please note that no payment confirmation is sent—your only payment confirmation appears on screen once the payment is successfully processed.
If issues persist, reach out to [email protected] for assistance.
Is there a dress code?
Not really, as long as you do not offend anyone with your attire.
What are lightning talks?
A lightning talk is a very short presentation, limited to just 6 minutes, where you share a big idea, an insight, or a question that matters to you. It’s a fast-paced and engaging format – when the bell rings at six minutes, the talk ends. No extensions, no exceptions!
Anyone attending BE-CYBER can sign up for a lightning talk. You don’t need to be a professional speaker. If you ‘ve got something to say, we want to hear it.
It’s a great chance to:
- Share something you’re passionate about
- Spark a conversation
- Gain visibility in the tech/cyber community
- Practice your public speaking – in a low-pressure, friendly setting
We love diversity! Your talk can be about anything related to technology, cybersecurity, or privacy. It can be:
- Technical or non-technical
- A personal story
- A deep dive or a broad overview
- Serious or light-hearted
Slides are optional (PPT slides preferred). Let us know if you have any technical needs (e.g., HDMI, audio).
No Q&A during the talk but people can chat with you afterwards.
Ready to inspire us in 6 minutes? Send your proposal to [email protected] and own the stage!
We accept submissions until September 7th. The Programme Committee will select 6 talks from the submitted proposals, so make yours stands out!
Space is limited – so don’t wait too long!
Will you share the presentations?
We will ask the speakers for their permission to share the presentations. And for those who accept, their presentations will be made available in the Resources Library on the Coalition website.
How do I get a certificate of attendance?
If you attended one of our events, you will receive a certificate of attendance by email after the event. This certificate is issued in collaboration with ISACA Belgium and can be used to self-report CPE credits in your MyISACA account.
If you haven’t received your certificate, please contact us and mention the event you attended and, if applicable, the tracks you followed.
Please note: certificates are not issued automatically during registration—they are sent out after attendance has been confirmed.
Will photos and videos be taken during the event?
Yes, an official event photographer and videographer will be capturing moments throughout the conference for promotional and documentation purposes. The images and recordings may be used in marketing materials, social media posts, websites, and future BE-CYBER event promotions. The pictures will be made available in the Members Event Galleries on the Coalition website.
Can I opt out of being photographed or filmed?
If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please inform the registration desk upon arrival. We will provide an orange lanyard to help our media team respect your preference. If you notice a published photo or video featuring you and would like it removed, please contact [email protected] with details.
Is there Wi-Fi access at the venue?
There will be Wi-Fi access during the conference. Your badge will contain the info you need to use.
I need assistance, I have other questions
Send us an e-mail at [email protected] and we’ll happy to help. During the event, get in touch with our staff wearing a light blue polo shirt with the BE-CYBER logo.
- Follow the TLP classification rules:
TLP:RED
Strictly confidential. Restricted to participants only.
TLP:ORANGE
Limited sharing within your organisation on a need-to-know basis.
TLP:GREEN
Shareable within the Coalition community but not publicly.
TLP:CLEAR
Open information that can be shared freely.
- Respect speaker and panel guidelines:
- Always check which TLP code applies to the session you attend.
- Follow any disclosure restrictions set by presenters.
- You may blog about the BE-CYBER conference or use social media only when TLP: CLEAR content is presented.
- Please, use #BECYBER2025 and/or #BelgianCyberSecurityCoalition as a hashtag if you wish to tweet/toot about the conference.
- Consider following us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our Cyber Pulse newsletter for all our updates and cybersecurity related news.
- Please, mute your cell phones and do not take phone calls inside the conference rooms.
- Do NOT publicly discuss or mention NON-TLP: CLEAR information.
- Do NOT record audio/videos or take pictures of the presentations unless they are TLP: CLEAR.
- Do NOT assume information is public. If in doubt, refer to the TLP guidelines before sharing.
- Do NOT take pictures of anyone attending the conference who is wearing an orange lanyard.
