10 years of the VUB Fellowship network: VUB presents 23 new Fellows for 2023

Friday 9 June 2023 – On Tuesday 13 June, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) presents its 23 new VUB Fellows for 2023 during an official ceremony. The 2020 and 2021 Fellows will also be celebrated, as the pandemic meant they have not yet had official recognition. VUB Fellows are business leaders, policymakers, executives, journalists and other socially significant individuals who will share their expertise for at least three years with the university, its eight faculties and its hospital. Drawing on their expertise, experience and network, the VUB Fellows are engaged by the university and UZ Brussel to bring academia and society closer together.

This year, 23 inspiring people will receive the title of VUB Fellow. As VUB ambassadors, they will share our philosophy in their professional life and society over the next three years.

VUB rector Jan Danckaert:

“Appointing Fellows is a tradition we started in 2012 under the motto ‘Connecting academia and society’, to build connections between university and society. We are now 10 years on and our VUB Fellowship network is made up of no fewer than 245 leading socially significant individuals. Based on their professional experience, these personalities and experts can inspire our academics and students with ideas and initiatives, so we can do better in our jobs, our lives, the world. Their contributions benefit research, innovation, academic teaching and society. They help us to carry out our role as an urban engaged university.”

VUB Fellows 2023

ARTS AND HUMANITIES FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Tom Naegels, author

· ​ ​ ​ Willem Bongers-Dek, director DeBuren

ENGINEERING FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Dirk Roosendans, head of Process Safety Expertise & Integrity Management at Total

· ​ ​ ​ Simon De Boeck, mayor CD&V Gooik

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Koen Pelleriaux, managing director GO!

LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Axel Desmedt, board member of the BIPT (Belgian Institute of Postal Services and Telecommunications)

· ​ ​ ​ Olivier Slosse, chief constable, police zone Brussel-Noord

· ​ ​ ​ Tania Dekens, senior official Iriscare

MOVEMENT AND REHABILITATION FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Kathy Lindekens, Flemish journalist and presenter

SCIENCE FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Eric Michiels, executive architect IBM Belgium

· ​ ​ ​ Roel Van der Meulen, business unit manager patisserie at Vandemoortele

SOLVAY FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Aurianne Lambert, manager Climate & Sustainability at Deloitte Belgium

· ​ ​ ​ Bruno Humblet, CEO Deceuninck

· ​ ​ ​ Lotte Vermeir, Network manager één and Canvas

· ​ ​ ​ Ruth Devenyns, CEO Precirix

· ​ ​ ​ Steven Engels, CEO Orsted

UMC (university medical campus) FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Brieuc Vandamme, CEO King Baudouin Foundation

· ​ ​ ​ Marc Michils, general director Kom op Tegen Kanker

VUB FELLOWS

· ​ ​ ​ Akira Hiruma, CEO Hamamatsu Photonics KK

· ​ ​ ​ Ilse Ooghe, general director RVO Society

· ​ ​ ​ Koen Vermout, CEO of AZTEQ

· ​ ​ ​ Stefaan Verhulst, co-founder GovLab & Data Tank

· ​ ​ ​ Ingrid De Jonghe, founder TEJO

Presentation ceremony programme

On Tuesday 13 June, VUB presents its 23 new VUB Fellows for 2023 during an official ceremony. The 2020 and 2021 Fellows will also be celebrated, as the pandemic meant they have not yet had official recognition. VUB Honorary Fellow Erhan Demirci will host the event.

16.00

• Welcome by Jan Danckaert, rector VUB
• Keynote by Hugo Thienpont, University Fellowship Coordinator and vice-rector Innovation & Valorisation
• Official presentation of 2023 Fellows
• Presentation of 2020 and 2021 Fellows
• Closing words by Karsten De Clerck, chair of the board of directors of VUB and VUB Honorary Fellow

We would like to invite the press to attend the presentation ceremony of the VUB Fellows. Would you like to attend or to arrange an interview with one of the Fellows? Please notify us by Monday 12 June via nathalie.vlaemynck@vub.be

Nathalie Vlaemynck Woordvoerder en algemeen perscontact (beschikbaar op maandag, dinsdag en woensdagvoormiddag)

• nathalie.vlaemynck@vub.be
• +32 479 87 23 26
• vub.be