The Vlerick HR Day is returning for its 20th edition! Get on top of the newest HR trends and grow your network. And... we have over 50+ academic speakers and practitioners lined up to share their insights and experiences with you.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Ghent Campus on Wednesday, 11 June 2025!
Want to get a flavour for the Vlerick HR Day? Watch the video to get a feel for the energy, atmosphere and connection you’ll experience at this must-attend event. Join us for expert insights, networking, new approaches – and fun. You’ll leave energised, and ready to make an even greater impact in your organisation.
Keynote speakers
Prof Dr Koen Dewettinck
Vlerick Business School
The People & Culture Movement of HR
Prof Dr Frederik Anseel
Dean UNSW Sydney Business School
Super Diversity and Global Talent: Lessons from Down Under
Professor Frederik Anseel explores the Anglosphere approach to diversity and inclusion, sharing what has worked, what hasn’t, and what organisations can learn from Australia’s experience with super-diversity.
Prof Dr Karolien Notebaert
Science & Leadership Academy & Goethe Business School
Hack Your Brain! HR Strategies to Support Lasting Performance
How can we support healthy performance? Professor Karolien Notebaert shares practical tips and strategies rooted in neuroscience to help individuals and organisations thrive!
Lucas De Man
CEO Company New Heroes and Biobased Creations
The Accountability Revolution: Overthrowing Sustainability's Reign
The world is on fire! As the tension between People, Planet, Profit unfolds, how can we equip ourselves with the skills to navigate this transformation? Lucas De Man explores how HR can create space for new ways of thinking and drive change.
Detailed programme
9.30 AM
Registration & welcome coffee
10.10 AM
10.40 AM
1.30 PM
Lunch & networking
3.00 PM
3.45 PM
Coffee break
5.15 PM
Reception & networking
Lunch & Learn
Optional: participate in a sponsored lunch & learn session!
Session 1 (Attentia): It takes two to tango: No HR without well-being!
Ella Haemers & Hannelore Blondia
Description:
Your HR team expertly handles everything—from recruitment to payroll. But how do you prevent absenteeism from disrupting your organisation? Careers are getting longer, and pressure is rising. Resilience is key. So, which preventive actions work? And how can HR focus on what really matters?
Interested in representing your organisation on this conference? Discover more about our sponsor opportunities for this Vlerick HR Day or contact sien.garre@vlerick.com.
Speakers
Caroline Aelvoet
CEO Sodexo Belgium
Prof Dr Tatiana Andreeva
Maynooth University
Prof Dr Philippe Baecke
Vlerick Business School
Prof Dr Xavier Baeten
Vlerick Business School
Johanna Bernhardt
Talent Lead PepsiCo
Filip Blommaert
‘Chef Blom’ Ex-Special Forces Operator
Dries Boodts
Director Belgian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Agentschap Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust
Bert Brugghemans
Chief Fire Officer Brandweer Zone Antwerpen
Prof Dr Dirk Buyens
Vlerick Business School
Katrijn Clement
VP HR Unilin
Kathleen Criel
HR Director GSK
Prof Dr Bart De Langhe
Vlerick Business School
Prof Dr Katleen De Stobbeleir
Vlerick Business School
Prof Dr Ans De Vos
Antwerp Management School
Liese De Wit
HR Country Lead BNL & CH Veepee
Bram Dehaene
P&O Country Head Siemens
Christophe Demaerel
Chief People & Communications Officer Tractebel – Engie
Els Den Haerynck
HR Manager Comp&Ben Sweco
Dr Tania Desmet
Medical head of Emergency Medicine UZ Gent
Prof Dr Koen Dewettinck
Vlerick Business School
Karen Donders
Algemeen Directeur Publieke Opdracht, Talent & Organisatie VRT
Dr Lonneke Frie
Senior Researcher THUAS | Nyenrode Business University
Sandra Goettsch
HR Director People PostNL
Jan Heyvaert
Chief Human Resources and Sustainability Officer AG Insurance
Marc Josephus Jitta
CEO Alken-Maes
Virginie Kaye
HR Country Lead Hewlett Packard Enterprise Belgium
Myra Latuheru
CHRO Indaver
Jean-Paul Lucassen
Lead People Analytics Royal Schiphol Group
Maite Mendizabal
Lead Skill Academy Deutsche Telekom
Thomas Mombauer
VP HR Business Partner Deutsche Telekom
David Muylaert
Global Head of People Experience – Production Volvo Cars
Lorin Parys
CEO Pro League
Prof Dr Carine Peeters
Vlerick Business School
Prof Dr Neveen Saied
Vlerick Business School
Wietske Sijbrandij
People Business Partner PepsiCo
Jan Van Acoleyen
Human Capital Lead Proximus Group
Muriel Van Antwerpen
CHRO ISS Facility Services
Illya Van den Borre
Senior VP HR & Corporate Affairs Delhaize
Wendy Van Dijck
HR Director BeFraLux G4S
Erika Van Tielen
Moderator
Eline Vandenbroeck
HR Talent Manager Sweco
Véronique Vansteelandt
CHRO Luminus
Carla Velghe
Country Director HEMA
Dorien Veraart
HR Manager Comp&Ben Elia Group
Prof Dr Paul Verhaeghe
Emeritus Ghent University
Judith Weerts
VP Talent, Leadership & Culture KPN
Philippe Witpas
COO Skeyes
James Zackheim
Head of Corporate Strategy UCB
