I Joined Belgian Defence in 1999, went through the Royal Military Academy and joined the Paracommando’s. I did a few deployments in Africa and the Middle East.

I identify as nerd and geek, am broadly interested in technology and an adept of lifelong learning. I love to start DIY projects and thrive on creativity. Certainly not a specialist more a Jack-Of-All-Trades. I’m happily married and have fantastic twin daughters.

Since 2020 I started to promote Innovation within the Special Operations Regiment and now I’m working as Innovation Officer for the Belgian Land Component. Firstly, my job is to support bottom-up innovation initiatives from our units. Secondly, facilitate contacts between industry and the end-user in the early stages of development. Additionally, I’m in charge of the day-to-day management of Belgian Defence’s Innovation as a Service contract.

My three principal motivators are:

1. Changing our organizational culture to become more innovative.
2. Bring technology faster to our boots on the ground.
3. Do cool and interesting things. 😊

After obtaining my degree in physiotherapy and rehabilitation sciences in 1993 I joined Belgian Defence as an officer. I worked in the Military Hospital Queen Astrid as a physiotherapist and became head of the Center for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (C PM&R). I left that position after almost 30 years but had the amazing opportunity to introduce the most advanced rehabilitation techniques and make the C PM&R grow with highly motivated and skilful colleagues. The constant search for new and better techniques and technologies led to the creation of a research and development unit within the C PM&R.

Being triggered by R&D, I fulfilled a PhD degree in rehabilitation sciences. This shaped also the way I approach problems and potential solutions. My military background forces me to endorse the pragmatic and practical approach but I value my scientific knowledge to add the topping on the cake. If there is no science behind a proposed tech, chances are slim I’ll embrace it.

Since 2023, I’m an advisor to the Medical Component Commander for R&D and I’m the innovation officer for the Medical Component. Innovation in the (civilian) medical world is buzzing, but the translation into the even more complex military medical world, where technology must be used in an austere environment is not always easy. I’m also involved in the Human Factors and Medicine NATO panel where interactions with other researchers from NATO is of utmost importance.

I’ve been deployed as a military physio in 6 different deployments working in Role 1 to Role 3 military medical facilities. This gave me also good insights on the issues medics and medical doctors face during military operations and the innovative ideas that could make a difference for them and their patients.

I have forever been fascinated by mathematics and technical things, before expanding to technology and science in general. Early on, a deep interest in naval history also joined the mix.

Since entering the Navy reserves in 1990, I mainly worked on technology related assignments. In parallel, my civilian career focused on high-tech innovation and R&D, where I always combined technological and managerial activities, as I strongly believe in learning everything possible, thus broadening one’s scope, and in combining views and experience from multiple worlds into something new. My experience also thought me that anyone can help innovate if educational and corporate cultures actively stimulate it.

In 2022-2023 I further fused my interests by writing a research paper about innovation in the Navy and then joining the Navy’s innovation cell.

Today I am the acting Navy Innovation Officer. As such, I facilitate bottom-up innovation initiatives; scout for (and learn from) technology that may be put to innovative use; monitor (and learn from) ongoing research and innovation projects; promote innovation enabling culture; and let the Navy benefit from my combined experience in all those domains.

When not reading up on technological and scientific developments or naval history, I spend my spare time restoring and renovating a 300+ years old house, which presents plenty of opportunities for learning about historic techniques and technology, as well as for developing new skills.

As the newly appointed Innovation Manager for Belgian Defence I aim to make a difference.

I joined Belgian Defence in 2024 as a civil servant with professional experience in digitisation and innovation in both the private and public sectors.

I like to introduce myself as a Digital Humanist. My interdisciplinary background bridges the fields of linguistics and computing, allowing me to connect the dots and explore innovative solutions across domains. Always exploring, learning, and challenging myself and others. I have a particular interest in languages and language-related technologies such as conversational AI.

From the start, I am truly impressed by the achievements within Belgian Defence so far and the innovative spirit across the ranks. With my non-military background, I aim to bring valuable fresh ideas and a new perspective to the transformation of Belgian Defence.

Looking forward to driving even greater results together!