The Sustainability Professionals 2024
have been elected!

The Sustainability Professional 2024 plays a strategic and indispensable role within their company or organisation as someone who motivates, inspires or implements sustainability. This person’s job title can range from sustainability manager to CEO, HR manager, marketeer, project leader, event manager, etc.

In addition, we honour the Sustainability Pioneer 2024: a starter in the field of Sustainability, who has realized a strong, inspirational project or best practice during the past year. This title also goes to Dutch-speaking and French-speaking candidates.

The Sustainability Professionals 2024 are …

In the Dutch-speaking category:


Jakoba Van der Linden,
Sustainability Officer, Jan De Nul

The jury elected Jakoba Van der Linden as the Sustainability Professional 2024 for her significant contribution to sustainability at Jan De Nul, one of the world’s largest dredging companies, through her key initiative, the Code Zero program.

The Code Zero program aims to foster sustainability awareness among all company employees and stands for Zero Emissions, Zero Breaches, Zero Accidents, and Zero Waste. Jakoba Van der Linden was actively involved in defining the sustainability goals and KPI’s of her organization. Thanks to this new sustainability policy, Jan De Nul was recognized with a silver EcoVadis medal and as an SDG Champion by Unitar and the UN.

Furthermore, Jakoba played a central role in the JDN School Package, an educational program promoting sustainability and innovation among children, reaching 1327 students in 28 Belgian schools. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion among the employees, as well as her dedication to education and local communities, underscores her commitment to sustainability in practice. Jakoba’s work and passion for sustainability contribute to shaping a sustainable future within and beyond Jan De Nul.

Jakoba Van der Linden: “In 2024, I will continue to roll out the sustainability policy within Jan De Nul. With the JDN School Package, an educational program promoting sustainability among children, we have already reached 1327 students. This year, I aim to significantly increase that number and involve more vulnerable youth in the project.”

In the French-speaking category:


Nathalie Guillaume,

General Secretary and Director of Sustainability, Danone Belux

The jury elected Nathalie Guillaume as the Sustainability Professional 2024 because she is a visionary leader within Danone, integrating sustainability as an essential pillar of the company since 2018.

Nathalie Guillaume has transitioned from execution to coordination, becoming a source of motivation and liaison with stakeholders, all the while believing in the power of collective action for sustainability. She has led projects at Danone such as WINGS, the successful implementation of global commitments in product categories and the promotion of sustainability among dairy producers.

She has also significantly contributed to sectorial initiatives, engaging in Fevia’s sustainability priorities and collaborating with Fost Plus to establish an effective collection system. Nathalie played a role in the “Sign for my Future” campaign and co-created a round table on Sustainable Development Goals at Danone.

Her approach emphasizes, on the one hand, the integration of sustainability into the core of the corporate strategy and, on the other hand, the involvement of all employees. This is how she achieves incredible results, including a renewal of the B Corp certification and strong relationships with key clients.

Nathalie Guillaume: “I have been working on various sustainable projects for 12 years. What I have learned is that if you want to have a positive impact on this planet, it is crucial to coordinate and involve everyone within the organization. I want to sincerely thank my team for their enthusiasm and energy.”

The Sustainability Pioneers 2024 are …

In the Dutch-speaking category:


Hassan Al Hilou
Founder and Innovation Director of CAPITAL

Hassan Al Hilou focuses on the educational and professional development of young people with his programmes C-HUB and CAPITALENT. Using self-study techniques, project work and activities, young people learn to improve their skills. Through these sustainable actions, CAPITAL positions itself as a key player in promoting social and economic inclusion of vulnerable young people in Brussels.

Simon Desimpelaere and Anthony Brouwers
Founders of Magma Design Studio

With Magma Design Studio, Anthony Brouwers and Simon Desimpelaere created innovative and sustainable interior and architectural designs with 3D printing technologies. They use recycled and biodegradable materials for their designs, and contributed to circular and modular projects, such as a building kit for learning environments, which won a Henry Van de Velde Award. Their actions promote sustainability in design and production.

In the French-speaking category:


Vincianne Gilard,
Director of Cyréo

Vincianne Gilard focuses on supporting the sustainable management of cemeteries and repairing lives by restoring objects. Cyréo targets workers who are far from the labour market, such as people without work experience, newcomers and so on. They offer them guidance in their socio-professional integration, focusing on stabilising personal situations, developing transferable skills such as teamwork and self-management, and technical skills.

On Tuesday the 20th of February 2024, we organized the ninth Sustainability Professional 2024 event.

Pieter Timmermans,

CEO VBO FEB

“We will gladly support this event for years to come. It is an important event for the world of business because we need to inspire and support positive and sustainable entrepreneurship.”

Nathalie Bekx,

CEO Time4Society:

“This election proves that committed employees really do
make a difference when their companies and organizations choose for more
sustainability. Thanks to them, the journey to sustainable entrepreneurship is
experienced by everyone together.”

These are the winners of the previous editions:

Sustainability Professional 2024
Dutch-speaking category:
Jasmien Wynants, Sustainability Manager, XANDRES

“Above all, I am very grateful: for the opportunities I am given at Xandres, for my colleagues and for what we have achieved together in the past year in the field of sustainability. Because I am certainly not alone in this story! I am very happy with this award. Both big and small victories should be celebrated. This recognition also contributes to the visibility of sustainability in the fashion sector, something we will continue to work on in the future.”

Sustainability Professional 2024
French-speaking category:
Isabelle De Bruyne, Chief Sustainability Officer, CFE

“I am really happy to win this award! I thank CFE and all my colleagues for their trust! It is through good partnerships that we create sustainable value and honour our credo: Changing for good. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the two Sustainability Ambassadors, because what they do is just as important.”

Sustainability Professional 2022
Dutch-speaking category:
Nele Van Damme, Co-CEO of Upgrade Estate

“I am so glad I can add this award to my achievements. The tension had me weak in the knees. The other finalists were, of course, also deserving. This recognition is intensely valuable to me, my co-CEO, and all our employees who help us translate our core values to concrete and sustainable actions. This award boosts our motivation and confirms that we are doing the right thing. How do I see my role as Sustainability Professional? I want to inspire others and emphasize that small steps also make a difference. If you use an underlying long-term plan, things will eventually go according to that plan.”

Sustainability Professional 2022
French-speaking category:
Bruno Van Steenberghe, Managing director of Kalani-Home

“I am happy, surprised, and thankful to have won this award. This is a tremendous recognition not only for myself but for our entire team. The other finalists were real heavy hitters. We live in an age in which sustainability will become crucial. As Sustainability Professional 2022, I want to be a worthy ambassador. It would be amazing if I could inspire others to have a positive impact. I want to thank everyone that has supported me: my friends, my family, the members of the jury, our customers, and everyone who voted for me. And of course, who could forget the anonymous person who nominated me in the first place (laughs)?”

CSR Professional of the Year 2020
Dutch-speaking category:
Philippe Weiler, Head of Sustainability Lidl Belgium

“I am very happy with this recognition. We and two other organisations stood together in the finals. Each of us brings CSR alive in our own way. But all of us have the same goal, which is to be a part of that transition.”

CSR Professional of the Year 2020
French-speaking category:
Salvatore Iannello, CEO La Chocolaterie Galler

“This is an emotional moment. When the project of one man becomes that of a team and then of a whole cooperating company, it is magical. This title is not mine but the whole company’s!”

CSR Professional of the Year 2019
Dutch-speaking category:
Caroline Pauwels, rector Vrije Universiteit Brussel

“Our university teaches our youth the values of social responsibility. The next generations will take good care of our planet – of that I am sure. If we focus on positive things, we can achieve so much together.”

CSR Professional of the Year 2019
French-speaking category:
Nicolas Declercq, founder Brasserie Leopold 7

“I dream that in 50 years time, my children will say: my father was a pioneer. Beer is a valued product and people associate it with passion. My passion for beer production goes hand in hand with a great number of values. To me, that’s very important.”

CSR Professional of the Year 2018
Dutch-speaking category:
Ann Claes, Chief Buying Officer, JBC

“I am very happy with this award, which actually belongs to our entire team. We have been working hard on more sustainability over the past few years. One example we are very proud of, is that we are now selling 100% recycled jeans at JBC. This award is a nice recognition for the route we have taken.”

CSR Professional of the Year 2018
French-speaking category:
Pascal Léglise, CSR Director, Carrefour Belgium

“Together with my team, I have been working for more than 10 years on the road to more sustainable entrepreneurship in retail. And today we are reaping the benefits, together with the local producers that we support though Act for Food. This award is a great recognition of our work!”

CSR Professional of the Year 2017
category large enterprise:
Eric de Deckere, Senior Technical Manager Sustainable Transition, Port of Antwerp

“Winning this award is a recognition of the trajectory we have followed so far. In 2010 and 2011 we started reporting on sustainability. This eventually resulted in concrete actions. Right now we are in the midst of a transition. Reporting is still one of our core practices, but now we are doing so much more. This prize is a reward for all our hard work, for the team and for the companies that are involved in the harbour community and are willing to undertake steps with the aim of becoming more sustainable.”

CSR Professional of the Year 2017
category SME:
Philip Van Kelst, founder & CEO, Kasteelhoeve Wange

“This prize is nice reward! Since the foundation of Kasteelhoeve Wange we have been making a lot of CSR efforts in order to become sustainable. It was a fundamental choice, also out of financial considerations. It has been a lonely and frightful way at times, but along the way we have gathered a whole community, which I find very fulfilling. People believe in us, they connect with us. This award is the icing on the cake!”

CSR Professional of the Year 2016
category large enterprise:
Ann Vandenhende, CSR Manager Spadel

“This award is a recognition for the entire Spadel team. My CEO, Marc Du Bois, deserves praise and a ‘thank you’ as well. In the field of CSR he’s at least as passionate as I am. Without his enthusiasm, I wouldn’t have been able to do the work I’m doing today. And I’ll keep on doing my job with loads of enthusiasm!”

CSR Professional of the Year 2016
category SME:
Joost Callens, CEO Durabrik

“I’m blown away a bit. I want to dedicate this award to my team and I want to thank them for their hard work. In the words of Toon Hermans: ‘There have to be people that ignite suns, before the world rains away’. I’m happy that I can make a contribution.”

CSR Professional of the Year 2015:
Michel Croisé, president Sodexo Benelux

“This award is a recognition for the whole team of Sodexo. It is a pleasure to motivate people who are already motivated. But the most important thing is that we all take steps towards a better society.”