About the award

Who became Sustainability Professional 2024?

The Sustainability Professional 2024 plays a strategic and indispensable role within his 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 this ninth edition, two professionals were awarded:

Jakoba Van der Linden,
Sustainability Officer, Jan De Nul

is the Dutch-speaking Sustainability Professional 2024.

Nathalie Guillaume,
General Secretary and Director of Sustainability, Danone Belux

is the French-speaking Sustainability Professional 2024.

These finalists became Sustainability Ambassadors :

  • Mark AdriaenssensFounder and CEO, Out of Use
  • Frank VandenborreGroup Director Sustainability, Ageas
  • Thomas CanonSustainability Program Director, IBA
  • Geoffrey Pot, General Manager Operations, Takeda

Sustainability Pioneers 2024

For each language group we also looked for Sustainability Pioneers 2024: starters in the field of Sustainability who have realized a strong, inspirational project or best practice during the past year.
These titles were awarded to:

  • Hassan Al HilouFounder and Innovation Director, Capital &
    Simon Desimpelaere and Anthony BrouwersFounders, Magma Design Studio
    in the Dutch-speaking category
  • Vincianne Gilard, Directeur, Cyréo
    in the French-speaking category

The timeline looked like this:

20 november 2023

Start of nominations

20 november 2023
5 januari 2024 at 12 noon

End of nominations

All nominees submit their dossier.

5 januari 2024 at 12 noon
9 januari 2024

Selection by core committee

The core committee of the jury makes a first selection of candidates.

9 januari 2024
10 – 25 januari 2024

Selection by jury

On the basis of the dossiers, the jury decides which candidates are invited to the jury defence.

10 – 25 januari 2024
25 januari 2024

Pre-selection results

The candidates are notified of the results of the pre-selection.

25 januari 2024
12 februari 2024

Presentation in front of the jury

The top 5 of each category presents its dossier in front of the jury. The jury reduces each top 5 to a top 3. The jury’s vote counts for 75% of the total points. The jury also determines who qualifies for the title of Sustainability Pioneer 2024.

12 februari 2024
1 – 20 februari 2024

Online voting round

We are calling for online votes for the finalists. Votes account for 25% of the total votes.

1 – 20 februari 2024
20 februari 2024

Event night
Sustainability Professional 2024

The winners will be announced at the Sustainability Professional event.

20 februari 2024
26 March 2024 from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Masterclass NL

26 March 2024 from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
2 April 2024 from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Masterclass FR

2 April 2024 from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What is Time4Society?

Time4Society provides a link between the profit sector on the one hand and the social profit and non-profit sector on the other hand. It’s Time4Society’s mission to facilitate corporate engagement. This is realized through socially valuable projects, Sustainability-advice, Sustainability-coaching, and by sharing innovation and expertise in the field of Sustainability.

What is VBO FEB?

As the leading voice of the Belgian professional world, it is VBO FEB’s goal to achieve an optimal climate for entrepreneurs in Belgian. We represent more than 50 thousand enterprises in more than 50 sectors. A strong economy leads to sustainable progress that forms the basis for more welfare for everyone. Economic and societal interests are not only complementary but also connected. That is how we create value for everyone.