Our team

Academic coordinator
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Rob Heyman is Academic Coordinator of the Knowledge Centre Data & Society and Senior Researcher at imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He researches participatory methods in innovation projects so that societal, legal, and ethical values ​​are integrated into the development phase.

Operational coordinator
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Pieter Duysburgh is coordinator of the Knowledge Centre Data & Society and project leader of the citizen science programme amai!. His expertise includes digital inclusion, AI literacy, participation, AI innovation in the workplace, and ethics in practice.

Knowledge valorisation officer
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Dennis Vanden Auweele is an ethicist and holds a doctorate in philosophy. As a knowledge valorisation officer at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society, he focuses on the themes of ethics in practice, digital sovereignty, and algorithmic decision-making.

Communications and events officer
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Shirley Bruijnzeel is responsible for social media, newsletters, and the website. She also supports the organisation of events, learning communities, and training courses at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society.

Knowledge valorisation officer
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Nathan Pelgrims supports organisations with the ethical, social, and legal decision-making processes around AI, he works to promote the responsible use of AI and data-driven technologies in Flanders, focusing especially on the use of AI at work. Additionally, he is involved in amai!, the citizen science project aiming to make AI innovation more accessible to and relevant for the general public in Flanders. 

Research officer
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Shannen Verlee is a legal researcher. She informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, she focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, she works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.

Research officer
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Sultan Erdogan is a legal researcher. She informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, she focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, she works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.

Research officer
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Sabra Ibnouthen is a legal researcher. She informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, she focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, she works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.

Research associate
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Koen Vranckaert is a legal researcher. He informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, he focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, he works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.

Research associate
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Wout Vermeir is a researcher at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society. He investigates the barriers and challenges that organisations and companies face when introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their business operations. He works on the development and implementation of self-monitoring tools to measure the AI literacy and AI maturity of an organisation and its employees.