Forward Fest 26 — Geertrui Mieke De Ketelaere

Geertrui Mieke De Ketelaere

Geertrui Mieke De Ketelaere is Adjunct Professor at Vlerick Business School. She holds a master degree in civil and industrial engineering and specialised in robotics and artificial intelligence during her studies. Over the last 30 years, she has worked for several multinationals on all aspects of data and analytics (IBM, Microsoft, SAP, SAS, etc). From a business consulting point of view, she is specialised in defining the AI business canvas, from potential value to predefined risks. With her understanding of the hindsight, insight and foresight of AI technologies, she also frequently acts as an expert and coach behind the scenes. In her public presentations and recent book, Mieke puts the focus on the demystification of the hype around AI. The State Secretary of Digitalisation, Mathieu Michel, appointed Mieke as "Digital Mind" in 2020. In 2024, Mieke was appointed "IT Person of 2024" in Belgium. Today, Mieke continues to share her vision on the future of AI as speaker on international radio, television and conferences. Picture by @Kevin Zoso Photography

Geertrui Mieke De Ketelaer will speak about "Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Applications While Navigating Ethical Challenges" at 11h00 in Top zaal

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Join the movement

Forward Fest 2024 invites you to join the conversation, share your perspective, and collaborate with others to build a future that is fair, inclusive, and interconnected. Explore, learn, and contribute to the change our world needs.

LEARN, SHARE, INSPIRE

Prepare for a day filled with inspiring lectures, surprising workshops, and professional connections that will not only stimulate your thinking but also touch your heart. This is your chance to learn from leading thinkers, network with like-minded individuals, and actively contribute to a more just world.

You will soon be able to register for Forward Fest 2026 here.

Who organizes Forward Fest?

Forward Fest is organized by 11.11.11, ngo-federation and VLIRUOS in collaboration with MO* with the support of Belgian development cooperation.

11.11.11

THE COALITION FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.

11.11.11 aims to eradicate exploitation from the world. Everyone – anywhere in the world – has the right to a dignified existence. To truly make a change, power and resources must be distributed more fairly, and the current system must be questioned.

More info on 11.be

NGO-FEDERATIE

FLEMISH FEDERATION OF NGOS FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.

The ngo-federation represents its members to the federal and other governments, supports the members in their discussions with those governments, promotes cooperation within the sector, and strengthens the quality of NGOs’ operations.

More info on ngo-federatie.be

VLIRUOS

INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO GLOBAL AND LOCAL CHALLENGES

VLIRUOS supports partnerships and scholarships between universities and colleges in both Flanders and the Global South, seeking innovative solutions for global as well as local challenges.

More info on vliruos.be