159th Edition – Zak World of Façades Belgium

This will be the 159th edition globally and the 1st edition in Brussels which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

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Speakers & Panelists

Bob Helsen

Senior Project Architect, Jaspers-Eyers Architects

Bob graduated as an engineer at KU Leuven. After gaining expertise at several architectural companies, he started at Jaspers-Eyers in 2021. His main project is ZIN, the reconversion of the former WTC towers in Brussels. In his free time, Bob...

Christian De Buyser

Sales Engineer, Axalta Coating Systems

Christian De Buyser is a dynamic force at the intersection of industrial sales and architectural innovation, bringing his experience as Sales Engineer for Belgium to the ZAK World of Facades. With a deep affinity for architecture, design, and color, Christian...

Diter Braet

Business Development Director, Arcora

Diter BRAET grew up in Ghent in a family where his grandfather, uncles and cousins were/are architects. He decided to become a civil engineer, believing that technology should serve aesthetics. He graduated from the school CHEC in Paris in 2005...

Etienne Clinquart

Director, Clinquart Consulting

Etienne Clinquart graduated as Civil Engineer in Construction from the University of Ghent , Belgium, in 1983. He has more than 34 years of experience in façade technologies . He started in the company Groven in 1990 and created Groven+...

Sara Bernar

Director, Van Laere

With years of experience within site teams and several Class 8 construction companies,Sara is well established in managing people and large construction projects. Since 2018,she holds the position of Operational Director at Van Laere, where she leads withinprestigious projects such...

Arabella El Ginawy

Project Architect, Atelier Kanal Architects

In 2008 Arabella became an architect and during 10 years she worked in The Netherlands, on several projects with different scales and challenges. Thereafter in 2018 she started as one of the project architects for the project Kanal, Brussels. With...

Trees Verhoogen

Project Manager, Nextensa

After her studies as an Architectural Engineer (KULeuven) and Master in Spatial Planning and Urban Development (Antwerp), Trees Verhoogen first worked for 10 years as a Building Project Manager for both the Province of Flemish Brabant and the Flemish government....

Erwin ten Brincke

Associate Partner, ABT

Erwin is a structural designer with an integral mindset and passion for glass. With his creativity, significant technical knowledge and experience in complex glazed structures, he has worked on some of the most cutting edge glass designs in Europe, Mid-East...

Simon Claeys

CCO | Partner, B2Ai Architects

After obtaining a master’s in civil engineering and architecture (UGent), Simon Claeys followed a European management program (MBA) and a postgraduate course in renovation techniques and monument conservation (HoWest). He has participated in numerous prestigious projects, both in Belgium and...

Juan De La Venta Granda

Architect | Quality & Customer Support Façade Technical Team, Cosentino

After graduating as an Architect from the Madrid Technical School of Architecture at Polytechnic University(ETSAM-UPM), he has developed his career for more than 20 years in different companies in technical and commercial roles in relation to the design, sales and...

Wim Plaum

Project Director, Befimmo Real Estate Group

Wim Plaum is a seasoned construction engineer with over 25 years of experience in project and property management. He graduated in 1994 with a focus on sustainable materials. After starting his career as a junior project manager at Starke Diekstra,...

Amaury Leroy

Project Director, Bureau Greisch

Amaury Leroy is a structural engineer (MSc degree in Civil Engineering from the “Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles”) living in Brussels, Belgium. He joined the “Bureau Greisch” in 2009 and currently heads the building department in Brussels. Passionate about complex projects,...

Joost Declercq

Partner | Director Research and Innovation, Archipelago Architects

Joost is a director and partner at archipelago architects. As the manager of the archipelago R&I team, he coordinates research projects and overlooks archipelago’s integrated sustainability approach. His expertise ranges from climate responsive design to simulation-driven performance-based design and circular...

Mark Vorsselmans

Managing Director, Vorsselmans

Mark Vorsselmans is the Managing Director of Vorsselmans NV, a leading family-owned company specializing in aluminium windows, doors, and façades. For 50 years, they have been designing complex façade constructions at the highest level. In 1992, Mark joined the company...

Eva Jacobs

Operations Manager - Curtain Walls and Joinery, Seco Group

Eva is an engineer specializing in exterior and interior joinery, façades, and roof cladding. With over two decades of experience at SECO, she has developed expertise in cladding, joinery, glazing, renovation, and many other areas. Eva is well-versed in Belgian...

Joep Römgens

Head of Service, Marketing and Product Management, Schüco

Nearly 10 years ago Joep joined Schüco International, one of the leading international suppliers of high-quality window, door and façade systems. With a master´s degree in Architecture and nearly 20 years experience in the construction industry Joep is now leading...

Eric Claeys

Founding Partner, Fassada Steel

Eric Claeys holds a degree as Civil Engineer in Construction from KU Leuven, Belgium, a degree in Industrial Engineering in Public Works from KU Leuven, Belgium, and graduated with a Master in Business Administration from the Vlerick Business School, Belgium....

Stéphanie Mangé

Co-Founder, Gevelinzicht Ingenieur-Architecten

Stéphanie Mangé (Master in Civil Engineering and Architecture, University in Ghent, 2002) specialized over the years to become a technical designer and expert in facade engineering. In 2016, she founded “Gevelinzicht” in Antwerp together with 2 co-partners. Today she is...

Niels Balcaen

Project Manager, VK Architects+Engineers

Niels manages complex projects, mainly involving studies for building services for buildings of various typology and scale. He shows a great affinity for a sustainable approach in the broadest sense of the word. Always in direct contact with the design...

Kenny Martens

Managing Director, Vitroplena

Kenny Martens is 33 years old and lives in Zwevezele, Belgium. He has a master’s degree in civil engineering – structural design and received his Ph.D. on structural glass beam systems at Ghent University in 2018. Following his graduation, Kenny...

Edwin Remmerie

Design and Operational Lead, Binst Architects

Edwin Remmerie is Design and Operational lead at Binst Architects, and has worked in the office since 2005. Working closely together with founder and CEO Luc Binst, he is responsible for managing the office and supervising the Design Phase of every project....

Ruben Van Vooren

PhD Researcher, VUB Architectural Engineering

Ruben Van Vooren is a PhD researcher at the department of Architectural Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research is supervised by prof. Waldo Galle and prof. Niels De Temmerman and is a collaboration with Bureau Bouwtechniek (BB), a Belgian...

Raf De Preter

Building Detail Expert, Façade Advisor, Bureau Bouwtechniek

Raf became an architect at Sint-Lucas in 1995. In 2012, Raf became a BB’er. During his tenure as BB’er, he emerged as façade consultant and building detail expert and, together with some colleagues, founded Team Knowledge Innovation & Technology, the...

Stefaan Van Acker

Lead Architect, Jaspers-Eyers Architects

Stefaan van Acker, a multifaceted Project Architect at Jaspers-Eyers, has woven his passion for architecture into a remarkable journey which started with a childhood fascination with the fusion of artistry and functionality. Graduating from Sint-Lukas in Ghent and later pursuing...

Maaike Berckmoes

Principal | Façade Engineering, VK Architects+Engineers

Maaike Berckmoes graduated as a civil engineer architect from Ghent University in 1994, after which she worked for several years in various architectural firms in Belgium and Italy. After this, she worked for more than 15 years as a Building...

Bram Branckaerts

Managing Director, Kyotec

Upon completing his studies as an engineer and in business economics, Bram began his professional career with a general contractor. In 2004, he started his façade experience by joining Belgo Metal, first part of Parmasteelisa later part of Kyotec, as...

Raimond J.F Starmans

Country Director - Germany & Netherlands, SageGlass

Raimond J.F Starmans is since the end of 2019 the Country Director for Germany and The Benelux Countries for Saint-Gobain’s SageGlass, based in the Euregio in The Netherlands. Along with his Sales and Technical Support team he is a big...

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