Forward in Health

Since 1942, the Association du Diabète has brought together people living with diabetes, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals around a common goal: improving the daily lives of everyone affected by the condition. As the leading diabetes organisation in French-speaking Belgium, it supports, represents, and advocates for the rights of people living with diabetes, regardless of type or age. Through its work, it also seeks to raise public awareness of the challenges associated with diabetes and to strengthen efforts to prevent the disease.

Dr. ir. Pieter De Backer is the founder of Mantyx, a spinoff of Orsi Academy developing real-time AI support for robotic surgery. With a dual background in engineering and medicine, he is a certified urologist at AZORG Aalst, specialising in minimally invasive surgery and urological oncology. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering focused on AI applications in robotic surgery, and previously co-developed the world's first electronic artificial iris contact lens at CMST-imec. Pieter is an active member of the European Association of Urology, where he co-chairs the AI working group, and leads surgical AI at the Belgian AI4Health initiative.

As a Business Development Manager in Samsung, I am occupied with analyzing market trends in healthcare and define challenges in the different segments within my field of work. Based upon that, we define solutions and strategies in order to be able to contribute to patient care in an optimal way. This is by the way not limited to product features.

Prior to my career in the medical imaging industry, I was able to gain a lot of experience during the period I worked in a hospital. This knowledge is essential to understand needs and the challenges that healthcare organizations are facing.

Jan Pirard is Healthcare Lead at Google Cloud Belgium, where he focuses on healthcare initiatives at the intersection of technology, data, and patient outcomes. With an engineering background, he brings more than two decades of experience from Microsoft, where he developed deep expertise in digital transformation and in helping organisations unlock the full potential of the cloud. He plays a key role in articulating the strategic value of Google Cloud’s healthcare innovations, including Gemini and AlphaFold, and in demonstrating how they can help build a smarter, more resilient digital foundation for the future of care. An enthusiastic advocate for AI and an expert in machine learning, Jan is also affiliated with Health Intelligence Network Gent, where he helps bring together diverse expertise in artificial intelligence and health to renew education, drive groundbreaking research, and support the responsible implementation of AI innovations in the healthcare sector.

Dr. Gert Van Esbroeck is an accomplished orthopedic surgeon ​and healthcare executive who serves as the General Manager of ​GIBBIS, the federation representing Brussels healthcare ​institutions. With over three decades of experience spanning ​clinical excellence as a chief surgeon and executive leadership ​across international medical systems, he is a leading voice in ​modern hospital management. ​

As a strong advocate for innovation, he is dedicated to driving digital transformation, integrating artificial intelligence in medicine, and shaping  sustainable policy to elevate patient care across the ​Belgian healthcare landscape.

Tina is Senior Medical Officer Diabetes/Obesity at Novo, where she plays a central role in defining and driving Diabetes and Obesity strategies, including scientific innovation. She acts as a strong medical champion in governance bodies, advises the Novo organisation on clinical science and unmet medical needs in Diabetes and Obesity, and drives close collaboration with Senior Medical Officers across the company.

Prior to joining Novo, Tina served as a consultant endocrinologist at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen and professor of clinical endocrinology at the University of Copenhagen. She was founder and head of the research group CardioMetabolic Prevention at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, where she led a multidisciplinary team of approximately 60 researchers.

Tina has been engaged in clinical research since 1997, with a scientific focus on the pathophysiology of obesity, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, appetite regulation and food intake, and the therapeutic use of incretin-based therapies, with increasing emphasis in recent years on obesity prevention and diabetes prevention. She has authored more than 460 peer-reviewed scientific publications (H-index 100) and has supervised numerous PhD and medical students.

Tina brings extensive clinical trial experience as national and European investigator in more than 30 phase 2–4 trials, with long-standing GCP and clinical investigator expertise. She serves as Honorary Secretary and Board Member of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and participates on 14 global scientific advisory boards for biotech and pharmaceutical companies. 

With a large international network spanning academia, industry and clinical practice, Tina's expertise strengthens Novo's ability to integrate scientific insights across the value chain, advance therapeutic innovation, and ensure that solutions continue to improve patient outcomes and public health.

Tomaso Antonacci is a Long Covid patient, President of Long Covid Belgium, and co-founder of the PRefacE collective (Patients-Resources). Through advocacy, lived experience, and active involvement in scientific research and knowledge production, Tomaso works to improve recognition, support, and research for people affected by Long Covid. He is also a strong advocate for translational research.

Jan Bertels is a Flemish politician with a longstanding commitment to public service, democratic accountability, and institutional governance. As a Member of the Federal Parliament, he has developed substantial expertise in health, welfare, equal opportunities, and broader social policy issues. Throughout his political career, he has been a clear and engaged voice in parliamentary debate, consistently raising important questions and holding public institutions to account in addressing key societal challenges.

As Chair of the Committee on Health and Equal Opportunities, he holds a key institutional position in the parliamentary examination of health and care policy in Flanders. In this capacity, he helps steer debate on major policy priorities, including the accessibility and organisation of care, prevention, mental health, social inclusion, and the sustainability of the healthcare system. 

Alongside his parliamentary responsibilities, he is serving a new term as Mayor of Herentals, where he combines public leadership with a clear ambition: to help build a modern, vibrant, and people-oriented city in which residents feel heard, supported, and proud to live.

Roxana Botea is Managing Director for Belgium and Luxembourg at Johnson & Johnson, where she focuses on advancing timely patient access to innovative medicines and strengthening collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. She is also member of the Board of Directors of Janssen Pharmaceutica and represents the innovative biopharmaceutical sector through her seat at Pharma.be With over 25 years of leadership experience across several industries, including more than 18 years in biopharmaceuticals, Roxana brings a strong track record in navigating complex healthcare environments, spanning marketing, market access, and general management. Prior to her current role, she was Country Director for Johnson & Johnson Romania, where she drove sustainable growth, strengthened the company’s position in the innovative medicines market, and actively contributed to shaping the healthcare policy landscape through her roles on the Board of AmCham Romania and the national innovative pharma association. Earlier in her career at GSK and ViiV Healthcare, Roxana held senior global and local leadership positions, including Global Marketing Director for Vaccines, where she managed portfolios across development, launch, and lifecycle optimization, and Country Manager for Belgium and Luxembourg at ViiV Healthcare, where she led organizational transformation and successful product introductions. Roxana is recognized for her ability to lead through change, build high-performing teams, and drive growth while contributing to dialogue on sustainable healthcare systems and improved patient outcomes. She holds a degree in Marketing from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest.

About Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is a global healthcare leader, committed to solving the toughest health challenges and transforming lives through research, development, manufacture and distribution of medicines and medical technologies. The company’s Innovative Medicine business advances breakthrough science and develops transformational treatments in areas like oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiopulmonary. In MedTech, the company is focused on developing and delivering cardiovascular, surgery, and vision solutions. Visit https://www.jnj.com/innovativemedicine/belgium/ to learn more.

Mickaël Daubie has built a distinguished career at INAMI-RIZIV, where he has been contributing to the evolution of Belgium’s healthcare system since 2004 through a succession of strategic and leadership roles within the Healthcare Department. An economist by training, he quickly established himself as a key voice in important hospital sector reforms, notably in areas such as day hospital financing and low-variability care. In 2011, he was appointed Head of the Directorate for Research, Development and Quality Promotion, where he helped drive innovation across the healthcare landscape by supporting pioneering projects in eHealth, quality improvement, and accessibility of care.  As Chair of the National-Mutuality Commission (Medicomut), he continues to play an influential role in fostering dialogue and progress across the sector. 

Jamila Hamdani, a recognised expert in pharmacovigilance at the FAMHP for more than 20 years, joined the agency’s management team as of 1 June 2026. She is a pharmacist, graduated from the Université libre de Bruxelles, and holds a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences. She has more than 20 years of experience in pharmacovigilance within the FAMHP. As an expert at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), she and her team have contributed to the evaluation of major European and national dossiers, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. She also serves on several national and international bodies, including the 'Royal Academy of Medicine' of Belgium and the Scientific Council of the 'Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des produits de santé' (ANSM). Jamila will lead the DG (Directorate-General) Pre-Authorisation, which is responsible for all activities preceding the initial marketing authorisation of a medicine or health product. As the new Director-General, she will oversee numerous strategic dossiers and projects relating to medicines and health products, in close cooperation with the current management team.

Constantinus Politis is Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeon. He is currently Emeritus Professor and Former Chairperson of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Leuven University Hospitals, KULeuven, Belgium. He graduated at the Catholic University of Leuven in medicine (MD),  in dentistry (DDS). He specialised in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Catholic University of Leuven. Postgraduate training was additionally followed in Arnhem (Stoelinga), Aachen (Koberg), Copenhagen (Pindborg), Göteborg (Bränemark) and San Francisco (Marx). He holds a master degree in management (MM) from the Applied Economic Scienes at the University of Hasselt and a master degree in Hospital Management (MHM) from the Catholic University of Leuven. He became a recognition as medical specialist in management of healthcare data. He is member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine. He is currently the president of Federation of Medical Specialists (FMS) in Belgium and is representing medical associations in different organs of NIHDI and FPS.

Hanne Decoutere, is a journalist and newsreader at VRT (the public broadcaster). After her law studies at the KUleuven and at the Sorbonne in Paris, she started at VRT. In 2012, she became a news anchor of the daily news magazine, ‘Het Journaal’. Next to her work for the VRT news desk, Hanne is an experienced and passionate moderator and presenter. With more than 10 years of experience, she leads debates, ceremonies and meetings for companies and governments.