About

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About

My career has developed across science, academia, and policy, with a consistent focus on understanding environmental change through satellite Earth Observation.

I started in bioscience engineering and Earth Observation, combining fieldwork, modelling, and remote sensing to study vegetation dynamics and ecosystem change. This work led to a PhD focused on monitoring vegetation using hyper-temporal satellite data.

Over time, my research evolved towards large-scale data analysis, time series methods, and operational monitoring approaches. I developed the BFAST open-source software, which became widely used for detecting and characterising change in satellite time series and enabled collaboration and capacity building.

At Wageningen University, I built and led a research group focused on change monitoring, supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and securing competitive funding. I also developed open teaching materials that continue to be used internationally.

Today, I work at the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and represent Belgium in ESA and Copernicus forums. My focus is on aligning science, data infrastructure, and user needs across Europe, supporting the uptake of Earth Observation for operational services and public value.

What motivates me

What drives me is the opportunity to connect different worlds: academic research, operational systems, and societal applications.

Earth Observation has reached a level of maturity where data is abundant, but meaningful use requires integration, interpretation, and collaboration. I am motivated by enabling that transition.

Values

In my work and collaborations, I value openness, curiosity, and shared learning.

I believe in open science—not only as a principle, but as a practical approach to accelerate progress. Education is a central pillar: students and professionals should learn not only tools, but also how to think critically and collaborate across disciplines.

My leadership approach is rooted in creating safe and stimulating environments, with clear boundaries and encouragement for people to develop independently while remaining connected to a broader purpose.