Wednesday
7th october 2026
17:30 – 18:45
Entrance & Bar
Registration & opening reception
Kick off the evening with a warm welcome at our opening reception. Collect your badge, enjoy a drink and start connecting with fellow HR leaders, innovators and technology partners before the official programme begins.
18:45 – 19:00
Main room
WELCOME BY MAARTEN VANGRAMBEREN
Maarten Vangramberen
Maarten Vangramberen will guide you through the HRtech Unfolded program on October 7 and 8. You may know him as a sports anchor and journalist at VRT and Sporza. Sports are a common thread running through his life — not only professionally, but also in his personal life. He exercises and plays sports every day and enjoys sharing that message with others. He also draws energy from presenting and moderating, and thanks to his years of media experience, he knows how to keep every event running smoothly, professionally, and with a touch of humor. Maarten is eagerly looking forward to taking you on the various journeys of HRtech Unfolded and giving you a day full of inspiration.
Photo: Anneke D’Hollander
Maarten Vangramberen
Be welcomed to an unforgettable evening as our host, Maarten Vangramberen, guides you through the HRtech Unfolded Gala. Get ready for a night of inspiration, recognition and celebration with the HR community.
19:00 – 19:30
Main room
Award ceremony
Celebrate the future of HR innovation during the HRtech Unfolded Award Ceremony, where one winner will be crowned in each of our three award categories: HRtech Startup of the Year, HRtech Project of the Year, and AI-Proof Company of the Year. Join us as we honour the organisations that are shaping the future of work through technology, innovation and impact.
19:30 – 20:15
Main room
Dinner starter
20:15 – 21:00
Main room
Keynote Dorien Van Steenberge
Dorien Van Steenberge
Dorien Van Steenberge has earned her stripes in IT strategy, corporate consulting and scale-up leadership, and brought that baggage to Wintercircus. There, she grew the Collective into a community of 1,500+ members.
Since the 1st of April 2026 (no joke), she’s the new CEO of Wintercircus Ghent, ready to write the next chapter. Twice nominated as Young ICT Lady of the Year, she knows better than anyone how technology and people come together. Building ecosystems, driving innovation, thinking ahead – that’s her thing.
Dorien Van Steenberge
21:00 – 22:00
Main room
Dinner
22:00 – 22:30
Main room
Dessert
22:30 – 00:00
Bar
Late night bar
End the evening at our late night bar, where the conversations continue and the dance floor comes alive. Unwind, connect and celebrate with fellow HR professionals while our DJ keeps the energy going into the night.
Thursday
8th october 2026
08:15 – 09:15
Entrance & Bar
Arrival & networking
Start your conference day by collecting your badge, enjoying a coffee and connecting with fellow HR professionals, speakers and partners. Take the opportunity to network, explore the venue and get ready for a full day of inspiration and innovation.
09:15 – 09:30
Main stage
WELCOME BY MAARTEN VANGRAMBEREN
Maarten Vangramberen
Maarten Vangramberen will guide you through the HRtech Unfolded program on October 7 and 8. You may know him as a sports anchor and journalist at VRT and Sporza. Sports are a common thread running through his life — not only professionally, but also in his personal life. He exercises and plays sports every day and enjoys sharing that message with others. He also draws energy from presenting and moderating, and thanks to his years of media experience, he knows how to keep every event running smoothly, professionally, and with a touch of humor. Maarten is eagerly looking forward to taking you on the various journeys of HRtech Unfolded and giving you a day full of inspiration.
Photo: Anneke D’Hollander
Maarten Vangramberen
Join us for the official opening of the conference as our host, Maarten Vangramberen, welcomes you and guides you through a day filled with inspiring keynotes, engaging breakout sessions and valuable networking opportunities.
09:30 – 10:15
Main stage
Opening keynote Henry Coutinho-Mason
Henry Coutinho-Mason
Designing A People-First AI Strategy
Henry Coutinho-Mason is a globally recognized keynote speaker, consultant, and thought leader in leadership, innovation, and organizational transformation. With over two decades of experience, he has worked with major global organizations, helping them drive growth through strategic innovation and change management. Henry’s expertise spans across leadership development, digital transformation, and building resilient, adaptable organizations in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Designing A People-First AI Strategy
This year it’s AI. Last year it was the metaverse, web3 and crypto. Before that, it was social media and mobile.
For over a decade, Henry’s talks on how to think about new and fast-moving technologies have been enthusiastically received by executive audiences. Henry’s approach is a deceptively simple one – don’t only focus on what’s changing; instead identify what won’t change for your customers. What are the basic human needs and wants that your customers will still look to your organization to cater to a decade from now? So instead of talking solely about novel technologies themselves, Henry talks about the underlying relevant basic human needs they speak to – from convenience to empowerment and creativity.
This deeply human-centric view of technology might seem obvious, but Henry’s talks present a view of the world that is both fresh and compelling. More importantly, it’s an accessible and practical approach that audiences can take back into their organizations in order to think strategically about the long-term implications and opportunities that AI will present.
Henry Coutinho-Mason
Designing A People-First AI Strategy
This year it’s AI. Last year it was the metaverse, web3 and crypto. Before that, it was social media and mobile.
For over a decade, Henry’s talks on how to think about new and fast-moving technologies have been enthusiastically received by executive audiences. Henry’s approach is a deceptively simple one – don’t only focus on what’s changing; instead identify what won’t change for your customers. What are the basic human needs and wants that your customers will still look to your organization to cater to a decade from now? So instead of talking solely about novel technologies themselves, Henry talks about the underlying relevant basic human needs they speak to – from convenience to empowerment and creativity.
This deeply human-centric view of technology might seem obvious, but Henry’s talks present a view of the world that is both fresh and compelling. More importantly, it’s an accessible and practical approach that audiences can take back into their organizations in order to think strategically about the long-term implications and opportunities that AI will present.
10:30 – 12:00
Breakout rooms
Breakout sessions – 6 journeys
The breakout sessions begin across six dedicated rooms, each aligned with one of the HRtech Unfolded journeys: Leadership & Strategy, Reward, Payroll & Legal, Data & Performance Management, Recruitment, Learning & Development, and DEI & Culture.
Explore the journey that matches your priorities, with detailed session information coming soon.
12:00 – 13:30
Food Market
Lunch & NETWORKING
13:30 – 15:00
Breakout rooms
Breakout sessions – 6 journeys
The breakout sessions begin across six dedicated rooms, each aligned with one of the HRtech Unfolded journeys: Leadership & Strategy, Reward, Payroll & Legal, Data & Performance Management, Recruitment, Learning & Development, and DEI & Culture.
Explore the journey that matches your priorities, with detailed session information coming soon.
15:15 – 15:45
Main stage
Unfiltered. Live on Stage.
A new debate format at HRtech that puts consensus aside. HR experts are challenged to take a real stand, through sharp statements, live audience interaction, and even a direct confrontation with AI. No scripted answers, no safe conclusions. Unfiltered. Live on stage.
15:45 – 16:30
Main stage
Closing keynote
More info coming soon.
16:30 – 18:00
Bar
Closing drink, NETWORKING & end of conference day
Wrap up an inspiring day with a closing drink and one last opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, speakers and partners. Reflect on the day’s insights, exchange ideas and continue the conversations before we bring the conference to an end.
The Journeys
Leadership & strategy
Lead the change, don’t chase it. Organisations are redesigning operating models, rethinking workforce composition, and recalibrating what leadership actually means.
Reward, payroll & legal
Pay people right. Stay compliant. Sleep better. As regulations tighten and pay transparency becomes the norm, organisations are expected to explain not only what they pay, but why.
Data & performance management
Less gut feeling. More good calls. Real-time people analytics, OKRs and continuous feedback loops are redefining how organisations track progress and unlock potential.
Recruitment
Attract. Engage. Hire. Repeat. Employer branding lives in every touchpoint: the job ad, the interview flow, the speed of feedback, the transparency of communication.
Learning & development
Make learning stick, and make it fun. Because skills expire, curiosity doesn’t. Organisations that win are those that embed learning into the flow of work, personalised, adaptive and connected to real outcomes.
DEI & Culture
Build belonging, on purpose. As workforces grow more diverse, organisations must turn differences into strength and make culture something people truly experience, not just describe.
Make sure you don’t miss out!