Wednesday October 4, 2023
16h30-18h00
Reception
Doors open and opening reception
Start your gala evening with delicious appetizers. Get to know the partners of HRtech and make your connection.
18h00-18h30
Mainstage
Awards
We reveal the winner of the HRtech.awards.2023. The award ceremony will present the best Belgian HRtech team and start-up of the year.
18h30-19h30
Central square
Enjoy a tasty dinner starter.
19h30-20h30
Mainstage
Keynote Lieven Scheire
Lieven Scheire
Keynote: A.I.
Photo © Jelle Vermeersch
Lieven Scheire is a comedian, physicist and science communicator.
He is much appreciated for his refreshing mix between science and comedy and conveys complex topics in an accessible way. Lieven does so with expertise and the necessary dose of humour.
There is no one who can explain Einstein’s theory of relativity, quantum mechanics or Drake’s formula as captivating as Lieven Scheire.
While studying physics at UGent, Lieven founded the comedy group Neveneffecten with his cousin Jonas Geirnaert. Together with Jelle De Beule and Koen De Poorter, they create cabaret shows as well as successful television programmes such as Basta and Willy’s en Marjetten. More recently, Lieven created and presented programmes such as Scheire en de Schepping.
Besides his television work, he tours Belgium and the Netherlands with Artificial Intelligence, an entertaining theatre show about this wondrous form of software, which is already all around us.
His popular podcast Nerdland, Lieven and a friendly gang of science freaks bring a monthly overview of the most important science news.
By the way, you can always wake him up at night for a game of cloud spotting. But only for the noctilucent ones, of course.
Lieven Scheire
Lieven Scheire is a comedian, physicist and science communicator. He is much appreciated for his refreshing mix between science and comedy and conveys complex topics in an accessible way. Lieven does so with expertise and the necessary dose of humour.
20h30-21h30
Mainstage
Gala dinner
Submerge your guests in a unique setting for an exclusive (private) dinner.
21h30-22h30
Mainstage
Enjoy an amazing walking dessert.
22h30-00h0
Sapphire
Late night bar in Sapphire House.
Thursday October 5, 2023
08h00-10h00
Central square
Doors open and registration
Start the day with an easy breakfast and good company. Get to know the partners of HRtech, share a cup of coffee and make your connection.
08h45-09h45
Central square
Awakenings
Unwind with an awakening session where tech and wellbeing meet. As a participant of HRtech, you have the opportunity to book a seat at one of our three awakenings: MoNoA, moonbird or silent disco yoga. Claim your spot below.
10h00-10h10
Mainstage
Welcome: host Suyin Aerts
Suyin Aerts
After a career as a professional ballet dancer and a job as an actress & presenter for Belgian Television and some years in the Fashion Industry, Suyin Aerts decided to continue her a-typical walk of life with her partner by joining him in his company X-Treme. Suyin comments: “X-Treme Creations is your partner for the design, production and realization of your visual marketing material for multiple projects. In our business there are no limits to our imagination and little restrictions to our products. We can realize our client’s imaginations!” In 2012 she was awarded with the Talent Award of Women in Marketing and Communication. In 2016 she won the award of networker of the year in Belgium.
She combines her professional life as a female entrepreneur with a freelance career as multilingual presenter and journalist for television (Kanaal Z/Canal Z) and moderator on events. This brings her another award in 2019, The Wintrade Award for Women in the Media-London (sponsored by Microsoft)
With a Master’s degree in Industrial Business Policy, different Marketing classes and a degree in International Trade at the International Chamber of Commerce, Suyin stays eager to keep on broadening her vision and knowledge, grow and staying creative and innovative. In 2020 she obtained a degree in digital transformation from Vlerick Business School ‘Take the Lead’
Her typical management style stands for intrapreneurship within her teams. She loves helping others to dare to go for their own talents, both personal and professional. She is convinced that networking is part of the game.
In April 2022 Suyin Published her first book: Time for the creative generalist(NL) LannooCampus
Her motto: …” to get the right answers it is essential to ask the right questions” Every Friday she shares her “Friday Thoughts”, a blog on her website suyin.be.
Suyin Aerts
After a career as a professional ballet dancer and a job as an actress & presenter for Belgian Television and some years in the Fashion Industry, Suyin Aerts decided to continue her a-typical walk of life with her partner by joining him in his company X-Treme.
10h10-10h50
Central square
Keynote Steven Laureys
Steven Laureys
Dr Steven Laureys is an award-winning neurologist, scientist and author. He is known worldwide for his pioneering research on human consciousness. He has authored more than 600 scientific papers, heads the GIGA Consciousness Research Unit at the University of Liège and is co-founder of the Mind Care International Foundation. He currently lives part of the time in Canada where he is a professor at the CERVO Brain Centre.
Dr Laureys is undoubtedly a promoter of complementary medicine and sustainable mental well-being. In his international bestseller ‘The no-nonsense meditation book’, he gives a unique insight into his research with monks. In addition, together with his wife Vanessa, psychologist and mindfulness coach, he wrote ‘ZACHT’, the no-nonsense meditation book for children.
As a keynote speaker at HRtech, he will give his scientific view on the power of meditation. Today, neurotechnology allows us to better understand the power of the human brain. Thanks to brain scans and the latest technologies to measure brain activity, we are able to collect a lot of information. Together with his team, he tries to translate that knowledge into a personal and professional context. After all, not only for medicine, but for every individual, it is interesting to better understand techniques like meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation, how to use it successfully at work and how can it support your business? Dr Laureys provides scientifically based answers to all these questions and teaches you some informal ways to get started with it.
Steven Laureys
Dr Steven Laureys is an award-winning neurologist, scientist and author. He is known worldwide for his pioneering research on human consciousness. He has authored more than 600 scientific papers, heads the GIGA Consciousness Research Unit at the University of Liège and is co-founder of the Mind Care International Foundation. He currently lives part of the time in Canada where he is a professor at the CERVO Brain Centre.
10h50-11h20
Mainstage
Keynote Average Rob
Average Rob
Average Rob (Robert van Impe) is a Belgian actor and content creator.
He speaks in his typical catchy way about entrepreneurship, daring and exploring the unknown.
Rob will share his unique insights on risk-taking, the benefits of failure, overcoming fears and the importance of talent. He draws from his own experience while encouraging everyone to embrace the “black hole” of entrepreneurship. Dare to do and embrace failure as an essential part of success.
Average Rob has worked for Belgian magazine Humo since 2016 and presented the radio programme BOITLYFE on youth channel StuBru. He is known for his YouTube content, iconic videos for Humo and his content on social media (@averagerob). Rob has a great fascination for Belgian culture. In his content, he focuses mainly on young people and (young) adults (12 to 45). He reaches that target group mainly via Youtube, Instagram and TikTok. Humour and good content is what really counts for Average Rob.
Average Rob
Average Rob (Robert van Impe) is a Belgian actor and content creator. He speaks in his typical catchy way about entrepreneurship, daring and exploring the unknown. Rob will share his unique insights on risk-taking, the benefits of failure, overcoming fears and the importance of talent.
11h20-12h00
Mainstage
Keynote Mikko Hyppönen
Mikko Hyppönen
Defending against cyber attacks is a never-ending race. HR departments are often targeted by recruitment scammers, BEC scammers, governmental attackers and deep fake voice and video attacks. Who is behind these attacks? What can you do about them? And how will AI change the picture?
During HRtech, Mikko Hyppönen answers all these questions. Hyppönen is a renowned cybersecurity specialist with three decades of experience working as a researcher, investigator, and public speaker. In 2022, he released his first book, If It’s Smart, It’s Vulnerable. The book offers a tour of the past, present and future of cybersecurity and the internet.
Mikko has been with the antivirus company WithSecure since 1991 investigating cybercrime. He serves as the company’s Chief Research Officer, and has guided his staff through some of the most significant computer virus attacks in recent history. He has also served as an advisor to the European Union’s police agency, EUROPOL.
His work and articles have been published in major outlets like The New York Times, and WIRED. Throughout his professional career, he has obtained numerous awards. Mikko has delivered speeches at Google Zeitgeist, SXSW, CeBIT, and MWC among others. He has also delivered speeches on privacy issues to the European Parliament and the Universities of Oxford, Stanford, and Cambridge. His TED talks have been viewed more than 2 million times.
Mikko Hyppönen
Mikko Hyppönen is a renowned cybersecurity specialist with three decades of experience working as a researcher, investigator, and public speaker. In 2022, he released his first book, If It’s Smart, It’s Vulnerable. The book offers a tour of the past, present and future of cybersecurity and the internet.
12h00-13h30
Sapphire
Lunch & Learn
Enjoy a private lunch and connect about a hot topic.
12h00-14h00
Central square
Walking lunch
13h30-16h30
Breakout rooms
Breakout sessions and start-up pitches
Discover the tech talks and pitches below.
16h45-17h25
Mainstage
Keynote Sophie Hackford
Sophie Hackford
Keynote
Sophie Hackford is a futurist with key topics in AI and vision of future technology. She has given 200+ provocative talks to boards and exec teams on novel science and tech. Sophie is an advisor to John Deere & Co, on the future of food, climate, and agriculture. Sophie is also an advisor to New Lab in Brooklyn.
Sophie co-founded and chaired 1715Labs: a spinout from Oxford University’s Astrophysics Department, labelling data to train algorithms. She previously worked at WIRED Magazine, Singularity University on the NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley, and the Oxford Martin School at Oxford University, where she raised $120m for frontier-bending research.
Sophie Hackford
Sophie Hackford is a futurist with key topics in AI and vision of future technology. She has given 200+ provocative talks to boards and exec teams on novel science and tech. Sophie is an advisor to John Deere & Co, on the future of food, climate, and agriculture. Sophie is also an advisor to New Lab in Brooklyn.
17h25-18h30
Central square
Closing reception & Afterwork drink
Awakenings
As a participant of HRtech, you have the opportunity to book a seat at our awakening sessions.
Awakenings
MoNoA
MoNoA created a unique discrete wearable that fits almost any watch or bracelet. We translate your stress level using GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) technology, skin temperature and activity tracking.
Awakenings
Moonbird
Moonbird is the world’s first tactile breathing coach that fits in the palm of the hand and guides people suffering from stress, anxiety or insomnia through calming breathing exercises.
Awakenings
Silent disco yoga
Welcome to the world of Silent Disco Yoga – a captivating blend of traditional yoga, modern technology, and a focus on mental wellbeing that’s making waves in HR (Human Resources) and corporate wellness programs.
Breakout rooms
Breakout room 1
Here to stay: Analytics and AI
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Breakout room 2
Next Gen skills
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Breakout room 3
Talent matchmaking
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Breakout room 4
AI, ML, ESG and the HR practitioner mind
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Breakout room 5
Reshaping workplace learning
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Breakout room 6
AI Careers
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Start-up pitches
Startup breakout room
| Start | End | Time | Start-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13:30 | 13:38 | 0:08 | BloomUp |
| 13:38 | 13:46 | 0:08 | Funkey |
| 13:46 | 13:54 | 0:08 | Mindthriven |
| 13:54 | 14:02 | 0:08 | Checkhub.io |
| 14:02 | 14:10 | 0:08 | Summ.link |
| 14:10 | 14:18 | 0:08 | LIZY |
| 14:18 | 14:26 | 0:08 | Wellbeing.ai |
| 14:26 | 14:34 | 0:08 | Karamel One |
| 14:34 | 14:42 | 0:08 | Berlin |
| 14:42 | 14:50 | 0:08 | Youbo |
| 14:50 | 15:58 | 0:08 | Move To Happiness |
| 14:58 | 15:06 | 0:08 | Leadlife |
| 15:06 | 15:14 | 0:08 | Traicie |
| 15:14 | 15:22 | 0:08 | Thola |
| 15:22 | 15:30 | 0:08 | Vitamins At Work |
| 15:30 | 15:38 | 0:08 | Scudi |
| 15:38 | 15:46 | 0:08 | Paybix |
| 15:46 | 15:54 | 0:08 | Welliba |