

Vlerick Healthcare Conference 2025
Business continuity in healthcare: Ensuring resilience in times of change
Healthcare is a complex sector. It unites people, places, technology and processes. At the same time, it has to consistently deliver the highest standards of care. So it’s crucial that its organisations have systems in place that can withstand disruption and uncertainty.
At our 2025 Healthcare Conference, we’re exploring business continuity in three vital areas of healthcare – hospitals, the healthcare industry and entrepreneurs. Join us to share best practice and foster innovation in this rapidly changing landscape.
Risk is multidimensional – and we’ll show examples of how to assess and mitigate risks. We’ll also discuss both reactive and proactive strategies within the evolutionary regulatory context. Apart from an organisational focus, we’ll examine the healthcare system's continuity and resilience too. There’s an urgent need to evolve towards an integrated healthcare system – and that urgency calls for entrepreneurship at all levels, including primary care.
Conference tracks
- Hospitals and healthcare providers
- Medical industry
- Entrepreneurs
Get 20 January 2025 in your diary and stay tuned for more details on the programme and speakers.
Speakers
Simon Ashby
Professor of Financial Services
Simon Ashby is furthering understanding of financial risk management, organisational resilience and operational risk.
Brecht Cardoen
Professor of Operations Management
Brecht Cardoen, director of the Executive PhD programme, introduces you to decision science and process analytics – and their impact on manufacturing and service operations.
Yannick Dillen
Professor of Management Practice
Yannick Dillen is an expert on high-growth start-ups and scale-ups.
Kim Speijer
Director, Deloitte Enterprise Risk | Crisis & Resilience
Kim specialises in continuity and crisis management. She helps organisations get ready to deal with potential disruption.
Joline Goossens
Director Quality, AZ Delta
Joline is a skilled researcher who has a doctoral degree. Her professional experience spans several hospitals.
Ivo Jacobs
Managing Director, Heilig Hart Hospital Mol
Ivo is a doctor who specialises in abdominal surgery. He’s also an expert on hospital policy and management.
Gauthier Willemse
Founder Mindoo AI
Gauthier’s company is revolutionising the healthcare journey by using AI to empower patients and enhance care.
Geoffrey Pot
General Manager Operations - Site Head, Takeda
Geoffrey has 20+ years’ experience in managing large manufacturing plants and global teams in Asia, Europe and the US.
Sara Lesina
General Manager Europe & Americas, Sirio Pharma & Best Formulations
Sara leads a diverse team at Sirio, a leading contract manufacturer for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
Sofie Theunissen
President of the Vlerick Alumni Healthcare Club
Sofie has an MBA from Vlerick – and a long career in healthcare. She’s currently a director at Inari Medical in Switzerland.
Jan De Maeseneer
Professor Emeritus at Ghent University
Jan is a Ghent-based family physician – and he currently heads the WHO Collaborating Centre for Family Medicine and Primary Health Care at Ghent University.
Programme
1.10pm
2pm
3pm
5pm
5.30pm
6pm
Practical information
- Vlerick Alumni members and students: free
- Vlerick Alumni: €175
- Third parties: €250
If you are a Vlerick alumnus, use the access code you have received via email. If you have a Vlerick Alumni Membership, you can also find your access code on the membership platform. Any problems regarding registration or you have not received your access code? Get in touch with alumni@vlerick.com and we will help you further!







