Biography

A happy childhood despite difficult conditions

Born on April 8, 1977, I am the youngest of a family of 5 children, with my twin brother. My parents, a Flemish woman from Zwevegem, and an Ardennes man from Baraque Fraiture, both came from a family of farmers. In the seventies, after years of national involvement in the agricultural youth movement, they launched a small toy company, went bankrupt, and relaunched a business of wooden outdoor games and furniture: Domi.

Despite a complicated family financial context, I consider that had a rather privileged youth. After secondary studies at the Collège Notre-Dame de Basse-Wavre, I continued my studies at the Catholic University of Louvain, where I obtained a degree of business engineer with great distinction, and a master's degree in international management from CEMS. This education program led me to do an Erasmus exchange in Finland, where I met my husband, a Dutchman from Rotterdam.

Alongside my studies, I was heavily involved in the scouts, first as a member and then as a leader. I also got involved in various student associations: the AIESEC of Louvain-la-Neuve, of which I was vice-president, and the IAG club, where I participated in the writing of the student newspaper.

An international career and a start in entrepreneurship

After my studies, I started my career in marketing at ExxonMobil in Breda, where my first 10 years were focused on managing Esso's service station network. I was quickly spotted and after 2 years I had the opportunity to come and work at the European headquarters in Brussels, then to manage about fifteen stations in London, before returning to the Netherlands to head the Convenience retail department, in charge of managing Esso's 125 stores in the Benelux.

After a 4-year stint in a Dutch SME active in wholesale fuel sales, my love of retail called me back. I followed a digital marketing strategy program, before returning to ExxonMobil in Brussels, where I led the development and implementation of European strategies and roadmaps in the field of digital innovation and customer experience management.

In 2021, the growing climate emergency, the approach of my 45th birthday and a COVID period conducive to reflection led me to make the decision of a radical career change: to leave this oil industry for which I had always been a little ashamed to work for, and to serve a more sustainable mission. I had 2 short jobs and followed a training in circular economy and sustainable strategy, when my entrepreneurial DNA woke up. First slowly, the desire to create 'something', then with force, once the idea was found in May 2024: the creation of a chain of sustainable drugstores. Since July 2024, I have been putting all my energy into achieving this goal and I hope to open the first store in the 2nd quarter of 2025.

First professional steps at Esso

A social commitment and a passion for inclusion and diversity

Alongside my professional activities, I resumed my social commitment shortly after our return to Belgium. I first joined the board of directors of the muco association, a disease that affects our family. I was vice-president until 2020. In 2018, I launched a pop-rock choir in Werchter: a project whose objective was to give a concert for the benefit of the muco association after a year of rehearsals. A beautiful show, mixing song and dance, amateurs and professionals, and more than €3,000 raised resulted.

Within ExxonMobil, I participated in the WIN network (Women interests network). I took the lead of the STEM team which aimed to promote the development of women in technical functions. It was in this context that, convinced that a love of science and technology develops from childhood, I organised the STEM walk in Tienen: a walking rally during which 170 children and parents took part in scientific experiments organised by local companies. It was also in this context that my interest in feminism turned into a passion for equal opportunities and a desire to make things happen.

My political commitment was a logical progression. I started looking for the right party. A constructive party that works towards integration. Neither too right-wing nor too left-wing. Vooruit turned out to be the best choice for me on the Flemish chessboard. I became vice-president of the local party branch in 2022 and look forward to running for the first time in the municipal elections in October 2024.

I would be very happy to be able to work towards a more prosperous, more social and future-ready Tienen. I have the skills and experience to fill positions in the portfolios of economy and trade, sustainability and finance, but I would also be happy to contribute to social issues, which are the basic reasons for my political commitment.

And on the private side?

On the private side, I got married in 2010 to Jeanpaul, the Dutchman I met during my exchange in Finland. We had the joy of becoming parents of a little girl in 2015, and welcomed our foster son, in 2017. On the hobby side, I continue to practice singing, by taking classes at the Tienen Art academy. And lately, I also got involved as captain of the Galgeveld land as part of the Lazuur.