Bernard MATHIEU stands as a leading figure in sustainable industrial transformation and the circular economy across Europe. As founder of HOP3 Consulting, he guides companies and public organisations in accelerating their shift towards low-carbon, circular business models, drawing on his deep expertise in decarbonisation, climate strategy, and industrial innovation. With over 25 years of hands-on experience in energy-intensive industries - including senior roles at Lafarge Holcim and Heidelberg Cement - Bernard has developed and implemented climate strategies, managed greenhouse gas mitigation, and spearheaded sustainability initiatives at both global and local levels. His pragmatic approach is complemented by a strong academic presence: he is Professor of Sustainable Development and Academic Director at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (ULB), where he co-leads executive programmes such as the Master in Future-Proof Real Estate, equipping future leaders with the skills to drive the transition to a climate-neutral, circular economy. Bernard also serves as Chairman of Engineers Without Borders Belgium, fostering social and environmental responsibility among engineers and promoting sustainable development through education and international cooperation. His unique blend of consultancy, academic leadership, and field experience allows him to bridge industry, academia, and civil society, turning resistance to change into a catalyst for collective innovation and progress.
Senior Strategic Communications Manager at GreenWin, Françoise SCHEEPERS embodies the voice and vision of the GreenWin cluster in its commitment to circular innovation in Wallonia. With over 25 years' experience in strategic communications, marketing and project management, she has been leading strategic communications at the Walloon CleanTech cluster for Chemicals, Construction and the Environment since 2018. Her international career, notably as Director of the Belgian Wallonia-Brussels Tourist Office in London for 15+ years, and her 8 years as Deputy Programme Coordinator for an East-West know-how transfer programme at the European Commission's DG International Relations, attest to a rare ability to unite diverse audiences around complex issues and to promote regional know-how on the European stage. A polyglot and an expert in influencing strategies, she supports industry players as they move towards eco-circular models, focusing on coherent messages, the creation of hard-hitting content and the development of lasting alliances.
On 22 May, at the Circular Wallonia Days in Mons, Bernard MATHIEU and Françoise SCHEEPERS will be leading a workshop entitled ‘Resistance to Changes in the Face of Circularity’. Using the ‘world café’ method, they will guide participants through four key themes, directly linked to expert presentations on psychosocial obstacles, social acceptance, the role of the younger generation, technical solutions and new circular economic models. The complementary nature of the two - the strength of networking and communication in the case of one, technical expertise and commitment to society in the case of the other - promises a dynamic, interactive and action-oriented workshop, the lessons of which will feed into the region's circular roadmap. The speakers who will contribute their expertise to the workshop are :
> Tania NOEL, Environmental Psychology, University of Liège: Psychosocial barriers and drivers to the adoption of recycled materials;
> John WANTE, Circular Economy Policy Advisor, Public Service of Flanders for Waste, Materials and Soil Policy (OVAM), Belgium: Strategies to foster greater social acceptance ;
> Aline VERGAUWEN, Energy & Sustainable Solutions Department, BuildWise, Belgian Innovation Centre for Construction: “Living Lab Circulair Beton” in Flanders – Solutions to overcome technical and non-technical barriers to the adoption of circular concrete ;
> Jean-François NIVART, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Mineral Geo-resources & Geological Imaging, Urban and Environmental Engineering, University of Liège: UNI-GR CIRKLA (Interreg), Circular business models: developing new models tailored to the implementation of a more circular, shared, and inclusive economy.
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