Theme: Countdown

Championing and accelerating solutions to the climate crisis

With countdown, we aim to:

- Contribute to and spread widely a new narrative that educates and elevates the global climate conversation;
- Accelerate action and commitments, giving momentum to a subset of under-invested climate solutions;
- Accelerate organisations transformation by piloting an initiative to accelerate organisational transformation towards a regenerative economy.

Natural Sciences Museum
Rue Vautier 29
Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Région de (fr), Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (nl), 1000
Belgium

Adelaïde Charlier

Climate Activist

Adélaïde Charlier is a 22-year-old climate and social justice activist. After co-founding Youth For Climate Belgium, she contributed to various mobilizations over the past few years, advised the vice president of the European Commission and sailed across the Atlantic to continue her activism. Activism now occupies a central place in her life. At the same time, she studies Political and Social Sciences at the College of Europe.

Alain Mayné

Game Changer Strategist

Strategic Brand Culture Director, Hoet&Hoet. Nicknamed philosopher of marketing. Passionate about societal changes. Acts to bring change for the benefit of citizens and positive impact. Promotes the transformative power of responsible marketing. Board Member of the Belgian Management and Marketing Association (BMMA) and of the Belgian Association of Marketing (BAM). At BAM, member of 2 Think Tanks (Sustainability and Health and Wellbeing), Initiator of the Meaningful Marketing Framework.

Colt le duo

Pop music band

COLT is the new Belgian musical sensation. Formerly known as Coline & Toitoine, their story is rooted in friendship. A harmonious fusion in which Coline's voice and raw emotion blend with Toitoine's singular, almost lunar universe. At just 23 years of age, following the success of their single "Insomnies", which has already reached millions of listens, COLT has unveil "Mille Vies", a second EP in September 2023. This first EP written in French will mark a turning point for the phenomenal duo.

Ihsane Haouach

Societal Entrepreneur

Ihsane Haouach is a societal entrepreneur and author, dedicated to promoting equal and sustainable transitions. Her conviction that our society's future lies in integrating energy with social challenges drove her to have a foot in both. She focuses on educating women and young people, and co-initiated the center in Molenbeek "L'Epicerie". She serves on the board of the Brussels regulatory energy agency. In her book "Open Up Your Organization", she outlines an inclusive leadership model.

Rawaa Ammar

Chief Sustainability and Impact Officer

Dr. Rawaa Ammar is Resortecs' Chief Sustainability & Impact Officer. As an expert in climate risk mitigation, decarbonization, and LCA with 15 years of experience, she leads the sustainability strategy. She is connecting different stakeholders to accelerate the circular transition in fashion. Passionate about nature, science, and social equity, she holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from ULB in Brussels and is a former visiting professor at The Lebanese University in Beirut.

Serge de Gheldere

Climate catalyst

Serge de Gheldere isn't just talking about a greener future; he's building it. As CEO of Futureproofed, he equips cities and businesses with tools to slash their carbon footprints. But he's not stopping at boardrooms. As chair of Klimaatzaak, he's led a legal crusade against the Belgian government, even filing an appeal for concrete CO₂ targets. Trained by Al Gore in 2006, Serge sees the carbon gap not as a challenge, but as an untapped well of business potential and societal gain.