essenscia Process Academy

About the essenscia Process Academy

The essenscia Process Academy is the center of expertise for the chemical and life sciences industry in two key areas: processes and sustainability. It serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, research, learning, and networking, helping professionals and future talent strengthen their expertise and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.

In close collaboration with universities such as Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, and VUB/ULB, the academy contributes to research projects that enrich training and support innovation across the industry. Workshops focus on practical topics relevant to asset owners, such as process safety, rotating equipment, valves and functional safety.

The essenscia Process Academy combines academic rigour with practical industry experience. By encouraging a questioning attitude and fostering peer exchange, we create a dynamic learning environment where shared challenges lead to shared solutions.

With its dual focus on Safety and Sustainability, the academy empowers professionals to build resilient, future-proof operations that protect people, safeguard the environment, and ensure the competitiveness of the process industry.

Contact

Geert
Geert Boogaerts
Director Safety & Sustainability
Michèle
Michèle Celis
Management Assistant
Jan
Jan Luyts
BASF Expert Functional Safety
Werner
Werner Van Acker
Evonik Expert Maintenance & Shutdown
Annemarie
Annemarie Weise
Programme Manager

Core Members

Academic Partners

Associated Members

User Associations and Standardization Platforms

Courses & Workshops

Advanced courses

The advanced courses are the flagship programmes of the essenscia Process Academy. These five-day programmes provide the deepest and most holistic understanding on all aspects of process safety in the chemical and life sciences industry.
  • 16 - 20 Nov 2026
    Advanced Master Class On Process Safety in the Life Sciences Industry
  • 11 - 15 Jan 2027
    Advanced Master Class on Process Safety for the Chemical Industry

Specialized Courses

The Specialized Courses have their conceptual foundation in the Advanced Courses and are deep-diving into specific subject matters of safety or sustainability.

Safety Workshops

Besides courses, the Process Academy also offers workshops for networking and experience exchange. These are half- or full-day engagements.

Sustainability Workshops

In the light of our commitment to advancing sustainability in the chemical and life sciences industry, essenscia offers its members workshops on topics which are material to the industry. These experience exchanges target people who are deeply involved in leading the change and aim to empower this community to identify the best pathways possible.

Contact

Michèle Celis
Michèle Celis Management Assistant
Jan Luyts
Jan Luyts BASF Expert Functional Safety
Werner Van Acker
Werner Van Acker Evonik Expert Maintenance & Shutdown

The Governance Board And Steering Committee of the essenscia Process Academy

The Governance Board is the industrial sounding board of the essenscia Process Academy. The Board consists of business leaders and safety experts from international companies in the chemical and life sciences industry. While the Governance Board determines the direction of the Process Academy’s program, the Steering Committee ensures that the workshops and training courses are optimally tailored to the current needs and requirements of the process industry. In addition, the Board monitors the funding and financial management of the essenscia Process Academy.

GOVERNANCE BOARD

  • MSc. Ivan Pelgrims, Managing Director, Evonik Antwerp, President of essenscia’s Process Academy
  • MSc. Anne-Sophie Segers, Prevention Advisor Process Safety, KRONOS
  • MSc. Bart Van den Driessche, Site Lead and Managing Director, Bayer Agriculture
  • MSc. Frank Quaeyhaegens, Head of Technical Services, Covestro
  • MSc. Ignace Hooftman, Managing Director, Lanxess
  • MSc. John Kelleher, VP EHS, GSK
  • MSc. Koen Colpaert, Group Process Safety Manager, Borealis
  • MSc. Nicolas Hertoghe, Process Safety Engineer, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering
  • MSc. Robby Schatteman, Health and Safety Director IWS & Corporate Health and Safety Coordinator, Indaver
  • MSc. Roel De Vil, Site Manager, INEOS Oxide Antwerp
  • MSc. Kobe Naesens, VP, General Manager Geel Site, JnJ Innovative Medicine
  • MSc. Wim Schelles, Vice President of Global Operations Intermediates, Envalior

STEERING COMMITTEE

  • MSc. Anne-Marie Verrelst, Business SHE Manager, INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe
  • MSc. Bart Ivens, TA Manager Refining and Chemicals, TotalEnergies
  • MSc. Bart Van Den Bossche, Process Safety Manager, Ineos Styrolution
  • MSc. Benny Ghoos, Principal Prevention Engineer, JnJ Innovative Medicine
  • MSc. Chris Gentjens, Group Process Safety Expert, Indaver
  • PhD. MSc. Danny Dobbelaere, Prevention Advisor Niv.1, ArcelorMittal
  • PhD. MSc. Dirk Roosendans, Deputy Director Major Risks Division, TotalEnergies
  • MSc. Filip De Proft, HSE Site Lead, Tessenderlo Kerley International
  • MSc. Geert Vercruysse, Head of Global Process Safety, BASF, Professor Process Safety, KULeuven
  • MSc. Gino De Landtsheer, Head of Department Inspection & Integrity, Borealis
  • MSc. Inez Jordens, EHS Site Lead Beerse, JnJ Innovative Medicine
  • MSc. Jan Luyts, Expert Functional Safety, BASF
  • MSc. Jan Weckx, Process Safety Lead, Bayer Crop Science Antwerp
  • MSc. Johan Spruytte, SHEQ Manager, Evonik Antwerp
  • MSc. Els Janssens, Process Safety Exp. Engineer, DG/STS/One HSE, Major Risk Division, TotalEnergies
  • MSc. Koen Gerard, Manager Process Safety, SafeGuard Champion for Antwerp, Covestro
  • MSc. Koen Verlackt, HSSE Manager, Ineos Manufacturing Belgium
  • MSc. Kris Deboutte, Global SHE Manager, Ineos Phenol & Nitriles
  • MSc. Peter Jacobs, Site Safety Manager, Ajinomoto Omnichem
  • MSc. Sidney Van Damme, Manager SHEQ, Kaneka Belgium
  • MSc. Werner Van Acker, Manager Technical Governance, Evonik

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