Véronique Claessens is a civil engineer and a passionate spatial planner, driven by spatial processes and urban renewal. She was actively involved in the spatial policy and urban development of the city of Genk for more than fifteen years. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Architecture and Art of Hasselt University and, since 1 October 2025, the Flemish Government Architect.

Véronique Claessens contributes to the opening conference 17 September.