Brussels, December 4, 2024 – Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards 2024, the prestigious event celebrating excellence, leadership, and innovation in cybersecurity, proudly announces this year’s winners. These outstanding professionals have set new benchmarks for resilience and innovation in cybersecurity through their dedication, groundbreaking solutions, and tireless efforts.
Established in 2021, Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards recognize top individuals within the Belgian cybersecurity sector. As a fully independent programme, unaffiliated with specific companies or products, the awards allow an interdisciplinary jury to make merit-based decisions. This year, the jury faced the formidable challenge of selecting winners from an exceptional pool of candidates.
The winners of Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards 2024 are:
- Category: Cyber Security Personality Award: Dr. Catherine Van de Heyning -Honoured for her remarkable blend of academic and legal expertise in the fields of fundamental rights and digitalization.
As a Professor of European Fundamental Rights at the University of Antwerp and a public prosecutor, her research focuses on the impact of digitalization on fundamental rights, particularly in criminal law and judicial proceedings. Her work has made a significant impact both academically and in shaping policy, including her role as a member of the advisory committee of the UN Human Rights Council.
In addition, she is actively involved in major research initiatives such as @ntidote, a project tackling online hate speech and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and projects on deepfake nude images as well as on cyber flashing among young Belgian people. Her contributions to integrating legal insights into the digital realm have established her as a key figure in the cybersecurity landscape.
- Category: Chief Information Security Officer: Johan Claessens – Recognized for his decisive approach and clear vision in strengthening information security within a critical organisation
Johan Claessens was chosen as CISO of the Year for his structured methodology and visionary leadership, which enabled water-link to become the first Belgian water company to achieve ISO 27001 certification. His strong leadership, dedication, and ability to effectively manage stakeholders have significantly enhanced the organisation’s information security framework.
In addition, as Chair of the CISO Group, he actively promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Flemish water companies, further advancing cybersecurity across the sector.
- Category: Cyber Security Researcher of the Year: Axel Legay – Honoured for groundbreaking research and his commitment to putting cybersecurity on the map in Wallonia
Axel Legay, former professor at UCLouvain and the driving force behind the CyberWal programme, has been awarded the Researcher Award for his pioneering work in cybersecurity, including the development of AI algorithms for malware detection. His research creates a powerful synergy between artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, two foundational pillars of the digital future.
In addition to his innovative research, Axel Legay is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and establishing a Walloon centre of expertise that attracts global talent. The jury commended his outstanding contributions to both research and practical applications, making him a truly deserving winner of this award.
- Category: Young Cyber Security Professional Award: With an entrepreneurial spirit, Reinaert Van de Cruys raises awareness about the importance of cybersecurity for small businesses
The jury sees Reinaert Van de Cruys as a shining example of young talent in Belgium. As an ethical hacker, he has supported numerous Flemish companies through penetration tests, cybersecurity audits, and social engineering exercises. His hands-on approach empowers businesses to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their defences.
Reinaert has also made a significant impact through his training programmes, which help both organisations and individuals dramatically improve their digital resilience. He stands out in this category for his unique combination of deep technical expertise, exceptional communication skills, and successful entrepreneurship as co-founder of Fox&Fish Cyberdefense.
- Category: Privacy Professional of the Year: Vanessa Ling – Recognized for building a top-performing team and managing data protection in an organisation that handles Belgium’s most sensitive information
The jury was deeply impressed by Vanessa Ling’s leadership in advancing privacy practices at Proximus and her exceptional ability to embed privacy into the organisation’s broader governance strategies. Her strategic approach has not only strengthened privacy protections but also fostered a culture of transparency, accountability, and teamwork.
Through her leadership and dedication, Vanessa has elevated the organisation’s privacy governance to new heights, ensuring the protection of individual rights while enabling the organisation to adapt to ever-evolving privacy requirements.
“This year, the quality of finalists was exceptionally high, with truly standout innovative approaches,” said Jan De Blauwe, Chair of the jury and the Cyber Security Coalition. “The winners have not only demonstrated leadership in their respective fields but also serve as inspiring role models. Their commitment to the future of our digital security and their efforts to strengthen Belgium’s cyber resilience set a new benchmark for the entire sector. We warmly congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”
The highly anticipated gala dinner took place at the Africa Palace in Tervuren, bringing together cybersecurity professionals for the awards ceremony, attended by Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden and Minister-President Matthias Diependaele.
During the ceremony, Minister Verlinden and Minister-President Diependaele warmly congratulated the finalists, acknowledging their exceptional nominations and unwavering dedication. Minister Verlinden presented the prestigious Cyber Security Personality Award to Catherine Van de Heyning, commending her for this remarkable achievement. She also underscored the critical importance of collaboration with law enforcement and the judiciary in the fight against cybercrime.
Minister-President Diependaele had the honour of presenting Johan Claessens, the CISO of water-link, with the prestigious CISO of the Year award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to information security and innovation within his organization and the sector. He wished Johan and his team continued success in tackling future challenges.
In 2025, Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards will celebrate its lustrum event, where we will once again recognize the best achievements and continue to encourage the Belgian cybersecurity community to further strengthen innovation and cyber resilience.
About the Belgium Cyber Security Awards:
The Belgium Cyber Security Awards recognize and celebrate exceptional achievements, innovation, and leadership in the field of cybersecurity, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within the industry. Established to honour groundbreaking contributions and forward-thinking initiatives, these awards serve as a benchmark for cybersecurity excellence in Belgium.
The Belgium Cyber Security Awards is a programme powered by the Belgian Cyber Security Coalition, energized by the Antwerp Management School, Agence du Numérique, Beltug, Cetic, ISACA Belgium Chapter and Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management and supported by a media partnership with Data News .
