How did you first come into contact with BELRIM, and how did your membership evolve into becoming the Vice-President of BELRIM?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: A few years ago, I was introduced to BELRIM by one of my peers, a fellow risk manager. The first event I attended was a “Ladies Mind Risk” event, held at the Euroclear headquarters. Initially, I was hesitant because I didn’t know anyone and felt a bit intimidated. However, from the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed, and the discussions were incredibly enriching. The experience completely won me over. After three years of membership, the then-president, Gaëtan Lefèvre, invited me to join the Board, which I gladly accepted. I’ve been actively involved ever since. Recently, Bart Smets and current BELRIM President, offered me the role of Vice-President. It’s both an honour and a significant responsibility, and I’m committed to helping BELRIM continue its growth and journey toward increased professionalism.
Could you share a bit about your background?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: I hold a bachelor’s degree in economics, followed by two additional diplomas: one in Insurance Brokerage from IFPME and another in Risk Management from ICHEC. My career has always been in risk management within the construction sector. I began at Galère and later moved to larger groups like BAM and Eiffage. Since 2023, I’ve taken on a new challenge at Invesis, where I serve as a Risk and Insurance Management Business Partner. Invesis is an investment company that focuses on sustainable infrastructure projects, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and investments in renewable energy sectors. Invesis operates in Europe, the UK, Australia, and the US. The professionalism, kindness, and inclusive mindset of the Invesis team are truly inspiring, and they encourage me to bring these qualities into BELRIM as well.
How do you see the risk management landscape evolving in Belgium over the next few years?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: In an increasingly fast-changing environment, a company’s true strength will lie in its ability to adapt. Our mission as risk managers is to provide the board with processes to anticipate, manage, monitor, and transfer risks, allowing them to make the best decisions for the business. Clearly, in this context, having a risk manager on board is a considerable asset.
How do you envision BELRIM’s role in promoting risk management?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: Our community includes risk managers from many of Belgium’s largest companies, and we’re eager to expand our reach to include SMEs. Risk management is valuable not only for multinationals but also for SMEs, where the role of a risk manager is often combined with other responsibilities. BELRIM can add value here by offering SME members access to a network and valuable information, saving them the time and effort of searching for it on their own.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges currently facing risk management professionals in Belgium?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: The challenge lies in managing a wide range of issues simultaneously: keeping up with evolving legislation and regulations, understanding new risks and their interconnections, adapting to shifts in the insurance market, and collaborating with ESG aspects. The scope is vast, and I often compare the role of a risk manager to that of a one-man band, playing multiple instruments at once.
What initiatives or projects are you most excited to work on with BELRIM?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: One of the initiatives I’m most excited about is ensuring a continuous line of collaboration and inclusion for risk managers—starting from students and young graduates through the Belrim Young Risk Managers group, all the way to senior professionals sharing their experiences. This ensures that everyone can grow in their careers and add value to their employers through BELRIM.
What message would you like to send to the members of BELRIM as you take on this new responsibility?
Nathalie Vandenbroucke: Thank you for your trust! I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming exchanges. Most importantly, please spread the word about BELRIM within your networks, invite potential new members, and share our publications on LinkedIn. You are our best ambassadors!
