Hello, I’m Petra, aged 61.
Since 1988, I have been working as a gynaecologist specialising in reproductive medicine at the fertility clinic of Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent). In 1991, I obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and spent a year in Chicago for research. In 1994, I earned my Aggregation for higher education. From 2008 to 2019, I served as Head of the Fertility Clinic.
As a full professor in the Department of Urogynaecology (now ‘Structure and Repair of the Human Body’), I have always combined clinical practice with teaching and research. My work spans both fundamental research (human embryology and stem cell biology) and clinically applied research (reproductive medicine), and my h-index is 64. From 2005 to 2015, I held a fundamental clinical mandate from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). I also served on the ethics committee of UZ Gent, the College of the Superior Health Council, and the Royal Academy of Medicine. In addition, I held board positions in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, as well as on the Boards of Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital.
In 2014, I combined my academic work with a political career, serving part-time as a Senator and as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2019, I became a full-time Member of the European Parliament and from 2020 to 2025 I served as Deputy Prime Minister in the federal government, where I was responsible for the civil service, public enterprises, telecommunications, and the postal service. I am currently a Member of Parliament and an alderman. Although my research has been less central since 2019, I remain actively involved in various research projects and in supervising doctoral students. I have also written around ten books.
My academic and political career is driven by ethical values and social impact. Defending sexual and reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and human rights more broadly has been the common thread in my work. Science has always been my compass; yet alongside the ‘what’ and ‘how,’ I have always been fascinated by the ‘why.’ This explains my interest in philosophy and history. I am equally drawn to art and culture, precisely because not every question requires a single, clear-cut answer.
In my spare time, I read a great deal—both fiction and non-fiction—and I play the cello. I love spending time in my wife Claire’s studio; she is an artist whose lyrical abstract work never fails to surprise and inspire me. Her studio is also my favourite place to prepare or read through documents at the weekend. Together with our dogs, we enjoy going for walks and regularly head off on trips, most often to France.
Hello, I’m Herwig, aged 59.
I am a full professor and chair of the Centre for Local Politics in the Department of Political Science at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. I teach courses on local and Belgian politics, and I am the promoter of the “Future of Sport” Chair. I have written or co-authored numerous books, as well as dozens of scholarly articles and book chapters. As a socially engaged political scientist, I also write columns and opinion pieces and frequently give lectures to a wide audience. I am often invited by the media as an expert.
I currently serve as Dean of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences (a position I have held since 2009). In the past, I was, among other roles, Faculty Ombudsperson (1998–2004), Chair of the Curriculum Committee for Political Science (2002–2006), Academic Secretary (2004–2008), Director of Education (2006–2009), and a member of the Board of Governors (2011–2012).
I have a keen interest in sport and the First World War, which led me to co-author two books with Bart Vangrysperre: *Olympiërs in Flanders Fields* and *Olympische (over)winnaars. De Spelen van Antwerpen in 1920*.
This project resulted in the “Olympiërs in Flanders Fields” exhibition and a music project with Wannes Cappelle and the Koninklijke Harmonie Ypriana. I frequently perform with Wannes Cappelle and Ypriana as a narrator. Our latest concert took place on 25 February 2025 in Oostkamp. Previously, we performed at venues such as De Bijloke in Ghent and the Bruges municipal theatre.
For the book *Olympiërs in Flanders Fields*, Wannes Cappelle wrote the song “Spelen in Berlin,” which was translated into English by Luka Bloom. The English version of the book was launched in London. For the second book, Cappelle wrote “Ik van minne kant,” and Klaas Coulembier composed the piece “Rush.”
Sport has always been close to my heart. In my youth, I played volleyball (Rembert Torhout) and did athletics (Houtland AC). I continued playing football until I was in my forties, both in a mini-football staff competition at Ghent University, futsal in Lichtervelde, and field football (with two clubs in Torhout). These days, I run with the Roadrunners Torhout, where I also serve as chair. I am a member of the Torhout sports council and of the City of Torhout’s Council of Sports Ambassadors.
In addition to my sporting interests, I have always loved music. I played the French horn in various musical ensembles, including the Koninklijke Harmonie Jongelingskring Torhout and the Koninklijke Fanfare Sint-Cecilia in Zarren.
