Who is who
India House Leuven works together with a number of people who work and think together with us to make India House a reality. They happily share their experience and knowledge about India with us. We proudly introduce them to you:
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Mohamed Ridouani Mohamed Ridouani was born and raised in Leuven, is married and father of two sons. After studying business administration and international relations, he worked as a business consultant for several years. In 2007 Mohamed exchanged business for the office of alderman in his city. In his second term as alderman he is in charge of personnel, education, economy, environment and real estate. |
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Idesbald Goddeeris (°1972) has studied Slavonic studies and history and teaches, amongst other courses, “History of Modern India” and “Global Perspectives on Contemporary India” at the University of Leuven. He also coordinates the Leuven India Focus and the India Experts group. Goddeeris is co-author of “Een geschiedenis van India. Ontmoetingen op wereldschaal” (Acco 2010) and is the editor of “Het wiel van Ashoka. Belgisch-Indiase contacten in historisch perspectief” (University Press Leuven 2013). He has taught in Delhi (University of Delhi & JNU), Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Calcutta. More info:
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Guido Doucet studied applied economics at the University of Leuven and has worked for Philips, Price Waterhouse and PA Consulting. During the early 90s he was involved in setting up 3SE (Software Services Support and Education) in Bangalore, a joint project of the EC (DG XIII) and the GOI (DOE - Department of Electronics) for a period of 5 years. This organization aimed to bring partnerships between European and Indian IT companies. Together with Ashutosh Sheshabalya he founded Allilon to support Indian IT companies in Europe. Guido is currently working as a project manager / consultant.
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Geert Robberechts (°1963, Leuven – Belgium) has been trained as an art historian / musicologist at the university of his home town. After some years as a teacher and journalist, he became responsible for the communication of the music section of the Palais des Beaux-Arts (Brussels). At the same time, he was engaged by the event agency ARTEDON (Brussels) to lead the musical projects. From 1994, he is the manager of the baroque orchestra La Petite Bande (Sigiswald Kuijken). In 2004, he founded the Belgian Chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage). Since 2004, he is president of the Advisory Council for Culture of the City of Leuven. More info:
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Bob Elsen is a traveller and entrepreneur, and both still with enthusiasm and passion. He is the founder and CEO of Joker, a pioneer of Sustainable Tourism which has resulted in a number of related activities: 16 ViaVia Travel cafés in four continents, the development company ViaVia Tourism Academy and "Living Stone Intercultural Entrepreneurship” in association with the KU Leuven. As a Joker tour guide India was his favourite destination. In the framework of Time4Society Bob Elsen is co-founder of a CSR project in Bangalore. More info:
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Prakash Goossens is Belgian by adoption and of Indian origin. He has studied law and international politics at the KU Brussel, KU Leuven, Université Robert Schuman Strasbourg and Université Catholique de Louvain. He is passionate about the cultural encounter / confrontation Belgium-India and this has become the leitmotif of his professional life. He works as an ambassador of Fracarita International (NGO Congregation Brothers of Charity) and he regularly frequents his native country India . More info:
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After a career of 21 years at AB-Inbev in marketing and afterwards as commercial director for Belgium, Peter joined Voka- Chamber of Commerce Leuven where has been director since 1 year. India is an important country for SMEs in our region to set up international trade relations. The Chamber wants to support this and that is why we like to strengthen the involvement of companies within India House Leuven. More info:
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The department economy and trade of the city of Leuven is responsible for the implementation of the economic policy of the city of Leuven. One of the important policy choices that the city council has made is to create a long-term structural network with India and Indian partners from an economic perspective. From this perspective, the city has taken the initiative to create and develop India House Leuven. More info:
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Leen Hellinckx (b. 1965) has lived and worked after graduating as social pedagogue (KULeuven) as a volunteer in a refugee camp in southern Mexico for a year in the late 80s: the start of a lifelong fascination with and commitment to other cultures and societies. After experiences in Central America, her interest shifted towards India. As a lecturer, she taught Welfare Studies, Cultural training, Dynamics of social movements at a college in Antwerp for 20 years. Also, she had "diversity management" and "intercultural training" among her tasks. Since 2010 she has been responsible for the India-courses in the bachelor's degree program International North-South Cooperation at the KHLeuven and she is the head of ICoNS, a research and projectgroup at the KHLeuven that is active in the field of North-South mobility and development education. More info:
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Muneer Ahamed Muneer Ahamed was born in Tamil Nadu, India and obtained his Bachelors and Masters in Chemistry in India. In late 2007 he moved to Sydney to pursue his PhD under supervision of Dr. Matthew H. Todd. In 2011 he obtained his PhD (The University of Sydney, Australia) in organic chemistry focusing on asymmetric catalysis. In mid-2011 he moved to Europe and currently he is working as a post-doctoral research fellow with Prof. Guy Bormans in KU Leuven, Belgium. His research interests include asymmetric catalysis, new reaction methodology, developing small molecules for PET imaging and click based approaches for tagging biomolecules. Besides academic research he also enjoys reading English literature, blogging and he is part of editorial board in The Voice (International Student Magazine, KU Leuven). More info:
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Abhishek Dutta Born in Calcutta, Abhishek Dutta studied Chemical Engineering for Bachelor’s and Food and Biochemical Engineering for Masters’ both from India, before moving to Belgium to pursue his Doctoral study in Chemical Engineering at the University of Ghent. After more than a year of postdoctoral research, Abhishek is presently a full time Lector (voltijds gastdocent) in KU Leuven in Campus Groep T Leuven, teaching and researching in areas related to Material Technology. Abhishek loves reading has an active interest in epistemology as well as in Indian political history.
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