Isabel Vermeulen is the new general manager of BlueChem
Isabel Vermeulen has taken up her post as the new general manager of BlueChem, the sustainable chemistry incubator in Antwerp. She succeeds Liesbet Boogaerts, who has decided to pursue a new professional challenge. With Isabel Vermeulen, BlueChem is bringing on board an experienced expert in chemical innovation and sustainability, with a strong background in the circular economy and industrial transition.
Isabel Vermeulen joins from the consultancy firm TomorrowLab, where she guided companies in translating their long-term ambitions into concrete and achievable strategies. Prior to that, she gained over ten years’ experience at Umicore, where her responsibilities included strategic projects and research programmes in recycling, process innovation and decarbonisation. She holds a PhD in chemical engineering and combines in-depth technological knowledge with strategic insight and a strong focus on collaboration.
As general manager, Isabel Vermeulen is responsible for the day-to-day management of BlueChem and for the further development of the incubator as a central hub for innovation in sustainable chemistry. The successful completion of the expansion project – a second incubator building is to be constructed in the NextGen District in the Port of Antwerp – is of crucial importance in this regard. The focus is also on attracting and supporting promising start-ups and scale-ups, strengthening operations, and further developing collaborations between companies, knowledge institutions and public authorities.
Isabel Vermeulen, General Manager of BlueChem: “BlueChem is a unique place where chemistry, entrepreneurship and sustainability come together. I am very much looking forward to continuing to build this ecosystem together with the team and our partners. My ambition is to provide start-ups with maximum support in scaling up their technologies and to further develop BlueChem as an international benchmark in sustainable chemistry, with a positive impact on the climate and circularity. ”
Barbara Veranneman, Chair of BlueChem: “In Isabel Vermeulen, we are welcoming a general manager with an exceptionally strong combination of scientific expertise, industrial experience and strategic leadership. Her experience with sustainable transition and innovation programmes makes her particularly well-suited to further grow BlueChem and to strengthen collaboration between industry, research and government.”