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Welcome to CIONET Belgium

Realise your ambition! Connect with your local community of digital leaders.

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Upcoming Events

 
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Belgium 25-9-25 Invitation Only Physical english

Women of CIONET - Female Leadership Circle 2

As AI shapes our future, the time is now to address and correct its inherent biases. Join leading female voices in tech as we explore how to undo past mistakes, champion neutrality, and feed AI systems with inclusive, unbiased data. This conference is a call to action for female leaders in AI and tech to ensure the next generation of intelligent systems reflects fairness, diversity, and equity. Together, let’s set things right and redefine the future of AI.

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Belgium 25-9-25 Invitation Only Physical english

Red Hat Round Table: THE POWER OF HYBRID

On 25th September, during the Red Hat Summit: Connect 2025 in Brussels, CIONET is hosting an exclusive, invitation-only round table for leading CIOs, CTOs, and digital leaders. While the Summit offers a broad programme, this CIONET session is a separate, distinct event, conducted in its own dedicated room with private catering, ensuring a focused and confidential peer-to-peer discussion. This round table will delve into why certain cloud-native techniques offer undeniable benefits, irrespective of where your applications are deployed, be it on-premise, in a hyperscale cloud, or a hybrid environment. Even outside public clouds, these modern, modular architectures consistently deliver increased agility, enhanced scalability, and quicker time-to-market. The real power behind these advantages lies in automation. When done properly, automation significantly boosts team efficiency, improves system quality, and drastically cuts risks from slow systems or downtime. However, achieving truly effective automation comes with its own set of challenges, which we'll address head-on. Key Discussion Points Include: "No-Regret" Cloud-Native Pillars: We'll try to pinpoint essential techniques every organisation should adopt, such as microservices architecture, containerisation (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), API-first design, stateless application design, and immutable infrastructure. Why are these crucial for modern applications, no matter the deployment location? Strategic Vendor Lock-in: How to judiciously manage vendor lock-in. For new innovations and applications with a relatively short life expectancy, leveraging the latest unique features of a hyperscale cloud might be beneficial. For long-lived applications (expected to be live for decades), the focus might shift to limiting exposure by utilising generally available technologies. Automation Anywhere: How can organisations effectively implement automation strategies to unlock the full potential of cloud-native initiatives across diverse infrastructures? What are the biggest hurdles, and how are leaders overcoming them? This CIONET round table offers a unique and intimate setting for digital leaders to gain critical insights, exchange perspectives, and shape the strategic path towards application modernisation that truly offers no regrets.

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Belgium 30-9-25 Squad Only Virtual english

Technical Debt: When to Pay It and When to Walk Away ; Making smart trade-offs between progress, maintenance, and risk

Everyone has technical debt. The question is what to do with it. Refactor now? Wait for the next feature? Build on it and hope it holds? If you’re tired of debating whether to clean up or move on, this session helps you frame the debt conversation in a way that supports both speed and stability.

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Upcoming TRIBE Events

 
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September 30, 2025 Squad Session Squad Only Virtual english

Technical Debt: When to Pay It and When to Walk Away ; Making smart trade-offs between progress, maintenance, and risk

Everyone has technical debt. The question is what to do with it. Refactor now? Wait for the next feature? Build on it and hope it holds? If you’re tired of debating whether to clean up or move on, this session helps you frame the debt conversation in a way that supports both speed and stability.

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October 2, 2025 Squad Session Squad Only Virtual english

The Career Path of the Architect ;Great architecture begins with great architects

Architecture doesn’t happen in diagrams. It happens in minds, seasoned, curious, sharp minds that understand how the pieces fit. But who’s shaping these minds? Who’s growing the next generation of digital architects? If you’re responsible for complex systems, and for the people designing them, this session is for you.

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October 14, 2025 Squad Session Squad Only Virtual english

Agile Infrastructure ; How to build technical foundations that don’t slow you down

Agile delivery often collides with inflexible infrastructures. One team wants to release weekly. Another is waiting six months for a new test environment. Sounds familiar? If your infra team is tired of being the bottleneck, and your devs are tired of waiting, this session opens a path forward.

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CIONET Partner Updates

CIONET Partner Updates

Recent Cases

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AMS-IX uses Azure Red Hat OpenShift for clear container management

The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) played a key role in the core of the Internet. AMS-IX selected Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO) to simplify its on-premises container environment; by adopting one container platform. This will help standardize how you deploy and manage containers and take your first steps in the cloud.

Benefits:

  • Accelerated deployment of new software by 60% for a faster time-to-market 
  • Provided flexibility to run containers anywhere
  • Simplified operations with a central container management tool, helping to save around one hour for each deployment
 
 

Routing internet traffic efficiently for 30 years

Internet exchanges are the beating heart of today’s connected world; they ensure internet traffic is routed reliably, efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively. Internet service providers, telecom companies, cloud providers, and other companies vital to the internet ecosystem connect to them as they can offer secure, reliable, low latency, and engaging online experiences for their end-users. The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) has played a crucial role at the internet’s core for almost 30 years. The neutral member-based association is one of the world’s largest hubs for internet traffic, operating multiple interconnection platforms around the world. 

AMS-IX has always kept ahead of the technology curve, adopting open source more than 20 years ago. “Open source has always been important to AMS-IX,” said Miguel Regalado, Senior Linux Engineer at AMS-IX. “Open source gives us the flexibility to build the unique capabilities we need for managing our internet exchange.”

 
 

Adopting a mature Kubernetes-based container platform

Having adopted containers back when they first emerged, AMS-IX had built up a complex ecosystem of container technologies with different containers running on different virtual machines. “This approach is no longer desirable; therefore, efforts were made to consolidate the container technologies to one single platform,” said Bram Semeijn, PR and Communications Specialist at AMS-IX. 

After setting up several proof of concepts in the laboratory to demonstrate a variety of leading container runtimes and platforms, AMS-IX selected Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift as the container platform of choice. 

“Red Hat OpenShift is a very mature platform; being a Kubernetes-based platform rather than a container runtime, it adds an additional powerful set of tools that makes its containers much easier to manage,” said Regalado. Moreover, the vendor-agnostic platform provides flexibility as it does not tie AMS-IX to any specific container technology—which is important given its customers’ individual needs and preferred cloud platforms.

AMS-IX chose the IX-API project as the first project where Red Hat OpenShift was to be used. “IX-API is a collaborative project of the world’s largest Internet Exchanges—AMS-IX, DE-CIX, and LINX,” said Semeijn. “The goal of the project is to develop one API (application programming interface) gateway that gives customers a standard way for provisioning services at all three exchanges.” 

AMS-IX built its IX-API gateway on-premise in a community Kubernetes platform and deployed the test and production versions in Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift. Azure Red Hat OpenShift offers the Internet Exchange a flexible, robust, and resilient container platform that it can deploy efficiently in any customer environment to meet individual customer needs.

 
 

Adding flexibility while making life simpler for developers and operations

Accelerated deployment of new software by 60% for a faster time-to-market “

Containers make life easier for developers and help them to deploy and check their code really fast,” said Regalado. This was important as a containerized approach means developers no longer require that extra layer where they need another team to support their infrastructure. As a result, the team is able to speed up the deployment of new software considerably—by around 60%. 

“The OpenShift Marketplace offers solutions that you can deploy directly into Red Hat OpenShift,” said Regalado. “Knowing they are certified as compatible means you can deploy really fast.”

Provided flexibility to run containers anywhere 

Red Hat’s open hybrid cloud approach gives AMS-IX the flexibility to run applications anywhere it needs to. Red Hat OpenShift delivers a complete application platform for both traditional and cloud-native applications. While AMS-IX traditionally uses its own premises, the Internet Exchange is looking to the future: “Red Hat OpenShift allows us to adopt a hybrid model, which gives us the cost, ease-of-use, and agility benefits of cloud for production environments,” said Regalado, “while retaining the flexibility and freedom you have with open source and in-house environments during development.” 

“Red Hat OpenShift ensures AMS-IX is not tied to a specific environment or vendor. And that’s important for us,” said Semeijn.

Simplified operations with a central container management tool, helping to save around one hour for each deployment 

AMS-IX wanted to simplify its on-premise container environment by adopting one container platform. Standardizing on Red Hat OpenShift has made it simpler for the Internet Exchange to manage its various container deployments and has allowed it to take its first step into the cloud. 

“The goal in the end is to have one central container management tool,” said Regalado. “A single place for managing even the most remote container environments. Compared to the former technology, we now save about one hour on each deployment, around 75%.”

 

Red Hat OpenShift is a very mature platform; being a Kubernetes-based platform rather than a container runtime, it adds an additional powerful set of tools that makes its containers easier to manage. Miguel Regalado - Senior Linux Engineer, AMS-IX

 

Red Hat OpenShift ensures AMS-IX is not tied to a specific environment or vendor Bram Semeijn - PR and Communications Specialist AMS-IX

 

Migrating more applications to Red Hat OpenShift in the cloud

AMS-IX is currently running a limited number of applications supported with Red Hat OpenShift; however, it plans to run and support more production applications in the Red Hat OpenShift environment, including its website, from on-premises Red Hat OpenShift to ARO. Regalado also plans to run GitLab in Azure Red Hat OpenShift using the GitLab Operator. In addition, Regalado and the systems and engineering team plans to phase out other container technologies that AMS-IX is currently using.

Technologies

Red Hat OpenShift

CIONET Circles

CIONET Business Circles

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Healthcare Circle

Digital Transformation is redefining the future of health care and health delivery. All stakeholders are convinced that these innovations will create value for patients, healthcare practitioners, hospitals, and governments along the patient pathway. The benefits are starting from prevention and awareness to diagnosis, treatment, short- and long-term follow-up, and ultimately survival. But how do you make sure that your working towards an architecturally sound, secure and interoperable health IT ecosystem for your hospital and avoid implementing a hodgepodge of spot solutions? How does your IT department work together with the other stakeholders, such as the doctors and other healthcare practitioners, Life Sciences companies, Tech companies, regulators and your internal governance and administrative bodies?

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Telenet Business Leadership Circle

The Telenet Business Leadership Circle powered by CIONET, offers a platform where IT executives and thought leaders can meet to inspire each other and share best practices. We want to be a facilitator who helps you optimise the performance of your IT function and your business by embracing the endless opportunities that digital change brings.

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Les Rencontres

Découvrez la dynamique du leadership numérique aux Rencontres de CIONET, le programme francophone exclusif de CIONET pour les leaders numériques en Belgique, rendu possible grâce au soutien et à l'engagement de nos partenaires de programme : Deloitte, Denodo et Red Hat. Rejoignez trois événements inspirants par an à Liège, Namur et en Brabant Wallon, où des CIOs et des experts numériques francophones de premier plan partagent leurs perspectives et expériences sur des thèmes d'affaires et de IT actuels. Laissez-vous inspirer et apprenez des meilleurs du secteur lors de sessions captivantes conçues spécialement pour soutenir et enrichir votre rôle en tant que CIO pair. Ne manquez pas cette opportunité de faire partie d'un réseau exceptionnel d'innovateurs numériques !

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Female Leadership Circle

CIONET is committed to highlighting and celebrating female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, creating a leadership programme that empowers and elevates women within the tech industry. This initiative is dedicated to showcasing the achievements and successes of leading women, fostering an environment where female role models are recognised, and their contributions can ignite progress and inspire the next generation of women in IT. Our mission is to shine the spotlight a little brighter on female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, and to empower each other through this inner network community.

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Check out our latest news

Testimonials

Geert Goethals
Geert Goethals
CIO
Sibelga
Bahadir Samli
Bahadir Samli
CIO
ING Belgique
2-Feb-29-2024-11-35-00-9309-AM
Bart Kerkhofs
Vice President & Head of IT
Bridgestone EMIA
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Michał Paprocki
Group CIO
Euroclear
1-Feb-29-2024-11-34-59-8990-AM
Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer
Chief Information Officer
NATO
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Annick Faes
Vice President IT and CIO Medical Devices EMEA
Johnson & Johnson
Piet_De_Ceuleners
Piet De Ceuleners
Global IT Director
Melexis
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Dirk De Bevere
Large Enterprise Sales Leader
Telenet Business
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Stef Schampaert
Country Managing Director BeLux
Red Hat
CIONET Belgium - Advisory Board Member - Geert Lejon
Geert Lejon
Vice President Head of Belux / Head of Comms Benelux
Cognizant
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Kevin Ledegen
Group IT director
SDWorx
Gunter-Van-Craen_Small
Gunter Van Craen
Chief Digital & Information Officer
Bekaert
Thomas Kessler
Thomas Kessler
Partner | CIO Programme Leader
Deloitte
Emmanuel Gob
Emmanuel Gob
CIO
DPD
pascal pauwels
Pascal Pauwels
CIO
Colruyt
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Koen Segers
Managing Director Belgium and Luxembourg
Dell Technologies
benoit dewaele
Benoît Dewaele
Group IT Directo
Vandemoortele
Dirk Deridder-1
Dirk Deridder
CTO - Technology Services & Practices
SMALS
Thierry Driesens
Thierry Driesens
CIO
TVH
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Koen Vandaele
CIO
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Liesbet D'hoker
Managing Director
Kyndryl BeLux
steven-vermeulen
Steven Vermeulen
CIO
Digitaal Vlaanderen
Jack Hamande
Jack Hamande
Director General Digital Transformation
Federale Overheidsdienst Beleid en Ondersteuning
Tom Tomczak
Tom Tomczak
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
NRB
1726588748718
Cassandre Laurent
Directeur général
Agence du Numérique
an swalens
An Swalens
Head Of IT (CIO)
National Bank of Belgium
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Elke Laeremans
Chief Digital & Supply Chain Officer at Casa International
CIONET Belgium - Advisory Board Member - Koen Van Loo
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Group S.
Peter Sany
Peter Sany
Executive Advisor
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Steven De Haes
Dean
Antwerp Management School
Marleen Thorré
Marleen Thorré
Head of Digital EMEA
Mitsubishi Chemical Group
christel-plessers
Christel Plessers
Head of IT European Markets
Mercedes-Benz Europe
bauduin cor
Baudouin Corlùy
Chief Market Development Officer
LCL Data Centers

Team

Luc Hendrikx
Luc Hendrikx
Partner - CEO
Inès De Bien
Inès De Bien
Partner - CCO
1-Feb-08-2022-10-22-08-68-AM
Daniel Eycken
Partner - COO
Hendrik Deckers
Hendrik Deckers
Partner - Founder
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Jelte Scheys
Tribes Sales Director Belgium
foto Herman
Herman Roelandts
Tribe Master
Joseph Antoun
Joseph Antoun
Senior Programme Director
1-Dec-16-2021-02-15-57-02-PM
Eman De Sutter
Programme Manager
4-Feb-08-2022-10-22-09-03-AM
Shelly Deracourt
Programme Manager
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Charlotte Coen
Partner Success Manager
Untitled design (1)-Nov-22-2023-08-56-42-6802-AM
Ivana Bradvica
Programme Manager
ML B-W-1
Martine Lefevre
Financial Controller
Vlera Berishaa (1)
Vlera Berisha
Community Manager
Phaedra Vanhaeren
Phaedra Vanhaeren
Programme Manager

Contact us

Would you like to know more about CIONET Belgium, membership or partnership opportunities? Do you have feedback or any other question? Send us a message!