.png?width=3190&height=852&name=logo_CIONET_horizontal_nosignature_white_RGB%20(8).png "logo_CIONET_horizontal_nosignature_white_RGB (8)"){kind=logo}
-1.png)
-1.png)
Belgium All Members Physical english
Every large organisation has been through a major transformation, and most through several. The word transformation is misleading because it suggests a beginning and an end. But organisations that do well are the ones that have given up on the idea of arriving and realise that constant change has become the new norm, and missing a single cycle leaves you permanently behind. This evening, two leaders will share how they think about this, coming from opposite directions. John Porter led Telenet through a sustained period of reinvention spanning the pandemic, a full reorganisation into tribes, M&A, and a shift to a performance driven culture. Along the way, the IT department was dissolved and technology was embedded inside autonomous tribes that run as small businesses. There is no CIO at Telenet. It is Telenet Group’s purpose to become a digital-first, customer-centric organisation. To deliver on this ambition, it has embarked on a transformation journey built on three pillars: (i) the implementation of a scaled-agile operating model (organisation), (ii) the acceleration of digitisation and automation underpinned by optimised IT systems, platforms, and strategic technology partnerships (digitisation), and (iii) a performance leadership culture focused on accountability, ownership, and a change mindset (culture). Kris Vervaet, on the other hand, has just become CIO at KBC, the bank whose mobile app has been ranked best in the world three times and whose AI assistant Kate now handles 70% of customer queries on its own. But Kris is no ordinary CIO: he ran DPG Media Belgium as CEO, and KBC went looking for someone who has led transformation rather than someone who manages technology. So while one organisation got rid of the CIO role, the other reinvented it, and both are thriving. The conversation will range across organisational and IT redesign, the rise of digital-first customer experience, the impact of AI on how every business is run, and the harder questions of culture, talent and leadership. The question for every leader in the room is what that tells you about your own role, your own operating model, and the pace at which you are prepared to keep evolving.
Read More
Belgium May 7, 2026 All Members Physical english
The most consequential security decisions are not made in the SOC. They are made at the drawing board, when architects choose who will manage their network fabric, where sovereignty will reside, and what dependencies they are prepared to accept. This roundtable brings together technology leaders who recognise that network and infrastructure design is no longer a technical decision but a strategic one. Rather than reviewing the threat landscape, we focus on the foundational choices that determine resilience long before the first incident occurs. Participants will explore how geopolitical fragmentation is turning technology and partner selection into a strategic act, what it means to engineer resilience into infrastructure rather than layer it on afterwards, and whether AI is changing the architectural calculus or simply raising the stakes.
Read More.png)
Belgium Nov 18, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english
As businesses navigate increasing demands for agility and digital transformation, aligning IT strategies with business goals is essential for success. This roundtable will bring together CIOs, CTOs, and Digital Leaders to explore how to develop and manage IT Operating Models that effectively support business objectives. The discussion will focus on the key components of an IT Operating Model, including people, processes, technology, and governance, and the importance of agility in today’s fast-paced environment.
Read More.png)
Belgium Oct 1, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, organisations face a critical challenge: how to modernise their legacy systems while managing costs, maintaining security, and ensuring operational continuity. This exclusive round table discussion brings together CIOs, CTOs, and Digital Leaders to explore best practices for legacy and lifecycle management. Key topics include extending the lifespan of existing systems, mitigating cyber security risks, optimising costs, and integrating legacy platforms with modern technologies. We’ll also delve into sustainability, workforce challenges, and future-proofing IT infrastructures to navigate technological obsolescence.
Read More-2.png)
Belgium Jun 5, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english
The escalating cyber threat landscape demands urgent action to protect critical infrastructure. This exclusive roundtable, for CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs in banking, utilities, airports, and related sectors, tackles these challenges head-on. Participants will explore the evolving threat landscape, analyzing the latest attacks from nation-state actors, ransomware, and supply chain compromises, including recent breaches.
Read More-1.png)
Belgium Mar 11, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english
Join this Telenet Business Leadership Circle meeting to explore the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on our IT and Network departments. In the midst of the "perfect storm" of Data, Connectivity, and AI, this exclusive gathering will provide a unique platform for thought-provoking discussions and strategic insights.
Read More.png)
Belgium Dec 10, 2024 Invitation Only Physical english
Join our exclusive group of CIOs & Digital Leaders as we focus on the pivotal role of leadership in driving digital performance cultures. In an era where digital business transformation is a constant, effective leadership stands at the core of fostering innovation, resilience, and sustained performance. This round table dinner is designed to delve deep into the attributes that define successful leaders in today’s digital age.
Read More-1.png)
Belgium Oct 17, 2024 Invitation Only Physical english
Join us for an exclusive evening dedicated to exploring the critical aspects of Incident and Business Continuity Management. This round table dinner brings together top CIOs from Belgium's leading organisations to engage in strategic discussions and to share experiences. We will learn from the real-world cases of managing significant incidents presented by Luk Bruynseels of Telenet and Gert De Laet of Digipolis.
Read More.png)
Belgium Jul 2, 2024 Invitation Only Physical english
Join our exclusive group of CIOs & CISOs as we analyse the delicate balance between user autonomy and organisational safety in the context of cybersecurity. This roundtable discussion will explore the tensions and trade-offs that arise when managing device control across diverse technological environments. We will tackle key questions: What can an employee do on their device? Can they install software, visit any website, or are they being closely monitored by the security department?
Read More.png)
Belgium May 7, 2024 Invitation Only Physical english
The CIONET round table "Optimising IT Sourcing for Business Agility" brings together Belgian CIOs to discuss a big issue: traditional IT sourcing with its RFIs, RFPs, and long-term contracts doesn't fit with the need for businesses and organisation
Read More.png)
Belgium Nov 23, 2023 Invitation Only Physical english
Join your fellow digital leaders in a crucial discussion on sustainability in the digital world. We’ll dive into the evolving regulatory landscape, examining both current and forthcoming European policies aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency and climate-friendliness of companies. We’ll discuss the main levers for sustainable IT across digital impact areas such as end-user devices, networks, data centres, and software development, sharing insights and strategies on life cycle extensions, energy-efficient coding, green software development, and more. This Circle Meeting explores the role of business ànd digital leaders to navigate through the green transition and to ensure a sustainable future for us all.
Read More
The central question was: how can organisations build a digital foundation capable of withstanding geopolitical fragmentation, the rise of agentic AI and the increasing demands for business continuity?
Read More
On 18 November 2025, the Telenet Business Leadership Circle, organised and moderated by CIONET and Hendrik Deckers at the invitation of Telenet Business, took an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities presented by the transformation of IT operating models.
Read More
That said, moving away from legacy isn ’t always the ultimate goal. Legacy can also represent value. By definition it is technology that has proven its worth by delivering what’ s needed, often for decades, and has yielded a strong return on investment. At the same time, legacy systems can present serious challenges, and sticking with them often isn ’t an option. They are the products of a different era, and today ’ s landscape demands greater flexibility, security and integration. These issues only become more pronounced as the pool of experts familiar with the older technologies dwindles.
Read More
Critical infrastructure includes processes that are so vital to society that failure or disruption can lead to serious social upheaval and pose a threat to national security. This includes national energy and water supplies, internet connection and telecommunications, financial transactions, the operation of emergency services, etc. All these processes increasingly rely on digital components, and it goes without saying that they must be adequately secured. In the context of cybersecurity, however, what we see is that threat actors are no longer merely targeting the applications involved, as they did in the past; instead they are going after cybersecurity infrastructure itself, such as that used to secure critical infrastructure.
Read More
The evolution of AI is comparable to that of IT, but it’s happening much faster. As with IT in its early days, AI is becoming deeply embedded in almost every business function. Amara’s Law also applies here: we tend to overestimate AI’s short-term effects and underestimate its long-term impact. This makes it essential to embed AI across your company in a structured way.
Read More
In early 2008 there was a local outbreak of the chikungunya virus in Southeast Asia. Strict quarantines of patients – especially in Singapore – prevented the further spread of the virus. At the time, anyone who was paying attention probably thought the chance that the outbreak would lead to a long-term pandemic was pretty low. Yet a good decade or so later, the Covid-19 pandemic put the business continuity of almost the entire global economy to the test.
Read More.png)
Defining good leadership is not straightforward—it doesn’t exist as a standalone concept but rather as part of a broader framework. Leadership is closely tied to how an organization defines its strategic direction and executes it. In some companies, a strict top-down approach is the norm, while others allow their business units greater autonomy to chart their own course. Regardless of the approach, one constant remains: business and IT must work hand in hand to achieve the organization’s goals.
Read More
The third possibility is to recruit on the market yourself. However, the framework within which the Flemish government recruits is limited in order to offer market-rate remuneration. That’s why Facilitair Bedrijf developed a solution via Vlaanderen connect. “This is a non-profit organisation that recruits IT profiles and pays them the prevailing market rate,” says Luc Verdegem, head of ICT at Facilitair Bedrijf. “It essentially ‘rents’ them to the Flemish government. In this way, they form part of the operating budget rather than adding to the payroll. It’s a way of working that gets the best of both worlds.
Read More
Upon introducing the debate participants, it immediately became clear that sustainability can be interpreted differently depending on the particular context of a company. For a parcel delivery service, for example, it’s important to scale up capacity very quickly in response to peaks in demand such as Black Friday or the end-of-year period.
Read More
CIONET and Telenet Business teamed up again for what proved to be another fascinating Leadership Circle. Moderated by Hendrik Deckers, the CIOs and CISOs around the table took a closer look at the delicate balance between user autonomy and organisational safety. This dynamic tension presents a significant dilemma, particularly when managing device control across diverse technologies and environments.
Read More
Outsourcing cybersecurity has never been as high on the agenda of companies and organizations than it is today. And that’s a curious situation when you think about it. Why would you outsource something as vital as cybersecurity? That’s why CIOs and CISOs gathered round the table to share their experience, insights, and thoughts on why, what, and how to outsource cybersecurity. They also explored what would be the right timing and where to find the best partners for these tasks.
Read More.png)
This article looks at what was discussed during what proved to be a truly fascinating evening, dedicated to exploring business resilience and sharing insights in that topic. The event was organized and moderated by CIONET and Hendrik Deckers at the invitation of Telenet Business.
Read More
-Mar-27-2023-11-38-16-7619-AM.png)
-4.png)
-Mar-16-2023-09-35-29-8841-AM.webp)
-2.png)
-2.png)
.webp)
-2.png)
-4.png)
