CIONET Belgium's Summer Festival 2023 took place on the 31st of August, in a truly remarkable location: the Galaxy Studios in Mol, nestled within the picturesque countryside of the Kempen region in Belgium.

The venue is undeniably a remarkable Belgian gem in the realm of audio and visual experiences. Their state-of-the-art facilities have consistently led the way in innovation, continuously pushing the boundaries of audio technology and creativity for over three decades. From cinematic soundtracks to virtual reality, the Galaxy Studios have played a pivotal role in some of the most captivating audiovisual productions worldwide.

Approximately 200 attendees had the privilege of embarking on a guided tour through these premises, engaging in a journey of audio-visual experiences.

Wilfried Van Baelen, the visionary behind the studios, assumed a prominent role as one of our keynote speakers. Wilfried has been a trailblazer in his field, an entrepreneur who transformed Galaxy Studios into a global hub of audio excellence. He has spearheaded groundbreaking advancements in immersive audio technology, including the revolutionary Auro-3D, redefining how we perceive sound in films, music, gaming, and beyond. Presently, he stands as a globally acclaimed film and music producer, collaborating with luminaries like George Lucas.

The other pair of keynote speakers delved into the intricate connection between sports and technology: Manu Leroy, CEO, and Arnaud Lieutenant, Chief Information & Digital Officer of the RBFA - the Royal Belgian Football Association - elucidated how IT and technology have emerged as true game changers in the world of football.

And, as has become a solid yearly tradition at the Summer Festival, Christian Combes, Partner and CIO Programme Leader, alongside Thomas Kessler, Partner – Cloud Engineering, at Deloitte, presented the 14th edition of Deloitte’s Tech Trends, the annual report on emerging technologies and their impact on innovation and business.

During the event, all participating digital leaders, TRIBERS, and representatives of the business partners had the opportunity to attend one of six concurrent open workshops, spanning diverse domains including Cloud Native Application Development, Data and Analytics, Cybersecurity, DevOps, IAM, and SIAM. These open workshops were conducted by industry experts who shared their insights and visions on the subjects under scrutiny.

Furthermore, the marketing managers of our business partners joined a 'marketing workshop,' where they collaborated with Koen Vandaele, CIO at Delen Private Bank to assess the feasibility of account-based marketing strategies targeting corporate IT decision-makers.

Meanwhile, all members of CIONET Belgium’s Advisory Board formed the eighth breakout session to reflect on the topics that will shape the programme of CIONET BELGIUM community events in 2024.

We also celebrated our yearly TRIBES awards, honouring our most engaged members:

🏆 Best TRIBER 2023 (Engagement): Marc Wynants - Bank. Banque Van Breda

🏆 Best TRIBER 2023 (Overall Performance): Angelo Van Damme - Colruyt Group

🏆 Best TRIBER 2023 (Most Engaged TRIBER): Timothy De Ben - DPD (Belgium) NV/SA

🏆 Best TRIBER 2023 (Newcomer): Chris Borremans - Komatsu

Nevertheless, the Summer Festival was not solely focused on work and technology; it was primarily about networking among peers, fostering stimulating interactions, and enjoying an evening infused with a sizzling barbecue, complemented by nine bars offering a variety of beverages, generously hosted by our esteemed business partners.

For all of us, it was a unique day of recharging, forging new connections, and creating indelible memories.