Belgium’s energy and utilities sector operates some of the country’s most critical national infrastructure, spanning electricity transmission, gas networks, water distribution, and multi-utility operations. These organizations face growing cyber threats alongside regulatory pressure, operational resilience requirements, and the realities of aging infrastructure. The leaders below are responsible for safeguarding systems where cybersecurity failures can have real-world societal impact.
Sebastian Schulz — Chief Information Security Officer, water-link
Sebastian Schulz is Chief Information Security Officer at water-link, where he leads information security for one of Belgium’s key water utility providers. He combines a strong educational foundation with hands-on experience across risk management, threat intelligence, and security operations, addressing challenges unique to European critical infrastructure operators. Sebastian focuses on building a strong security culture while protecting operational continuity, recognizing that cyber risk in utilities is as material as environmental or infrastructure-related risk. Prior to water-link, he served as a Security Advisor supporting Cegeka clients, working across vulnerability management, SIEM, EDR, compliance, and audit readiness, and holds CISSP and CISM certifications.
Kris Hallaert — Head of Information Technology Security, Elia
Kris Hallaert serves as Head of Information Technology Security at Elia, Belgium’s electricity transmission system operator. He brings a strong development background and a pragmatic security mindset, enabling effective collaboration between executive leadership, business stakeholders, and highly technical teams. Kris is known for driving security initiatives through broad organizational buy-in, with expertise spanning security architecture, risk assessment, electronic fraud, and crisis management in complex energy environments.
Els Nevelsteen — Information and Communications Technology Security Officer, Fluxys
Els Nevelsteen serves as Information and Communications Technology Security Officer at Fluxys, Belgium’s leading gas infrastructure operator, where she oversees both corporate IT and industrial control systems security, including SCADA environments. With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, Els leads initiatives spanning security architecture, governance, risk management, incident response, and security awareness programs. She has implemented robust Information Security Management Systems aligned with ISO 27001, IEC 62443, NIST, and CIS Critical Security Controls, and ensures compliance with regulations such as NIS, EPCIP, and GDPR. Els also drives cultural change across the organization through training, phishing campaigns, and incident response exercises, maintaining operational resilience across Belgium’s critical gas infrastructure and at the Dunkerque LNG terminal in France.
Stéphane Baldino — Chief Information Security Officer, ORES
Stéphane Baldino has served as Chief Information Security Officer at ORES for over a decade, providing long-term leadership in securing electricity and gas distribution networks across Belgium. His background includes extensive training through the SANS Institute, with deep expertise in security operations, digital forensics, incident response, and ICS/SCADA security. Stéphane’s career spans consultancy and operational leadership, enabling him to bridge traditional IT security with the realities of industrial control systems and field operations.
Peter Van Lierde — Chief Information Security Officer, Sibelga
Peter Van Lierde is Chief Information Security Officer at Sibelga, following a career that began at the Royal Military Academy as a civil engineer in telecommunications. He has worked across military, utilities, banking, manufacturing, retail, and energy sectors, building a broad and practical security perspective. Peter is known for his people-focused leadership, pragmatic approach, and strong infrastructure and security market knowledge, emphasizing usability and business alignment alongside technical rigor.
Xavier Gerard — Chief Information Security Officer, Luminus
Xavier Gerard is Chief Information Security Officer at Luminus, bringing nearly two decades of experience in information security, privacy, and risk management. His expertise is grounded in technical depth and a strong command of cybersecurity standards, particularly ISO 27001, for which he is a Lead Implementer. Xavier is recognized for his ability to operate effectively between management and technical teams, delivering pragmatic security solutions aligned with organizational risk appetite while fostering a collaborative and open security culture.
Johan Fontaine — Cyber Security Officer, ENGIE Electrabel
Johan Fontaine is Cyber Security Officer at ENGIE Electrabel, where he has spent many years supporting cybersecurity across large-scale energy operations. His background includes advisory roles to the CISO, cloud security expertise, and leadership positions at PwC Belgium, where he specialized in cloud platforms and enterprise security strategy. Alongside his corporate role, Johan operates an independent consultancy and contributes to professional training, bringing a deeply practical and hands-on perspective to securing complex energy environments.
Protecting Belgium’s Critical Energy Infrastructure
These security leaders play a vital role in defending Belgium’s energy and utility services against cyber threats that can impact national stability, economic continuity, and public safety. Their work reflects the growing importance of cybersecurity leadership in sectors where digital resilience is inseparable from physical infrastructure reliability.