Michel Vermaerke, the president of the Royal Society of the Floralies of Ghent (in short: the Ghent Floralies), sent me a text message to announce that the General Assembly of the prestigious Royal Society has approved my appointment, for six years, as director.

It’s actually an honor to have been asked for this renowned and very well established organization’s board. Especially as it is Ghent based, my place of birth and where I spent my youth, and the Ghent Floralies having been very important in my family’s history (several generations have been involved in the Royal Society).

I am looking forward to work closely together with the newly appointed board, the permanent team, the CEO and the president to make the Ghent Floralies the undisputable reference in the world of flower and plan shows.

To a certain extent this allows me to pay tribute to my ancestors and to continue the bond my family had and has with the Ghent Floralies.