Local organising committee

Luk holds degrees in sociology from Ghent University and psychology from the Manchester Metropolitan University. He joined Sciensano in 2016 as a scientist with a research focus on hard-to-reach populations and drug-related morbidities.

Prof. Dr. Charlotte Colman is a professor Drug Policy and Criminology at Ghent University.  She has led multiple (inter)national multidisciplinary research projects in drug policy evaluation, illicit drug supply and recovery-oriented practices within the criminal justice system. She acts as a member of EUDA’s Scientific Committee and has been appointed as president of the Interfederal General Drug Policy Cell responsible for the daily coordination of an integral and integrated drug policy in Belgium.

Nina Harth holds a bachelor's degree in nursing and is a researcher at the SUPRB research centre at Ghent University of Applied Sciences.

Her research focuses on substance use and forensic issues, blending her clinical expertise with a strong research background.

Nina is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Healthcare Research at Ghent University. Previously, she worked for many years in the hospitality industry, including as a (re)integration coach, supporting individuals through challenging life transitions.

This diverse experience informs her current research in prevention sciences, where she explores the intersection of healthcare, substance use, and social reintegration.

Tina has a PhD in drug use and nightlife and worked as a drug expert for more than 20 years in different organisations. She has led research projects including on drug and alcohol use, gender and drug use and prevention. She is currently working as Chief of Cabinet for the federal minister of Health.

Epidemiologist, graduated from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). In 2004 he joined the European Union Drugs Agency at the Public Health Unit as a scientific analyst, responsible for the epidemiological indicator "Prevalence and patterns of drug use", addressing topics such as drug use in nightlife settings, wastewater analysis, drug checking. He also worked at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna as a drug market analyst.

Sven Roef has been a key figure in Belgium’s nightlife for 26 years at Vooruit, shaping policies on safer spaces and responsible alcohol and drug use.

He also trains nightlife professionals on supporting guests with disabilities, managing violence, sexual harassment, and intoxication.

In addition to his safety work, Sven is an accomplished producer, organizing performances at events like Tomorrowland, reflecting his commitment to both safety and the artistic side of nightlife.

Lies Gremeaux is head of the research unit Drugs, located within Sciensano - the Belgian Health Institute. She has developed and coordinated several drug-related projects on prevalence and patterns of substance  use, knowledge translation to national expertsand the evidence-based support of drug policy cycles.

She is the head of the Belgian Reitox National Focal Point for the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and therefore responsible for the management of the national drug information system and the annual reporting to international organizations. Her unit also coordinates the national Early Warning System for risk assessments and alerting on drug-related incidents. Since 2014, she has been collaborating with nightlife professionals for developing risk assessments, monitoring and drug-related research actions in nightlife settings.