Lena holds Master’s degrees in Criminology and Healthcare Management & Policy, along with a degree in Psychotherapy. She leads the Health & Safety department at Pukkelpop, one of Europe's largest music festivals. Her passion for issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, sexual violence, and mental health stems from her extensive experience in forensic psychiatry, her work as a prison director, and her role as a scientific researcher at the Leuven Institute of Criminology (KU Leuven). She is the co-founder of We Care A Lot.

ABSTRACT

Title: We Care A Lot: insights and strategies on health prevention at big events and festivals

Festivals are all about experiencing music together - singing, dancing, and celebrating. To make sure everyone -visitors, crew, artists, and others - feels safe and can fully enjoy the event, safety comes first. That’s why major Belgian festivals launched We Care A Lot, a project focused on prevention and awareness.

It covers topics like alcohol and drug use, hearing protection, safe sex, and consent. By working together with medical teams, security and police, festivals take proactive steps to reduce risks and create a safer, more inclusive environment. We Care A Lot is about shared responsibility. 
Visitors are encouraged to take care of themselves and each other. And if something goes wrong, help is always available - without judgment.

This keynote explores key health and safety challenges at large events and shares insights from We Care A Lot. What are the biggest obstacles? What actually works? And how can event organizers take action?