Daan Schalck joins Board of Directors of Belgian Eco Energy

Until early 2025, Schalck served as CEO of North Sea Port, the cross-border port merger that unites Ghent, Vlissingen, and Terneuzen — and home to BEE’s Bio Energy Base. Before that, he led the Port of Ghent and held key positions in the public sector, including in the federal parliament and at De Vlaamse Waterweg. Today, he combines board mandates at organizations such as NMBS with advisory work through his own consultancy firm.

“Over the years, I’ve watched BEE grow through my role in the Port of Ghent,” says Schalck. “That evolution has left an impression. BEE is a company with a clear focus, a proven track record, and room for entrepreneurship. It’s also a scale I appreciate: not a cumbersome multinational, but neither a fragile start-up.”

Drawing on his broad experience, he aims to contribute to BEE’s strategic direction and its continued integration into the industrial landscape. “My added value isn’t technical depth in the energy sector, but rather the broader economic and societal context. How do you make energy solutions relevant for industries like chemicals and steel? How do you assess investment risks? And how do you keep the bigger societal picture in mind?”

According to Schalck, the Board of Directors has a clear role to play: to guide, challenge, and anchor. “The essence is to support and sharpen the management team. By asking the right strategic questions, testing scenarios, and helping shape the broad policy direction. Not by getting operational, but by staying closely involved.”

What drives him personally is achieving structural progress. “Projects with tangible impact energize me. Whether it’s a port merger, a new lock, or a district heating network — the idea of helping to build something lasting is what motivates me. BEE is at a turning point. The foundations are in place, and now it’s time for targeted growth and sustainable impact. I’m truly excited to help build that future!”