Curriculum vitae

I have been writing as a freelance journalist, copywriter, technical writer and book author since 2000, mainly about computers and technology in general. I have a broad technical background and I have also many non-technical interests. My main professional goal is showing people how they can use technology for good.

email | github | linkedin

Experience

Board Member, the Ministry of Privacy

January 2020 - Present

The Ministry of Privacy is a Belgian privacy foundation, battling privacy invasions committed by governments and companies and raising awareness. Because I have been raising awareness about privacy issues with various technologies and writing about how to take back your privacy with technology in my own articles, I decided to support the Ministry of Privacy as a board member.

Editor-in-chief, MagPi (NL)

January 2018 - December 2020

The Dutch magazine MagPi is the official magazine of the Raspberry Pi Foundation for Dutch-speaking Raspberry Pi enthusiasts.

Freelance Journalist, copywriter, technical writer and book author

April 2000 - Present

I started writing about computer security when I was a first-year engineering student. From one thing came another and when I had my engineering degree I couldn't imagine doing anything else than writing for a job. I turned my hobby into my job and I'm still enjoying it every day.

Education

I'm a lifelong learner and I have always enjoyed learning new insights and applying them in my daily life and my job.

Associate degree in Internet of Things

2019 - 2022 (UC Leuven-Limburg, Maxima cum laude)

A hands-on education at the intersection of electronics, programming and networking, including embedded devices (hardware and software) using IoT networks such as LoRaWAN, NB-IoT and Sigfox. I started this education in evening classes because during the last years I have been writing more and more about IoT and I needed more technical depth in this domain.

Herbal processing

2018 - 2019 (SYNTRA Limburg)

An education about the processing of raw herbal materials, the production methods from harvesting the plant material to packaging the end product. About making tinctures, oil macerates, cosmetics, ...

Thesis: A cream for overworked muscles

Herbalist

2016 - 2018 (Syntra AB)

This education gives a strong scientific foundation of herbal medicine: basic chemistry, biochemistry, botany, anatomy, physiology and pathology. About learning to recognize the different herbs, their active substances, medicinal properties, the correct cultivation techniques, applied business operations and legislation. I started this education because I had been interested in using herbs to support my own health and I wanted to get a better theoretical foundation.

Thesis: Panax ginseng as an adaptogenic herb for athletes

Postgraduate in Translating on a European level, Retexting texts

2012 - 2013 (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

I started this education because I had been working as a writer but without a language education. This postgraduate helped me refine my language skills (in Dutch) and I still apply many lessons in my texts. I even wrote a script that warns me when my text includes one of the pitfalls I learned there.

Master of Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science

2005 - 2007 (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, unfinished)

Specialization: cognitive science

I took all courses in 2005-2007, while studying for my philosophy degree. Combining AI and philosophy was intellectually very fruitful, but as I combined these two with a fulltime job as a freelance writer I have not finished my AI thesis (yet). Maybe I find some time again when I'm retired.

Master of Philosophy

2004 - 2007 (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Magna Cum Laude)

Specialisation: logic, philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of science

This was the most intellectually stimulating education I had. This is where I learned to think and do research. I even considered doing a PhD in philosophy, but I decided to keep focusing on what I'm good at: writing about technology.

Thesis: "Computer proofs and mathematical practice"

I presented a part of my thesis at the Perspectives on Mathematical Practices 2007 conference in Brussels.

Master of Engineering in Computer Science

1999 - 2004 (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Cum Laude)

Specialisation: artificial intelligence and natural language processing

With my very broad interests with a preference to science and technology, I decided to study for an engineering degree. The first two years were a solid technological and scientific foundation. Afterwards, I naturally chose the computer science option. To cater for my interest in language, I chose an interdisciplinary topic for my thesis in natural language processing.

Thesis: "Determining the meaning of words using Constraint Logic Programming"

Certifications

Because I wanted to fill the gaps in my knowledge of Linux, I studied for some certifications of the Linux Professional Institute. I passed the following exams:

LPIC-3 303 (Linux Enterprise Professional - Security)

Issued September 2019 - Expires September 2024 (Linux Professional Institute)

Credential ID LPI000188802 / jqc5w7bzuh

LPIC-2 (Linux Engineer)

Issued October 2014 - Expires September 2024 (Linux Professional Institute)

Credential ID LPI000188802 / x6xa4jav4m

LPIC-1 (Linux Administrator)

Issued December 2009 - Expires September 2024 (Linux Professional Institute)

Credential ID LPI000188802 / qadqrfgkbl