Speaker profile
Hans Ketelslegers
Hans is passionate to build bridges with science in an integrative, inclusive, and open-minded way, especially in the area that helps at finding solutions to meet the global energy and circular economy needs in a responsible & sustainable way with respect to environmental health.
With a PhD in toxicology and biological health sciences, he has worked in several positions for ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences (EMBSI, under ExxonMobil Research & Engineering), providing scientific advice to ExxonMobil’s Petroleum & Chemical business units and to the development of EMBSI’s research program.
For the last 6 years, he was seconded to the European Petroleum Refiners Association – first as the Science Executive for Health and subsequently as the Director for REACH. At the association, Hans was responsible for strategic and organizational development on REACH implementation for the refining industry. He led the teams (integrating multiple scientific disciplines, advocacy, and legal experts) dedicated to implementing a pragmatic and cost-effective approach for REACH compliance. This includes the external relationships with authorities and other stakeholders to safeguard practical relevance of the research programs and generated data in the European and global regulatory context, with an overall aim to ensure a continued safe and environmentally sustainable production, distribution and use of petroleum products for an industry in evolution.
Scientifically, Hans continues to be involved in multiple international research programs, with a special interest in the development and practical application of realistic alternatives to animal testing. He is a member of several professional societies and chairs the corporate subcommittee of Eurotox.