Some members of the hosting team have known each other and crossed paths for many years. Last September, a spark was ignited at the Belgian practitioners’ gathering to get together again and form a team to imagine and co-create the next Belgian Art Of Hosting training. The spark also ignited for two apprentices who were at the gathering, and later a third apprentice felt called to step in. For now, we invite you to get a feel for the members of our hospitality team – until we meet again in July.
An Van Damme – The Art of Hosting community calls at the beginning of the pandemic deeply influenced me. They invited openness and humanity − exactly what my soul needed − in a large and ever-changing group. I love passing this on! Inviting connection and trust, embracing the wisdom of diverse voices and collaborating in participatory ways are, in my view, essential skills for humanity’s future. Through my facilitation work and by organising this training in Belgium (where none has been held for six years), I intend to inspire and strengthen individuals and collectives. You may enjoy reading my article (in Dutch) about my first training in 2018 and find out more about my work on my website anvandamme.be.
Damien Versele – Soon after discovering the Art of Hosting (2016), it became a new operational system for me, enhancing collaboration and focus on what really matters in the mental health organization I was leading. Art of Hosting helped us in framing a wholescale change project shifting from hierarchical to participative leadership. Nowadays, Art of Hosting plays an even more important role in my professional life as learning architect and (deep) change contractor in organizations. It is the reference for all the complex facilitation I do. More on damienversele.be.
Helen Titchen Beeth – I attended my first Art of Hosting training in Belgium in 2006. I immediately put what I had learned into practice at my workplace in the European Commission in Brussels. That early experimentation resulted in a deepening sea change in the institution’s ways of working both internally and with its stakeholders, as well as the seeding of a thriving community of practice throughout the European institutions. Since then, I have lost count of the training events I have helped host and steward, both inside the EU institutions and throughout Europe. Although I am now living in retirement, I keep doing this because it makes me so happy!
Joke Jonckiere – The Art of Hosting trainings in 2018 and 2019 opened my eyes to new ways of connecting and collaborating. While practising, I integrated the principles and methods into my daily life. It helped me speak up in different contexts, and shift to a job that aligns more with my values. As a process host in the nonprofit sector, I facilitate multi-stakeholder processes in order to enhance intersectoral collaboration and expertise sharing. In my work and beyond, I enjoy creating space for authentic dialogue and naturally bringing people – including myself – back to what truly matters. Welcome to connect on Linkedin.
Valérie Carrette – I feel guided by the understanding that transitions—whether personal or societal—benefit from reconnecting to our natural human rhythm as it enhances clear thinking, connection, and creativity. My work is deeply inspired by both my experiences in being a pilgrim and the Art of Hosting as it is inspired by living systems. I participated in the hosting team in several trainings in Belgium. Through hosting & facilitation, I love to invite collective intelligence and the magic that happens when people connect, collaborate, co-create in ways that honor each of the participants’ being, contribution and learning process.
Apprentices
Kévin De Bruyne – I discovered the Art of Hosting way in March last year and I was hooked. It changes my perspective on how collaborative tools can be used. The attention given to the all in every person and the willingness to embrace the chaos generated by an acceptance of imperfections create a strong desire for more in me. I have also been impressed by the capacities shown by participants to step up and “run” part of the show. It gave me hope that collaborative tools could easily spread at a much larger scale in the near future. And so I’m thrilled to participate in this training.
Kristiana Stoyanova – My Art of Hosting journey began in 2020 when I encountered these practices, also known as “Participatory Leadership”, during my traineeship at the European Commission. The participatory, co-creative approach immediately resonated with me, sparking a genuine curiosity and passion. Last year, during my Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability in Sweden, I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding through a second AoH training in Karlskrona in 2024. I’m enthusiastic about further developing my practice and contributing to this community by co-creating the next AoH training experience in Belgium. If you are curious to learn more about me, see: kristoyanova.com.
Nell Lenoir – I first encountered the Art of Hosting during the Youth Initiative Program in 2022, where we overall spent two weeks immersed in the practice while co-organizing an initiative forum. I was immediately drawn to the participative leadership and collective wisdom it fosters, as well as the values and care of the stewards and apprentices. I soon realized that I had been participating in many hosting practices since 2016, particularly during my European volunteer services and studies. These experiences have shaped my work as a trainer, facilitator, and artist, as well as my aspirations and personal practices. I now feel called to share my experiences while deepening my learning.
