Strategic conversation with Marc Van Ranst, Virologist and Member of the Group of Experts for an Exit Strategy

Undoubtedly Belgium’s coolest scientist, Marc Van Ranst is a virologist, vaccination champion and activist. In addition to his current roles at KULeuven, Van Ranst sits on the Scientific Committee Coronavirus, which advises the Belgian government on the country’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic. He previously served as the president of the Vaccination Section of the Belgian High Council for Public Health for fifteen years. Van Ranst is very active on social media, where he is outspoken about raising awareness on COVID measures and vaccination, as well as strongly committed to fighting racism and homophobia. Dubbed the ‘virus hero’ by media for his crucial role during the pandemic, Van Ranst was even depicted as a ‘superhero’ fighting anti-lockdown nationalists in a viral video. As the saying goes, not all heroes wear capes: some wear lab coats.

Tamsin Rose is a facilitator who was until recently a senior fellow for health at Friends of Europe. Having studied international relations, she has 25 years of experience working across the European continent from Ireland to Mongolia. A natural communicator, Tamsin has been a radio reporter, worked on press for the EU Delegation in Moscow and is currently a member of the external speaker team for the European Commission Directorate-General for Communication, describing how the EU works and key policies to visitor groups from around the world. Since 2002, she has specialised in public health and public participation issues, serving as the Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), and providing strategic advice for health groups on how to engage successfully with the EU.