Impact
Research impact beyond publication
My research contributes in different ways: by informing policy and practice, by building data and methodological resources that others can use, by shaping conversations around migration, inequality and responsible AI, and by being taken up and built on by researchers internationally. The maps, projects and conversations below trace where that work has travelled and who it has reached.
Where my research travels
Geographical reach through citations.
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Research in conversation
Knowledge exchange and engagement
A further part of research impact is exchange: bringing evidence into scholarly, policy, professional and public conversations. This map traces my selected keynotes, invited talks, lectures and invited panels.
Shaping policy
- European Child GuaranteeMigrant-children expert in the European Commission’s feasibility study that prepared the 2021 Council Recommendation establishing the Child Guarantee. Report ↗
- Counting the uncountedFor the World Bank’s KNOMAD, a method that links death and population registers to estimate how many people live in Belgium without being registered. Paper ↓
- Closing migration data gapsPolicy brief for EU and national statistical offices on what migration data is missing and how to fill it (HumMingBird). Brief ↓
Building evidence infrastructure
- Irregular migration databasePublic database of irregular migration estimates across Europe, with handbooks for policymakers (MIrreM). Database ↗
- Measuring homelessness in BelgiumA method to count and describe homeless people, developed for the federal science policy office (MEHOBEL). Report ↓
- New data for migration policyGuidance on using mobile phone and other digital data responsibly, for IOM practitioners and EU policymakers. IOM handbook ↗ White paper ↓
Responsible AI
- Responsible AI Governor for BelgiumGlobal Council for Responsible AI.
- Ethical Board, AI Excellence CentreAdvising the Flemish employment agency VDAB on the ethical use of AI.
- Bias in asylum technologyEvidence that automated speech recognition misrepresents refugees in interviews, informing debates on AI in asylum procedures. Article ↗
Recent moments
Conferences, keynotes and appointments from the past year.
Talk | April 2026 | TorontoBig data and the changing rhythms of migration, Rethinking Complex Migration conference
PositionResponsible AI Governor for Belgium, Global Council for Responsible AI
Keynote | 29 April 2026AI as a force for social change, FARI – AI for the Common Good, Brussels
Keynote | 23–24 Sept 2025Regional Policy Dialogue 2025: Migration, Data and Inclusion, Inter-American Development Bank
Conference | 2025Data for Policy 2025 Asia-Pacific, Tongji University, Shanghai
Talk | Concordia UniversityThe Human in the Machine, Hiding in Plain Sight, Montréal
Ideas beyond the page
Selected talks, podcasts and films exploring the questions behind my research, what we have learned, and why it matters beyond academia.