Speakers at EBSA Thursday "Risk assessments – One size does not fit all"

Toon De Kesel was, for more than 15 years (until 2008), Corporate Manager Health, Safety and Environment at Innogenetics NV, a Belgian biopharmaceutical company. He was the biosafety officer for both Innogenetics’ R&D and Bio-manufacturing plants (vaccine production facilities). He has relevant experience in dealing with general safety aspects, occupational health and environmental issues, regulatory matters, laboratory and manufacturing (biosafety) practices, biocontainment facilities and risk assessment involving biological agents (including GMO’s/GMMO’s). He has lots of expertise in technical issues such as risk analysis methodologies, job hazard analysis, work practices, personal protection, disinfection, waste management, emergency procedures, training op personnel, etc. Specific experience in regulatory matters, laboratory and manufacturing practices, high biocontainment facilities - (A)BSL-3), all in relation to EHS and Biosafety.  

He then joined, in 2008, DNV Biorisk as Principal Consultant Biorisk, specializing in risk assessment associated with biological systems, and in particular studies relating to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity measures. He was performing risk assessment and safety studies, i.e. HAZOP risk assessment of an effluent treatment plant, SWIFT risk assessment of a HVAC installation, and organizing and giving biorisk training courses. 

He was appointed from 2009 to 2016 as Biosafety International Compliance Manager for Bayer Cropscience NV in Gent and was the Global Head of Biological Material Movement. In 2010, he was appointed as the Environmental Safety Manager for the Belgian activities of Bayer Cropscience until December 2014. 

He is member of the European Biosafety Association since 1998, and was the EBSA President 2013-2014. He is Chair of the EBSA CWA Strategy Task Group and was member of the EBSA Education and Training Working Group and BTWC/CBRN Task Group. He is a member of the ISO/TC-212 Working Group 5 - Biorisk Management (ISO 35001:2019) and other ISO Biorisk management deliverables (Biorisk management guidance document and Biosafety professional competence). 

He was closely involved in the foundation of Belgian Biosafety Professionals (BBP) in 2005 and is Past-Chairman of the BBP (2005-2008). He is Council Member of the Flemish Association for Environmental coordinators (VMx) since 2000. He was former Board Member of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), 2014-2017.