Ideas change everything.

Simon Truwant, born in 1987, is a cultural philosopher, author, and lecturer. He reflects on the conditions necessary for a constructive and inclusive public debate, as well as the obstacles to it. His opinion pieces on the culture of debate, post-truth, disinformation, cultural appropriation, hypocrisy, and public apologies have appeared in Flemish and Dutch media. His book *De waarheid heeft vier gezichten. Hoe we het publiek debat kunnen redden* (*The Truth Has Four Faces: How to Save Public Debate*) was published in Dutch in September 2025.

Simone Susskind served as president of the Secular Jewish Community Center from 1985 to 1996. In 1989, she brought together 40 Israeli and Palestinian women for a public gathering in Brussels. In 1995, she founded Actions in the Mediterranean. She also spearheaded the “Israel-Palestine for Better Understanding” program. She subsequently served as a member of the Brussels Parliament from 2014 to 2019 and as a senator from 2017 to 2019. Named “Woman of the Year” in Belgium in 1991, she received an honorary doctorate from the Université libre de Bruxelles in 2000 and was made a baroness in 2012.

Wahiba Yachou, known as Waya, is a cultural marketing strategist, content creator, and founder of Tissal. A Belgian of Moroccan descent, she shines a light on audiences and stories that are all too rarely seen. Whether she’s challenging stereotypes in the media or recounting her grandmother’s journey as a migrant, her work explores identity, representation, and belonging—and poses a question: How can we build a shared society without always agreeing?

Mélanie Akkari is a comedian and a columnist on “Matin Première” and “En vrai de vrai” on Tipik. She’s also touring throughout Belgium (and France) (and Switzerland) with her show “Perséphone.” You may also have seen her in Vania Leturcq’s film “Au sein des autres” or in the series “Presque normal” alongside Kody.

David Van Reybrouck is a Belgian writer, historian, and playwright, known for his works on history and politics (*Congo*, *Revolusi*, *Against Elections*, etc.). An active participant in public discourse, he is also known for his reflections on democracy and climate change. In 2025, he was named “National Thinker” in the Netherlands and Flanders and received the Goethe Medal.