(Dis)agree

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.

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.

Krisy is a Belgian artist of Congolese descent—a rapper, producer, and sound engineer—also known as De La Fuentes. A unique figure in the Francophone rap scene, he has been developing a musical universe from Brussels that blends introspection, humor, and sensuality. Having collaborated with numerous major artists, he cultivates an independent and multidisciplinary approach to creativity, spanning music, visuals, and artistic direction.

Louis Michel is a Belgian statesman, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and European Commissioner. A leading figure in European and international diplomacy, he has devoted much of his career to conflict resolution, development, and human rights. Drawing on several decades of experience, he poses a fundamental question: Can diplomacy remain true to its values in a world increasingly dominated by power struggles and conflicting interests?

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.

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?

A lawyer for over 20 years, a certified mediator, and former president of the Brussels Bar Association, Marie Dupont has made conflict prevention and resolution the central theme of her career. With a front-row view of human disagreements, she observes how much our need to be right can prevent us from moving forward. Her conviction? It is not necessary to agree in order to build something together. But we must be willing to give up on winning every battle.

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.