I’m an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University’s School of Governance, where my research explores public–private interactions in global governance and the EU’s role as a global actor. My work has a strong empirical focus on sport governance, with broader relevance to integrity, accountability, and the role of non-state actors in providing public goods.

I consistently draw on a wide array of theoretical frameworks to analyse the governance challenge at hand. This flexible and interdisciplinary approach allows me to connect theory and practice, bridge disciplinary boundaries, and offer nuanced insights into governance dynamics.

My research has been published in journals such as Journal of European Public Policy, Journal of European Integration, Public Administration, Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, and Public Management Review. I’m the author of The EU in International Sports Governance (Palgrave) and co-editor of Good Governance in Sport: Critical Reflections (Routledge).

Beyond academia, I actively engage with policy and practice. I’ve served as President of the Integrity Commission of the Belgian Football Association, advised the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and the European Commission, and contributed to the IPACS Task Force on good governance in sport.

I developed several internationally used benchmarking tools for assessing good governance in sport organizations, including the Sports Governance Observer, National Sports Governance Observer, and National Anti-Doping Governance Observer. I also created a code and indicators of good governance in sport for the Flemish Government.

I am a frequent contributor to Dutch and Belgian media on sport governance, and my research has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and other international outlets.