Event

EPR Annual Conference 2025 ‘Leading the Change in Rehabilitation: Towards Future-Proof Services’

On 5-6 June, EPR, in collaboration with our Belgium member GTB, held the EPR Annual Conference 2025 ‘Leading the Change in Rehabilitation: Towards Future-Proof Services‘! Taking place over a day and a half in Antwerp, Belgium, the Conference focused on the changes the rehabilitation sector and services to people with disabilities are undertaking, and how we can play a leading role in shaping them for the better.

The Conference brought together the EPR community of members, partners, people with lived experience, experts in the field, policymakers and professionals to share experiences, learn from good practices, and co-develop strategies for a more resilient and impactful sector.

Aims of the Conference

• To empower service providers to take a leading role in shaping the future of disability and rehabilitation services;
• To explore innovative solutions that enhance quality, efficiency, and accessibility in service delivery;
• To align service provision with emerging EU policies and funding opportunities;
• To foster peer learning and networking among EPR members, EU institutions, and key stakeholders.

Conference presentations:

• Living Independently in the Community by Marie Fitzgerald, Regional Manager, RehabCare (part of the RehabGroup);
• Good Practices from Agenzija Sapport (Malta) by Samanta DeBattista, Senior Executive and Charlette Camilleri, Leader, Agenzija Sapport
• Technology as a key to (re-)integration by Eveline De Raeve, Care and Well-Being, Thomas More (to be shared soon)
• The Other Side of Technology: Online Risks – Threats to Social Inclusion by Nektaria Sifaki, Head of Vocational Training, Theotokos Foundation
• Inclusion and Work by Lut Gailly, Staff member, GTB
• Cost effectiveness –tendering – citizens values: A Perspective of Mariaberg (Germany) by Michael Backhaus, HR Officer and European Projects Coordinator, Mariaberg
• Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Community by Haydn Hammersley, Social Policy Coordinator, European Disability Forum (EDF)
• HR – The Sunny Side Up! (What Needs to be Addressed in the Workplace) by Fons Leroy, Chairperson of GTB, Labour Market Expert and Author
• Organising evidence-based change by Prof. Jeroen Stouten, Professor of Organisational Psychology, K.U. Leuven
• Masterclass: Balancing Empathy, the Key to Meaningful Innovation by Yvonne Gillis, Product Owner and Designer, Syntilio
• A Policy dimension from Flanders to the EU:
  • The Flanders perspective by Helga Stevens, Policy Advisor, FPS Social Security – DG Persons with Disabilities
  • The EU perspective – Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 by Olga Martinez de Briones, Policy Officer – DG Justice & Consumers, European Commission

Open Spaces presentations:

• Leadership and Data Management Demo by Sander Allert, Plain Sight and Giada Venier, Fondazione don Gnocchi

• Leadership and quality management (guiding audience questions) by Karen Warson, Association for Supported Employment Europe (ASEE) and Veronika Kaska, Astangu
• Leadership and motivation (guiding audience questions) by Lisa Willems, GTB and Elaine Armstrong, The Cedar Foundation

• Leadership and training opportunities (guiding audience questions) by Joris Van Hoye and Eva Dessers, The Bee Academy and Anna Duquernoy, GTB Service User

Conference Venue

The EPR 2025 Conference took place at Syntra – ab, a VET centre with a mission to strengthen and develop competencies in a distinctly practice-oriented way for everyone. Its accessibility, dedication to education and training, and inclusive approach made it the perfect venue choice for our Annual Conference.