With over two decades at the forefront of the Belgian ICT landscape, Kristof Van der Stadt has established himself as a definitive voice in tech journalism. As the Editor-in-Chief of DataNews he has dedicated his career to dissecting the complex intersection of technology, business, and society. Since this year, he has been Editor-in-Chief of Trends DataNews: the broader successor to DataNews, bringing IT and business together. Part of his mission is to move beyond the marketing hype and provide the Belgian tech community with the deep-dive analysis and objective reporting it deserves. Throughout his journey - from the early days of specialized technical reporting to leading the country’s premier ICT media outlet - he has watched the role of the IT professional evolve from a support function to a strategic orchestrator of digital transformation. Beyond his editorial leadership, Kristof is the driving force behind the steady growth of the Trends DataNews community. He bridges the gap between reporting and industry engagement by spearheading some of Belgium’s most prestigious tech gatherings. He orchestrates large-scale industry benchmarks, including the Trends DataNews Awards for Excellence, recognizing the top players in the ICT landscape. Kristof also chairs the jury for the CIO of the Year, spotlighting the visionaries leading digital transformation, as well as the most innovative IT projects. Under his direction, Trends DataNews actively champions inclusivity through the annual She Goes ICT event - a high-profile platform that celebrates the achievements and success stories of women in IT. In an era where technology evolves at breakneck speed, Kristof remains committed to the necessity of clear and critical storytelling. Whether through an online article or a community event, his mission remains constant: to provide the facts behind the software and the truth behind the trend. For these reasons, his expert opinion is often sought by national media outlets.