What inspired Gevaert’s way of thinking and doing business? And what can we apply from it in today’s political and social climate? Bea Cantillon, Leen Van Den Neste, Peter Heyrman and Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen shed their light on this remarkable man, moderated by Marc Van de Looverbosch.
UCSIA organised this event together with AGFA Events, Lieven Gevaertfonds vzw and the Mortselse Heemkundige Kring.
Welcome at UCSIA
Erik De Bom, Deputy Director at UCSIA, opened the evening. He welcomed the audience and briefly highlighted UCSIA’s mission: to strive for a more just and inclusive society.
The panel
Afterwards, political journalist and moderator Marc Van De Looverbosch introduced the panel:
Bea Cantillon is a social scientist known for her research on poverty, social inequality and the functioning of social protection systems. She is also chair person of UCSIA.
Peter Heyrman is the head of research at the Documentation and Research Centre for Religion, Culture and Society (KADOC-KU Leuven). He was the historian on duty. Peter talked about one of his research interests: the social teaching of the Church, and in particular how it translated into social Catholic enterprise.
Leen Van De Neste is the chairman of the executive committee of vdk bank, an independent bank with high ethical standards. It believes that social entrepreneurship is the only sustainable form of business.
Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen is currently president of the Associatie Universiteit & Hogescholen Antwerpen. Previously, he was CEO at SD Worx for 28 years. He was involved in several social entrepreneurship projects, such as the Social Innovation Factory.
Lieven Gevaert: white raven or child of his time?
Lieven Gevaert’s impact as a social entrepreneur is undeniable and his principles remain relevant in today’s world of work. Gevaert, founder of the photography company Agfa-Gevaert, was not only an innovative industrialist, but also a pioneer of social responsibility within business.
Inspired by the Church’s social teaching and papal encyclicals such as Rerum Novarum (1891), he saw it as his duty to contribute to the welfare of his employees.
At a time when the ‘social question’ – the sharp antagonism between workers and entrepreneurs – was threatening to escalate, Gevaert set out to temper social unrest by offering better working conditions, profit sharing and social security.
A new social pact?
How can entrepreneurship and social impact go hand in hand? The panel reflected on the lessons modern businesses can draw from Gevaert’s vision, especially in times of growing inequality and economic uncertainty.
In this context, the idea of a ‘new social pact’ was discussed: how can businesses, government and unions work together to rebalance economic growth and social justice?
It called for a renewed commitment in which companies not only seek profits but also play an active role in the welfare of employees and the wider society.
Conclusion
The audience had a chance to ask questions and participate in the discussion, which made for an interactive and inspiring evening.
Michiel Hubeau, the mayor of Mortsel, delivered the closing remarks. He talked about the future of social entrepreneurship and how Gevaert’s legacy can be a lasting inspiration for companies that want to combine social progress with economic sustainability.
