PREVIOUS EDITION
EDITION 2023
The 2023 edition of our awards took place on Tuesday, 10 October 2023, at KPMG in Zaventem.
Eight exceptional professionals were shortlisted by an expert jury for their outstanding work in customs and trade compliance: Tom De Ridder (Audi), Maria Eugenico Ioco (Zoetis), Veronique Koninckx (C’LA Customs & Logistics Agency), Conny Leeman (Federal Mogul Autoparts), Dirk Potilius (Ziegler), Emily Savereux (UCB), Mayra Souza (International Flavors & Fragrances), and Martine Wouters (Roland Europe Groupe).
The award ceremony featured inspiring speeches from Jeroen Gobbin (KPMG), Wouter Van Gulck (Belgian Chambers of Commerce), and Ricardo Treviño (WCO Deputy Secretary General), along with a keynote by Pieter Haesaert, CEO of Portorium. The programme was moderated by Suyin Aerts, guiding the audience through the evening with professionalism and charm.
At the end, the winner of the 2023 edition was announced: Tom De Ridder, Expert VAT, Customs & Trade Compliance at AUDI Brussels. Due to compliance regulations, Tom could not personally accept the €1,000 travel cheque, and in a generous gesture, he offered this prize to the second-place winner, Mayra Souza. Tom did, however, receive a voucher from the WCO for a package of 17 e-learning courses worth €7,600, recognizing his expertise and ongoing commitment to customs excellence.
The evening concluded with a walking dinner and drinks, giving attendees the chance to celebrate achievements, exchange insights, and enjoy the company of their peers.
As a token of appreciation, all eight nominees received flowers, and a Samsonite trolley, generously provided by our sponsor, celebrating their dedication and excellence in customs and trade compliance.
EDITION 2020
The Customs Professional Award 2020 was the first of its kind, and candidates either self-applied or were nominated by peers, noting their achievements and innovations as well as their vision for customs evolution in the future. The jury, consisting of members of the National Forum for Customs in Belgium, announced that there were so many high-calibre nominees that they actually increased the number of finalists eligible for the public vote.
The winner of the 2020 edition was Walter Van der Meiren, Regulatory and Compliance Director at UPS Europe. All other nominees were recognised as silver contributors and they received a tremendous applause from the audience. Now, just a few short months after the awards, these customs professionals faced even more responsibility as the COVID-19 crisis emphasises the key role customs plays in the global supply chain. The world of customs is proud of their efforts and accomplishments.
Registrations are Open
Register yourself or your colleague from 1 September to 15 October 2025.
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