Speaker Bio

Jurgen van Avermaete (MSc Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology) has built a career around optimizing socio-technical systems, with a strong emphasis on the interaction between humans, machines, and procedures. His early work at the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) focused on pilot performance and human factors in aircraft maintenance, laying the foundation for his systems-oriented approach.

At LVNL, where he has worked since 2000, Jurgen has led several transformative initiatives. He established the Human Factors department, reorganized operational procedures to align with Just Culture principles, and introduced collaborative, results-driven ways of working across disciplines.
In 2017, he spearheaded the implementation of air traffic control at Lelystad Airport—a politically sensitive, multi-stakeholder project that paved the way for Dutch airspace restructuring. He currently oversees the integration of civil and military air traffic control, a key enabler for more efficient airspace management.

Since 2022, Jurgen has been leading LVNL’s Training Organisation, where he launched an improvement program to boost training outcomes and address staffing shortages. His strategy includes competency-based training, extensive use of simulation, and reducing ATM system complexity—always with a clear focus on the capabilities and needs of the human operator.