Webinar series April-May 2026
A new EmConSoil webinar series is coming! Get ready for inspiring talks, cutting-edge insights, and practical solutions from leading experts in emerging contaminants, contaminated soils and environmental sustainability. Four sessions are planned at the end of April (21st and 28th) and beginning of May (5th and 12th) 2026 each time from 9:00 till 10:00 CET. Full program is online and registations are open!
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Esther Goidts
Esther Goidts is a soil scientist and seconded policy officer at the European Commission, with a strong background in soil protection and contaminated sites policy. Before joining the Commission in 2026, she was a senior advisor within Wallonia’s Soil Protection Direction, where she led R&D on soil degradation, diffuse pollution, and emerging contaminants. Her expertise includes monitoring soil carbon and biological quality, developing soil health indicators, and assessing pollutant transfer and remediation needs. She is deeply engaged in European policy discussions on soil monitoring and works to bridge scientific knowledge and regulatory implementation to achieve healthier soils across Europe. -
Ingeborg Joris
Ingeborg Joris holds a PhD from KU Leuven and has been a researcher at VITO since 2003. As Team Leader Modeling, she specializes in assessing leaching and dispersion risks, for example regarding pesticide use and the protection of drinking water sources. Her expertise also includes establishing (PFAS) standards for the use of excavated soils, as well as risk assessments regarding the spread of soil contamination due to leaching and dispersion. With over twenty years of experience, Ingeborg plays a key role in the development of scientific methodologies and models that support evidence-based environmental policy and management. -
Kaat Touchant
Kaat Touchant graduated as a bioengineer from KU Leuven and has been working as a researcher at VITO since 2001, where she coordinates and develops research projects on soil and groundwater quality, focusing on assessing risks to human health and ecosystems. She advises the Flemish Agency for Waste Management on risk assessments regarding soil contamination and remediation, and supports the development of decision support systems. Her expertise also includes establishing soil standards using the Flemish S-Risk model, as well as deriving groundwater standards for soil policy (including for PFAS). -
Karl Bowles
Dr Karl Bowles is a Senior Principal Environmental Scientist with Jacobs, an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland (QAEHS), and currently sits on the IChEMS committee, advising the Australian government on scheduling of industrial chemicals. With over 30 years in consultancy, government, research, and university sectors, and around 50 peer-reviewed publications, he has a unique blend of experience investigating, managing, and developing or influencing guidance for chemical contaminants. PFAS have been Karl's focus for 10 years, during which time he has been a key scientific advisor on PFAS, earlier to NSW government, and more recently The Australian Department of Defence. Much of Karl's current focus is on using science to inform sensible management of PFAS in the Water and Wastewater sectors. -
Matthew Askeland
Dr. Matthew Askeland is a Principal Environmental Scientist at ADE Consulting Group, engaged in the contaminated land, resource recovery, and circular economy sectors specialising in the management of emerging contamninants. Matthew is the Chair of the Australasian Land and Groundwater Associations Emerging Contaminants of Concern (EMCOC) Special Interest Group (SIG). Matt enjoys solving problems, challenging conventional approaches, and being generally disruptive. -
Niclas Johansson
Niclas Johansson holds a PhD in Environmental Toxicology from Uppsala University, Sweden. He has worked with PFAS‑contaminated sites since 2010, taking on a variety of roles within management of those sites. Since 2022, Niclas has served as the project manager for the Swedish government’s national initiative on PFAS‑contaminated sites (RUPFO), leading the coordination and development of strategies to address PFAS pollution across the country. Outside of work, Niclas enjoys fly fishing and cycling.