In October 2025, 2030 asbl celebrated its fifth anniversary, a milestone marking growth from an inspired idea into a community of highly committed business leaders, challenging the status quo and each other in a benevolent way.
Five years ago, a team of leaders acted on an idea
Five years ago, a team of leaders acted on an idea: to create a space where business, science, and society could meet to rethink how we define and pursue sustainability. What began as a bold experiment has become a thriving community, one that continues to challenge assumptions, embrace complexity, and uphold intellectual rigour.
Each discussion, project, and partnership over these years has been a small but steady step toward a greater goal: building an economy that works within planetary boundaries while keeping human wellbeing at its centre.
During the celebration, Dr. Sabrina Courtois (2030’s researcher) and Hadewig De Corte (member 2030) captured what many feel within the community: 2030 has become a family.
Dr. Sabrina reflected:
“We support each other through the ups and downs, through the inspirational and the emotional sessions, through fear and hope.”
These words capture the essence of 2030 as a shared journey, a community where members learn from one another, navigate challenges together, and collectively explore what it means to act toward a sustainable future.
Sybille van den Hove, co-founder of 2030, shared reflections that grounded the evening in meaning, highlighting gratitude: gratitude for the connections and friendships nurtured through 2030, and in particular, the friendship she shared with Jacques Crahay, who remains a meaningful part of 2030’s legacy.
Our journey has never been about perfection, but about progress, about the courage to question, to learn, and to be inspired to act. It is often the small steps, honest conversations, and shared moments of conviction that make lasting change possible.
Five years in, 2030 is more than an initiative, it is a collective journey of transformation. Looking ahead, we remain guided by the values that shaped us from the beginning: benevolence, intellectual rigour, open-mindedness, system vision, transparency, inclusiveness, and the wise use of collective intelligence.
Five years in, five years ahead, and the journey continues.
