After her studies in archaeology, Ellen spent ten years in the field, shovel in hand, for excavations. She grew into a project leader, both on sites and in research. She then broadened her horizons in both the immovable and cultural heritage sectors at various organisations. For example, she gained extensive experience as a heritage consultant at the Intermunicipal Immovable Heritage Service (IOED) Land van Nete en Aa in the Belgian Kempen region. In addition to advising local authorities, heritage managers and heritage communities, she also supports heritage volunteers in local archaeology.




Fascinated by the past and what it can mean for a community, Ellen looks for its potential for the future. In her projects, she approaches heritage as something by and for people and as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. In supporting villages and cities during their vision formation and planning processes, she understood the power of a carefully collected origin story about a place. She sees such a multidimensional identity as the perfect starting point for writing a new chapter together with the local community.

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