David Van Reybrouck Keynote Speaker

David Van Reybrouck is a Belgian historian, writer, and cultural thinker whose work connects global history with the renewal of democracy. His landmark Congo: The Epic History of a People earned major distinctions, including the Prix Médicis essai, and brought a human, ground-level lens to the legacies of empire.

A leading voice on democratic innovation, he co-founded Belgium’s G1000 citizens’ summit and authored Against Elections: The Case for Democracy, a widely translated manifesto that has shaped deliberative reforms across Europe. His appointment as Philosopher Laureate of the Netherlands (2025–2027) underscores his public role in advancing “vérdenken”—deeper thinking about citizenship and society.

Van Reybrouck’s Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World extends his international outlook, reframing decolonisation as a catalyst for today’s geopolitics; the book was recognised by both the Baillie Gifford and Cundill juries. In 2025 he received the Goethe Medal, honouring his contributions to international cultural and educational dialogue.

On stage, Van Reybrouck blends the storyteller’s craft with a scholar’s depth, offering audiences clear frameworks and fresh language to navigate democratic fatigue, polarisation, and historical amnesia. His talks equip leaders, teams, and communities with practical pathways to participation, trust-building, and long-term thinking.