SUPERVISORY BOARD

Joris De Meester
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Member since February 15, 2013

Belgium

Mr. De Meester (born in 1963) studied at the University of Antwerp in Antwerp, Belgium from 1981 to 1986, obtaining a Master of Law degree, and at the University of Ghent in Ghent, Belgium from 1986 to 1987, obtaining a Master of Accountancy and Taxation degree.

Mr. De Meester has Belgian citizenship.

From 1987 to 1994, he worked as an International Tax Manager at Arthur Andersen in Antwerp, Belgium before moving to AlpInvest Partners in Antwerp, Belgium and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. There, he initially worked as a manager for the establishment of Belgian corporate finance and private equity activities for what is now NIB Capital Bank until 1998, before focusing on direct investments in European technology companies as a Senior Investment Manager from 1999 to 2000, and as a Principal in telecom and technology companies from 2004 to 2006.

In parallel with his work at AlpInvest Partners, he completed an additional program of study at the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Leuven, Belgium from 1998 to 1999, obtaining an Advanced Executive Master of Business Administration degree.

In 2006, he founded a private equity management company for wealthy entrepreneur families from the Benelux countries, Oak Invest BVBA in Antwerp, Belgium, where he has been the managing director since then. In addition to his mandate with 7C  Solarparken Joris De Meester is also a board member with several companies active in the following industry sectors: renewable energy (waste to biogas) , energy efficiency  (ORC technology and waste heat recuperation) and ICT (web 3.0, fintech and e-learning).

Bridget Woods
Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Member since December 17, 2015

New Zealand

Ms. Bridget Woods, born in 1975, completed her Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Lincoln University, New Zealand in 1998. From 1998 to 2001, she worked for the commercial arm of Victoria University in Wellington, where she delivered a series of programs funded by the World Bank for South East Asian and Eastern European Governments. She also set up and managed New Zealand's first High-Tech Business Incubator.

Ms. Woods has New Zealand citizenship.

Between 2001 and 2006, she held various consulting positions in London, UK, before becoming the Head of Operations and Investor Relations at Emerging Media Ltd. (London, UK, Mumbai, India).

Since 2008, Ms. Woods has been an advisor to the Chairman of Consensus Business Group (London, UK), where she is responsible for optimizing the cleantech and renewables investment portfolio and implementing a business synergies programme across the Group. Consensus Business Group was one of the pioneers in the field of photovoltaic asset investments in Germany. Ms. Woods acted as a transaction manager for the merger of the Miskina portfolios into 7C Solarparken AG.

Paul Decraemer
Member since July 14, 2017,
as well as from July 1, 2014 till June 15, 2016

Belgium

Mr. Decraemer (born 1965) studied at Ghent University from 1983 to 1988, where he obtained a Master of Bioscience Engineering, and then continued his education at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Ghent, Belgium, earning a Master in Financial Management in 1990. From 1991 to 1995, he worked as Chief Analyst Benelux Stock Markets at the Belgian newspaper De Tijd/De Belegger before joining Vlaamse Milieuholding in Antwerp, Belgium, as Senior Investment Manager.

Mr. Decraemer has Belgian citizenship.

From late 2000 to the end of 2011, Mr. Decraemer served as CEO of the investment company Sustainable Energy Ventures NV in Brussels, Belgium, focused on renewable energies and energy efficiency. 

During 2006 and 2015 Mr. Decraemer has been heading the Cleantech Investment Practice at Capricorn Partners and was an executive Board member of the Capricorn Cleantech Fund investing in early stage cleantech companies.

Currently, Mr. Decraemer serves as CFO of Inbiose NV, which has developed a fermentation-based technology platform for the industrial production of specialty carbohydrates. He is co-founder and sits on the Board of Directors of Seelution AB, located in Gothenburg/Sweden, and active in emulsion technology and sustainable barriers. He is member of the Board of Directors of the ABO Group, a listed engineering company which operates in the activities of geotechnics, soil remediation, energy and water and waste management.

Since March 2001, he has also been Managing Director of Paul Decraemer BV in Lochristi, Belgium.

Paul De fauw († 20.09.2024)*

Member since July 17, 2020

Belgium

Mr. Paul De fauw was born in Bruges, Belgium in 1949 and completed his studies in Commercial Engineering at the Catholic University of Leuven in 1972. Throughout his career, he has worked in energy and infrastructure companies, specifically in the telecom, gas, and electricity supply sectors.

Mr. De fauw has Belgian citizenship.

Mr. De fauw started his career at WVEM, a public company in West Flanders, where he held management positions and eventually became the CFO and CEO. In 2007, he co-founded Infrax CVBA, which integrated the network operator activities of WVEM and other public network operators. Mr. De fauw served as the CEO of Infrax from its inception until 2014.

In 1978, Mr. De fauw co-founded SPE CVBA, which later became Luminus NV, the second largest electricity producer in Belgium with a 10% market share. The company supplies electricity and gas to approximately 2 million private and business customers, representing a market share of 20%. Mr. De fauw served on the Board of Directors of Luminus for several years and currently holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In 1992, Mr. De fauw founded Vlaamse Energieholding CVBA (VEH), where he serves as delegate administrator (CEO) and invests in energy infrastructure both domestically and internationally. He also serves as a director of Publi-T and Publipart, two of the largest shareholders of Elia, which owns the Belgian and large parts of the German high-voltage network. VEH invested for the first time in 7C Solarparken in 2018 and currently holds more than 5% of the shares.

In 2002, Mr. De fauw co-founded the Aspiravi Group, a developer of offshore and onshore wind turbines. He was a member of the Board of Directors of various group companies until 2019 and is still involved in the development of wind projects in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, as a co-founder of several V.L.E.E.M.O. investment companies.

From 2003 to 2012, Mr. De fauw was a member of the Board of Directors of Fluxys Belgium, the operator of the Belgian gas network, and also served as Chairman of the Risk and Audit Committee.

*We regret to announce the passing of Mr. De fauw. We wish his family and loved ones, as well as the many people he touched with his respectful and friendly personality, our heartfelt condolences and strength.