GUBERNA Academic Hub

At GUBERNA, for over 30 years we believe that good governance is more than a theoretical framework. It is the beating heart of strong, future-oriented organisations.

With the GUBERNA Academic Hub, we are taking the next step, staying true to our conviction: “Better Boards, Better Organisations, contributing to a Better World.” 

The Hub is a meeting place where science, theory and practice reinforce one another. Here, leading academics and board members come together to reflect on the key questions that will shape the future of governance. 

Every year, we develop two research projects in collaboration with academic partners. These not only generate new insights and publications, but also white papers with concrete recommendations, fueling the governance debate in Belgium and beyond. 

What does this mean for you as a GUBERNA member? 

The GUBERNA Academic Hub offers you: 

  • Exclusive access to scientific insights, translated into practical recommendations. 

  • Early awareness of new regulations and trends directly affecting the role of board members. 

  • Dialogue with academics and peers to test and deepen your ideas. 

  • Inspiration to strengthen and future-proof your board of directors. 

 

Rethink. Connect. Shape the future of governance. 

 

Keep an eye on this page! Our first research areas will be published soon:

 

Sandra Gobert, CEO GUBERNA 
Konstantinos Sergakis, Knowledge & Research Director 

Xavier Baeten

Research areas 2025–2026

Board members’ perception of executive remuneration

Prof. Dr. Xavier Baeten 
Vlerick Business School 

Board members face a difficult and delicate task: designing a well-thought-out remuneration policy. Too often, decisions are steered by market practices and comparative analyses, while the underlying principles of a sound reward strategy are overlooked. This study therefore focuses on the fundamentals of executive pay and explores the preferences of board members themselves. With these insights, GUBERNA aims to deepen the debate and help shape balanced, future-oriented remuneration models. Watch the interview with Xavier Baeten. 

Your input is crucial for this research. Fill in the survey on Executive Remuneration Principles here.  The first results will be available in our newsletter. Not subscribed yet? Sign up now.

Fill in the survey

 

About Xavier Baeten 

Xavier Baeten is professor at Vlerick Business School and a recognised expert in executive remuneration, strategic reward models, and the link between pay, sustainability and corporate strategy. He leads the Centre of Excellence in Strategic Rewards and the Executive Remuneration Research Centre. Professor Baeten teaches courses including Corporate Sustainability, Responsibility, and Compensation & Benefits. Alongside his academic work, he advises companies on reward strategies and serves on various remuneration and sustainability committees, including those of VGD and KBC. 

Read more on this topic here. 

Tom Vos

Multiple voting shares: what board members of Belgian listed companies need to know

Ass.-Prof. Tom Vos  

Maastricht University

A new EU directive on multiple voting rights for listed companies is on its way. With this directive, Belgium will also be required to allow such voting structures, potentially reshaping the rules for listed firms. At stake is the very core of good governance: how do you balance stability and long-term vision with the protection of minority shareholders? Board members will play a decisive role in setting this course. Through this research area, GUBERNA engages in dialogue with directors about the opportunities and risks. Watch the interview with Tom Vos.

Keep an eye on this page. In the coming days, our research team will be interviewing leading experts on the topic. The results of this study will be shared over the coming months. Not subscribed to our newsletter yet? Not subscribed yet? Sign up now.

 

About Tom Vos 
Tom Vos is a lecturer at Maastricht University, where he conducts research on corporate law, corporate governance, law and economics, and empirical studies. He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Antwerp, linked to the Jean-Pierre Blumberg Chair, where he supervises an FWO project on short-termism in European corporate governance. In addition, he is a part-time associate at Linklaters in Brussels, specialising in corporate and securities law. Tom studied law at KU Leuven (bachelor, master, PhD) and obtained an LLM from Harvard Law School.