Meet the Expert, Christel De Blieck

"Digital transformation is not a milestone; it is a mindset"

So, what exactly does an account manager for the Flemish government do?
“Sopra Steria is still a relatively unknown player for the Flemish government. It is my job to change that and demonstrate the added value we can offer. This involves having conversations at various levels, for example with a secretary-general or a CISO, or delving deep into the subject matter with data scientists and cybersecurity specialists. During these discussions, I consider where our services can make a difference, for example in the areas of AI, the cloud, data, and cybersecurity. Additionally, the government is always looking for IT specialists. I work with the business to assess whether we have the right IT profiles in-house to offer them, such as data analysts, testers, Java developers and enterprise architects. However, we also consider the longer term. At Sopra Steria, we are interested not only in deploying the right profiles, but also in appealing projects where we can offer customers an end-to-end solution.”

How did you end up working in IT?
"Purely by chance. I had been working in the shipping industry in Antwerp for about six years when, one day, I received a call from an IT company. They had won a large IT project for the Ministry of Justice and needed someone to ensure everything ran smoothly on the administrative side. I was ready for a change and took the job. After a while, I was given the opportunity to switch to a sales role, which turned out to be perfect for me. Since then, I have worked for a variety of IT companies. I particularly enjoy looking back on my time at IBM. I worked there for about 15 years, first as an account manager for software, then for services, and finally for the consultancy branch.”

What makes your work challenging?
“IT is never boring because technology never stands still. Just look at how much has changed since I started in IT! It's incredible; it's like being on a fast train that never stops. Take AI, for example. It's impossible to keep up with everything that's happening right now. At the same time, all these changes keep you on your toes. Working with young people also gives me energy. They have fresh perspectives, and I learn new things from them. It's refreshing and keeps you young at heart. I still find it challenging to use all the expertise we have at Sopra Steria to contribute to solutions that enable the government to function better and, indirectly, make life easier for citizens.”

What services does Sopra Steria provide to the Flemish government?
“It's really very broad. It can include projects in the field of data migration, website development, and process automation. We are constantly thinking alongside our clients, looking at areas where we can provide support. We have consultants who develop digital transformation roadmaps for merging agencies, as well as consultants who work in change management and think strategically about digital strategy and implementation.”

Which project are you most proud of?
“One project really stands out for me: a clearinghouse-as-a-service solution that I sold to the Flemish data utility company, Athumi. This government organisation helps companies make their data more usable, thereby boosting the Flemish data economy. With this clearing house, Athumi can simplify and streamline money and invoice flows on its real estate data platform by bundling financial transactions into a single payment and invoice schedule.”

What do you think the main challenges are for the Flemish government?
“There are several, but I would like to highlight three. Firstly, artificial intelligence. Where will we use AI, how will we use it, and what will its usefulness be for the government itself, its employees, and citizens? We need to consider that carefully.

Another important challenge is security. In recent years, the number of cyber-attacks has increased significantly. Government organisations, businesses, and citizens are increasingly falling victim to cybercriminals. For example, several hacker groups attacked a number of major Belgian websites last October. Often, an organisation or company is unaware that it has been hacked. Therefore, the question is how we can protect ourselves against this. Just as importantly, how do we get citizens on board? Simply warning them to be careful and to use secure passwords is not enough.

That brings me to the third challenge. How are we going to involve citizens in the digital transformation? Not everyone is digitally literate,' notes Christel. “Some people find it easy to adapt, but others have great difficulty getting to grips with digital technology. Even those who are digitally literate will, at some point, find that technology is advancing so quickly that they can no longer keep up. We need to raise awareness of this issue so that all citizens can contact the relevant person, department or agency if they have a question or problem. At the moment, this is still too complex.”

You just mentioned digital transformation. What is the situation within the Flemish government?
"Many positive steps have already been taken to make the transition, but it takes time. Another factor is that Belgium is a complicated country in terms of its administrative structure. We have four levels of government, with a federal government, then regions, which are in turn subdivided into provinces and municipalities. And then you also have to deal with the EU, which makes all kinds of laws and regulations. I always compare it to a tanker changing course, which is a slow process.

The question is how we can facilitate digitisation in an appropriate way and how we can set the changes in motion. Digital transformation is not a milestone, it is a mindset. This digital mindset must be adopted by both the government and citizens. In Estonia, they have taken this on board energetically, making the country one of the leaders in digital government services. For example, the vast majority of residents have a digital passport that they can use to deal with all their affairs with the government: registering a newborn baby, applying for a parking permit or voting in elections – it can all be done with a single e-identity card that every resident of Estonia has. That is where we need to move towards in Flanders."

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in IT?
“The great thing about IT is that it's a sector that never stands still. You're constantly challenged, but in a positive way. Just look at what's happening in China and America in the field of AI. The impact of all these technological developments is huge, so the work remains challenging. I've been working in IT for over 30 years, and it's still a fascinating environment.”