ES Mol alumni in action

Our Career Guidance Team offers a comprehensive programme for students from S3 to S7, from advising S3 on subject choices to organising internships for S5 and preparing S7 for higher education. Each year, S6 students have the opportunity to meet ES Mol alumni and learn about the paths they have taken in higher education and their careers. This year, a diverse group of 17 alumni shared fascinating insights into “life after ES Mol.” It is inspiring to see how accomplished our ES Mol alumni have become across so many fields, and how they continue to embody the open mindset and invaluable lessons they learned here in Mol.

A heartfelt thank you to our esteemed alumni for generously sharing their time, expertise, and life experiences with us!

Stefan Bahr– Consulting, Economics and Business Leadership 

Stefan is Senior Revisor for Risk & Quality Management at BearingPoint, with over 25 years of experience in consulting and project management. He holds a Master’s in International Economics and has completed advanced training in SAP BW, PMP, and executive education programs. Starting his career in retail management and later leading departments at Decathlon, Stefan joined BearingPoint in 2000, where he has managed global IT migration and reporting projects, developed onboarding programs, and specialized in risk assessment and quality assurance.

James McIlroy– Engineering, Music and Technology in Finance

James studied Electrical Engineering and later completed a Master’s in Computer Science. He has worked for the BBC and EMI as both a musician and a programmer, and now develops cloud-computing systems used by investment banks.

His career blends creativity and technology, showing how engineering and music can lead to success in multiple fields.

Thomas Reher– Bioscience, Sensors and Research

Thomas studied Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven, specialising in crop sciences and water management. After working in crop protection, he returned to academia and now develops sensors for plant science and horticulture. He works at the intersection of engineering, biology, and sustainability.

Olivia Puzzolante– Art History and Cultural Heritage

After studying Art History at KU Leuven, Olivia worked for a Brussels auction house and a heritage organisation before joining a Dutch municipality to manage historic monuments and cultural projects.

Her work combines history, culture, and community involvement.

Yaïr Levy– Environmental Consulting and Sustainability

Yaïr graduated in 2000 from the Francophone section. He embraced his early love for nature as a career path, first mastering geographical sciences. His portfolio grew through valuable volunteer work with various NPOs. Among his contributions, he pioneered climate change mitigation schemes through reforestation in sub-Saharan Africa and developed open-source GIS tools to monitor the sustainable development of the Scheldt estuary. He now works as a freelance consultant on nature-based solutions for sustainability, restoration, and conservation projects.

Ismène Elbers– Art, Creativity and Cultural Coaching

A self-taught artist who later earned an International Master’s degree (PDACCI) based on her creative portfolio, Ismène now runs Hub168, a consultancy supporting artists and cultural projects across Europe. She also maintains her own artistic practice.

Her path shows how creativity, entrepreneurship, and persistence can form a professional career.

Maarten G.A. Daman – International Law and Human Rights

Maarten studied International Law and has worked for the United Nations, Europol, and the European Central Bank. His work focuses on how artificial intelligence and technology affect human rights.

He links global politics, technology, and ethics.

François Feuillat– Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions

François studied English, French and EU Law and now works for Bracewell LLP in London and New York, advising companies involved in large international transactions.

His role requires teamwork, negotiation, and cross-cultural understanding.

Denise van Wijk– Strategy Consulting and Retail Economics

Denise studied Law at City University London and Political Economy at the London School of Economics. She is now a Principal at Oliver Wyman, advising retailers on business strategy and innovation.

Her job combines analysis, creativity, and leadership.

Gerhard Hager– Electronics and Global Sales

Gerhard studied Electronics in Dortmund and spent nearly forty years in sales and marketing management for companies including Sony, Epson and Siemens. He specialises in automotive electronics and international business.

His career demonstrates how technical expertise can lead to leadership roles worldwide.

Michael Wuttke– Mechanical Engineering and Product Design

Michael studied Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen and now leads research and development for a company designing warehouse trucks and automation systems. He manages international teams across Europe, Asia and South America.

He combines innovation, design, and global collaboration.

Alexander van Tuyll– Biosystems Engineering and Food Technology

Alexander studied Biosystems Engineering at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and now manages projects in greenhouse technology and sustainable food production.

His work connects engineering, agriculture, and the circular economy.

Christopher Shelley– Physics, Teaching and Adventure

Christopher studied Physics at Imperial College London, spending a year in Hamburg through Erasmus. He has worked in IT, scuba instruction, and school leadership in Thailand, and now teaches Physics in the United Kingdom.

His career demonstrates how science can lead to teaching and travel opportunities.

Tim Corbett– History, Writing and Research

Tim earned a BA, MA and PhD in History and Philosophy. He now works as a freelance historian, author and translator, linking academic research with creative writing.

He shows how humanities study can develop into an independent, varied career.

Martha Bevan– Politics, Research and Public Service

Martha studied History and Russian at the University of Cambridge and now works in the UK Parliament as a Senior Parliamentary Assistant, preparing speeches, policy papers and briefings.

Her work combines research, writing, and political communication.

Martin Schmalz– Languages, Gaming and Translation

Martin trained in Business Correspondence and worked in translation and localisation for the video-game industry. He now freelances and is exploring opportunities in the civil service.

His career mixes language skills with technology and creativity.

Timothée Couturieux– Aeronautical Engineering and Military Aviation

Timothée trained at the École de l’Air et de l’Espace after advanced science study in Grenoble. He is completing a Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering while training as a pilot in the French Air Force.

He combines engineering, mathematics, and precision in a highly specialised field.

Matteo Bonaldi– Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics

Matteo is an engineering student at UCLouvain, specialising in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. He focuses on how mathematical principles translate into modern technology.

He represents the perspective of a current university student in STEM.