Introducing Our New Deputy Director: Dr. Hayley Every

We are excited to announce that Dr. Hayley Every has been appointed as the Deputy Director, ad interim of EIT Health Belgium-Netherlands. Hayley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in research, innovation, and leadership to her new role.

Hayley completed her BSc (Hons) and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Her career has spanned various fields, including alternative energy technologies, process engineering, food science and technology, and now health. Innovation has always been at the heart of her career choices, focusing on how to bring new technologies from research to reality. In 2018, Hayley joined EIT Health to manage the Cross-KIC project Food4Health, a collaboration with EIT Food aimed at addressing societal challenges related to personal health and wellbeing, emphasizing the vital link between food and health. Since September 2021, she has been responsible for engaging start-ups and scale-ups in Benelux and Israel, creating awareness about how EIT Health can support them in building successful businesses in healthcare.

Hayley is an accomplished manager, with 20 years’ experience in innovation. She has demonstrated strong leadership skills, developing and managing efficient project teams, and her exceptional interpersonal skills have facilitated productive working relationships with colleagues, collaborators, and partners. As Deputy Director, ad interim, Hayley is committed to maintaining the momentum within the Belgium-Netherlands team and partner network. “We are actively preparing for the next chapter of the Belgium-Netherlands CLC and laying the groundwork for the future,” she explains.

During this transition period, Hayley’s primary objective is to ensure operational stability and foster new partnerships. She is particularly enthusiastic about welcoming Teijin Holdings Europe as a new member. “Teijin came to us with a specific request: to help them identify innovative medical technologies for in-licensing and collaboration opportunities from our vast network of healthcare innovators,” she shares. Another exciting project is the first Open Innovation challenge conducted in collaboration with partners KU Leuven and Takeda Belgium. “We were looking for digital biomarkers that can detect inflammation at an early stage for people who suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). From the seven teams that made it to the final, NimBio emerged as the winner. We are looking forward to continuing the collaboration with NimBio, KU Leuven and Takeda to bring a new solution for people with IBD,” Hayley explains. These activities exemplify the value EIT Health can bring to its members moving forward.

Hayley plans to build on the work of her predecessor, Dr. Menno Kok, by continuing to grow the network and bringing together various stakeholders to address specific gaps and needs within the healthcare system. “Our goal in the short term is to bring in new partners that offer complementary expertise to our existing partners,” she says.