Ann Van Gysel has always been passionate about innovation in healthcare. She started out as a biologist and received her PhD in molecular biology from the University of Gent. She went on to acquired post-graduate degrees in Business Management and Marketing and Communications. Ann joined VIB as Communication Manager establishing the institution's communications department. In 2009, she joined FlandersBio as Managing Director. During her three-year tenure she doubled the number of members and restructured FlandersBio into a financially healthy and self-sustaining organization, putting Flanders on the international map as a one of the major biotech hubs. In 2011, Ann founded Turnstone Communications, a consultancy agency providing communications and marketing services to healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceutical organizations in Belgium and abroad. She was the founder of the digital life sciences news platform BioVox.eu sharing Belgian innovations with national and international professionals.

Since January 2022 she has been the CEO of MEDVIA, an industry driven network stimulating innovations in healthcare. We are a public-private partnership with the Flemish Government.  Our members are medical innovators from small and large companies, hospitals, research and care organizations.