- Field of expertise
- Project identification and development
- Capacity building for key stakeholders
- Stakeholder mobilisation
- Circular economy
- Land restoration
- Social inclusion
- Country of residence
- Belgium
- Languages
- English
- Dutch
- French
- Regional experience
- Zuid-Limburg
- Ruhrgebiet
- Lausitz Brandenburg
- Lausitz Sachsen
- Silesia
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Paul Boutsen is a consultant in regional development with a specialty in repurposing former coal mines and industrial heritage sites. He brings 35 years of expertise in supervising growth trajectories, crafting visionary development plans, and realizing them into practical applications. His contributions include creating development themes for seven closed coal mines in Belgian Limburg and authoring redevelopment strategies for various sites in Flanders and Wallonia. Paul developed the Waste Refinery initiative, leveraging coal washing plant technology for waste valorization. Combining his networking, communication, and analytical prowess, he remains deeply invested in change and development within mining regions.