Wim Robberecht

About Wim

Vice Admiral (Retired) Wim Robberecht has had a long and distinguished career within Defence, ranging from operational commands at sea to strategic security advice at the highest political levels. After graduating from the Royal Military Academy, he specialised in navigation, combat information, and helicopter direction, serving on frigates and minehunters in international NATO operations.

Following several key roles in personnel and operational planning, in 2007 he became the first commanding officer of the frigate LEOPOLD I, acquired by Belgium as part of the fleet modernisation programme. He led the ship to operational readiness and participated in UN operations off the coast of Lebanon. This was followed by a series of strategic-level positions, including Director of Operations of the Naval Component, Head of the Operations Division within the Defence Staff, and ultimately Commander of the Belgian Navy and Deputy Admiral within the binational naval structure Admiral BENELUX.

In 2020, he took command of the Joint Staff Department for Operations & Training, where he was responsible for, among other things, the evacuation operation from AfghanistanOperatie Red KiteHis career reached a pinnacle in 2021 when he was appointed Head of the General Intelligence and Security Service (ADIV), Belgium’s military intelligence agency. In this role, he oversaw a comprehensive modernisation of the service, with particular focus on integrating cyber capabilities and restoring the balance between security and intelligence collection. As head of ADIV, he was also a member of the National Security Council, where he played a key role in advising the federal government on national security matters.

His extensive experience at the intersection of security, defence, crisis management, and political decision-making makes him an invaluable asset to the Knowledge Centre for Security Intelligence (KSI). Drawing on his background as a military strategist and intelligence leader, he shares his expertise in crisis management, critical infrastructure, strategic security advice, and security awareness in government communications.