Catherine De Bolle

Organisations need leaders who understand how to coordinate intelligence and operational responses across borders in an increasingly digital world. Catherine De Bolle served as Executive Director of Europol from 2018 to May 2026, leading the EU's law enforcement agency through eight years of significant transformation, doubling its budget and increasing staff by 60%. Before that, she was General Commissioner of the Belgian Federal Police and held senior roles with Interpol. She brings audiences practical insight into cross-border collaboration, emerging security challenges and the strategic leadership required to modernise law enforcement capabilities in response to rapidly evolving global threats.

Organisations face security threats that no longer respect borders or operate within traditional frameworks. Cybercrime, terrorism, organised crime and hybrid threats evolve faster than many institutions can respond, demanding intelligence-sharing, operational coordination and strategic vision at an international scale. Catherine De Bolle is one of Europe's most senior law enforcement leaders, with over three decades of experience in policing, intelligence cooperation and international security. She specialises in building collaborative frameworks that enable countries to respond effectively to complex, transnational threats in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Catherine De Bolle served as Executive Director of Europol from 2018 to May 2026, leading the European Union's law enforcement agency through eight years of significant transformation. During her tenure, she doubled the agency's budget, increased staff by 60 per cent, and positioned Europol at the forefront of tackling emerging threats including cyber-enabled crime and the misuse of new technologies. She strengthened Europol's role as a central hub for intelligence-sharing and operational coordination across EU Member States and global partners, modernising law enforcement capabilities to meet the demands of rapidly evolving security challenges. Prior to Europol, she served as General Commissioner of the Belgian Federal Police from 2012 to 2018, where she was responsible for national policing strategy and operations. Earlier in her career, she was Chief of the local police in Ninove and began her professional path as an officer in the Belgian National Gendarmerie. She has also held influential international positions, including serving on the Executive Committee of Interpol and contributing to European security and intelligence coordination bodies. Her work has been widely recognised with numerous international honours, including France's Légion d'Honneur.

Catherine De Bolle brings audiences a rare combination of strategic leadership and deep operational experience from the front lines of global security. She helps organisations understand how to navigate the complexities of cross-border collaboration, modernise their approach to emerging threats, and build resilient systems in the face of constant change. Her insights are grounded in practical experience leading large-scale transformations and coordinating responses to real-world crises. Audiences gain clarity on the evolving security landscape, practical strategies for strengthening organisational resilience, and a deeper understanding of how effective collaboration drives meaningful results. Her perspective is particularly valuable for leaders seeking to anticipate future challenges and position their organisations to respond with confidence and capability.