Meet the team
Mohamed El Hatri
Founder
Senior Lead Engineer (ASCO Industries)
Born and raised in Antwerp, diamond city of the world, has always had a keen interest in technology. From a young age, developed a deep interest in the inner workings of mechanical clocks and the craftsmanship behind these intricate components. Following an educational visit to a diamond cutting factory, the class had the opportunity to observe the manufacturing process of gear components. These components, which were larger than a watch, sparked a sense of curiosity. A saying that he remained in his vocabulary since then is, “It doesn’t grow on a tree.”
At the tender age of twelve, he had a certain charm that endeared him to his classmates. When asked by his teacher what he aspired to be when he grew up, he replied, “I would like to become the Belgium secretary of Education.” His vision was to promote technology in schools from an early age.
Indirectly he has succeeded with his contribution through the academy.
With over 25 years of experience as a senior lead engineer in high-precision machining, he has led teams and engineers across the full spectrum of manufacturing processes for complex, high-value aircraft components, consistently driving performance, quality, and continuous improvement
By the end of 2024, he earned a Black Belt in Lean at the university of Ghent, demonstrating his commitment to lifelong learning. He actively contributes to the academy, firmly believing that knowledge grows through sharing, and is dedicated to coaching and inspiring the next generation of engineers.
Jeroen Mingneau
Co-Founder
Lector (Thomas More)
–
Christop Diddens
Ambassador
Production Manager (Amazon Mechatronics)
–
Thomas Op De Beeck
Ambassador
Business Developer & Product Sales Manager (Nederman)
From a young age, Thomas was fascinated by technology, though he didn’t know exactly what direction he wanted to pursue. Throughout his studies at Thomas More, his interest in innovation and technology, a constantly evolving field, grew increasingly focused. In his final year, AMA and ASCO supported his thesis research. The value of this support and collaboration cannot be overstated.
Over the years, he have gained professional experience working with market leaders in X-ray medical devices and RO water purification systems for hemodialysis. Currently, professionally focused on dust extraction, filtration, and workshop design for industrial applications. These paths are connected by his passion for innovation and creating value for human health. These companies are also international players who highly value technological progress.
As an AMA ambassador, Thomas look forward to share his experience and enthusiasm and helping build a community that brings innovation and new technologies closer to students.
Bechir Maaref
Born and raised with a natural curiosity for mechanics, he has always been fascinated by how things are designed, assembled, and improved. Since 2016, he has been teaching at ECAM Brussels Engineering School, where he shares his expertise in mechanical design, machining, mechanical analysis, machine elements, and the finite element method.
Passionate about bridging theory and practice, he has developed laboratory sessions in the form of industrial-style design offices, giving students the opportunity to work in close collaboration with industry partners. This hands-on approach allows future engineers to experience real engineering challenges while building confidence and technical rigor.
At ECAM, together with his colleague Edoardo Bori, he co-founded the Digital Engineering Hub, a platform dedicated to applied research using the finite element method. One of the most recent projects carried out within this hub focused on validating a clinical approach proposed by a surgeon for femoral nails—an example of how engineering can directly contribute to innovation in the medical field.
Driven by the belief that engineering knowledge grows through sharing, he is committed to inspiring and guiding the next generation of engineers, equipping them with both the technical and critical skills needed to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
Edoardo Bori
Born and raised in a small town in northern Italy, had always been fascinated by the intersection between mechanics and the human body. From an early age, he showed curiosity for how things work, combining a passion for science with a natural inclination toward problem solving. This curiosity eventually guided him toward biomedical engineering, where he found the perfect balance between technology and healthcare. After completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Biomechanics at the Politecnico di Torino, he carried out his thesis work abroad at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. There he deepened his expertise in biomechanics and computational modeling, particularly finite element analysis, an experience that not only enriched his technical skills but also sparked his international career path.
He later pursued a PHD focused on knee prostheses, combining advanced finite element simulations with experimental biomechanics. This dual approach enabled him to bridge theoretical modeling with practical validation, and opened the door to collaborations with medical companies on the design and optimization of orthopedic implants. During this period, he also begin teaching biomechanics courses as an assistant, discovering a passion for education and mentoring that would remain central in his career.
Following a short post-doctoral period, he embraced a full-time academic career. Today, he serves a Professor of Biomechanics and Medial Robots at ECAM, where he combines teaching, research, and coordination of academic programs.
Together with his colleague Bechir Maaref, he co-founded the ECAM Digital Engineering Hub, a platform dedicated to applied research using the finite element method. His project often involve partnerships with industry, applying computational tools such as finite element modeling to solve real-world challenges in healtcare and medical device development.