Expert Tobacco Control
Belgian Foundation against Cancer

Suzanne Gabriels holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from KU Leuven (1988) and has built a distinguished career at the intersection of mental health, public health advocacy, and strategic project management. Her early work with Psylos, a sport and leisure association for individuals with mental health challenges, earned her the Julie Renson Prize for the most innovative project in social psychiatry, recognizing her pioneering initiative on customized holidays for sheltered housing residents.

Since 2001, she has focused on cancer prevention and tobacco control, first as Assistant to the Deputy Director of Prevention at the Flemish League Against Cancer, and then through a long-standing commitment at the Foundation Against Cancer. She played a central role in establishing the Belgian Quitline in 2004 and managed the service until 2017. From 2011 to 2017, she served as Manager of Tobacco Control, leading national advocacy efforts. Since 2017, she has continued her work as a Tobacco Control Expert, expanding her influence to the European level.

Her academic and professional development includes specialized training in psychosocial workplace issues (SOLVE, University of Annecy), project management (Vlerick Business School), smoking cessation support (Interuniversity Training), and situational leadership (Belgian Center for Leadership Studies).

She is an active contributor to several scientific and advisory bodies, including:

• Board of Directors, Smoke Free Partnership (EU-level advocacy)
• Expert member, Belgian Superior Health Council (tobacco and novel nicotine products)
• Co-founder, Belgian Alliance for a Smokefree Society
• Executive Committee Member, Flemish Tobacco Consortium
• Steering committee member for national research projects on tobacco-related costs, commercial determinants of health, and health equity

Her work reflects a deep commitment to evidence-based advocacy, health equity, and systemic change, combining clinical insight with strategic leadership to promote a healthier, smoke-free society.