The VCN were invited to provide a keynote speech to 250 SLT’s, surgeons and other professionals at the opening of the STEM EXPERTISE CENTRUM at the University of Leuven, which is about 30 kms east of Brussels.
Leuven is the oldest university in Belgium and has many ties with Dutch universities – Nijmegen and Groningen. We were invited by the joint hosts – Professor Wivine Decoster and Professor Felix de Jong – particularly because they recognised the remarkable network of members that the VCN, through Roz’s efforts, has set up, and our practical approach to sharing experiences through Study Days and delivering workshops to occupational voice users around the country.
Our Development Officer, Phyllida Furse, gave a very well received paper describing the development of the VCN over the past 15 years and illustrating the talk with practical examples of our work in education, call centres, singers/drama and the media.
Phyllida was given a special round of applause by the 250 attendees after she got them all to their feet, including the Rector of the University and the Head of the Medical Faculty, for a VCN practical warm-up session on posture and voice, as they looked to be nodding off after lunch!
Other topics covered during their 2 day Symposium were The Singing Voice, Spectral Analysis of the Singing Voice, Voice Load and Endurance, Voice Screening, Care for the Professional Voice in Education, Professional Problems of the Speaking Voice.
The VCN representatives continued to cement Anglo/European ties over a couple of Belgian beers in the evening!