Francis Cambier

Francis J Cambier was born in Belgium in 1949, He has been Director General of the Belgian Ceramic Research Centre (BCRC – about 100 employees), in Mons (Belgium) until his retirement in 2017, he is now advisor of his successor at BCRC.

He received his M.Sc. degree in 1971 and achieved his doctorate thesis in 1978 in industrial chemistry. He joined the BCRC in 1979 to perform research on traditional ceramics and changed towards technical ceramics the year after to become rapidly team leader carrying out research on bioglasses (1980-84). In November 1984, he was appointed Research Manager of the BCRC, in charge of a staff of 30. He occupied this position until the end of April 1996 when he became CEO of the BCRC. In the period 1986-89, Dr. Cambier spent half of his time as a consultant in order to assist the starting of a company producing ceramic pumps. From 1991 to 2004, he took some teaching duties at the University of Valenciennes (France). From 2001 to August 2014, he was in charge of ceramic courses at the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons University.

Dr. Cambier is or has been involved in the management boards of several companies and societies and has received distinctions in Belgium: Officer of Leopold II Order (2005), Honorary Dean of Work (2008). He is also active in ceramic societies: member of ACerS since 1983 and fellow in 2016, of GFC (France) since 2005, member of WAC (1999) and Vice President of its International Advisory Board, past-treasurer (2007-21) and past-president (2001-06) of BCerS (Belgium), secretary of JECS Trust, secretary and fellow (2013) of ECerS, then President from 2021 to 2023, receiving the “Stuijts” award from this society in 2011, the International Award from DKG (Germany – April 2017) and from the Polish Ceramic Society (Sept 2017).

Dr. Cambier is member of various scientific advisory boards and acts as Editor of JECS and as reviewer for several scientific journals. He has published more than 230 papers, 8 patents and has given more than 300 communications (> 50 as KN or invited).