Ferdinand Verbiest Organization

The Ferdinand Verbiest Organization is a non-profit organization, established in 1983, approved and sponsored for 24 years by the Chinese Province of the CICM Missionaries (Scheut). In 2007, it became an autonomous Foundation. 

The organization has two entities in Leuven: the Ferdinand Verbiest Foundation Leuven (a foundation under Belgian law) and the Ferdinand Verbiest Institute KU Leuven for Sino-Mongolian Studies (non-profit organization). 

Activities in Taipei are organized by the Chinese Ferdinand Verbiest Cultural Exchange Association. 

Board and Daily Coordination Committee (DCC)

The Board of the Verbiest Foundation consists of three members, each contributing with their specific competencies and professional experience. This core Board will be expanded with several new members in the coming period to ensure that the various domains of our work are represented on the Board. Acting collectively, the Board is responsible for taking the organization's core decisions. The Board can be contacted via the Secretary Office Leuven.

The daily operations and coordination of all projects and activities are handled by the Daily Coordination Committee (DCC). This committee meets every two weeks.

Chairman of the Board Verbiest Foundation Leuven 

Karel Heyndrickx was born on March 19, 1955, in Haasdonk, Belgium. He studied Social Pedagogy at KU Leuven and worked in a Catholic Youth Organization for the first years of his career. He subsequently specialized in Human Resources Management, working for 10 years as a trainer and consultant for major Belgian companies and social organizations. After this period, he moved to KBC, an international bank and insurance company, to continue his career. In addition to financial management, he also developed his skills in Change Management and Transformation Management. He worked at the KBC Group as a Senior Manager and Director for the group's financial companies in Belgium, Central Europe, and Asia. Among other positions, he was Director for Asset Management companies and Pension Funds in China (Shanghai), Taiwan (Taipei), and India (Mumbai). Finally, at the end of his professional career, he worked as a Senior Consultant for the Flemish Government on projects focused on economic development and for KU Leuven on reorganization projects.

Drawing on his background in Human Resources Management and his extensive experience in cross-cultural leadership, he joined the Board of the Verbiest Foundation Leuven at the beginning of 2025 as Chairman of the Board of the Verbiest Foundation Leuven.

Vice-Chairman of the Board Verbiest Foundation Leuven 

Dr. Dominik Declercq, a Belgian national (Roeselare, 1958), has close academic, professional and personal ties with China. In 1982 he graduated from the Sinological Institute of Leiden University (Netherlands), where in 1993 he also obtained his doctorate. He had then already spent a year (1977-1978) as a student in Beijing. Back in China after graduating and after a few years as a junior researcher at the KU Leuven Orientalist Department, between 1985 and 1990 Dr. Declercq held various positions including that of General Manager in the Sino-Belgian joint venture Xi'an-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., in Xi’an, Shaanxi. In 1991 he was again in Leiden and completed the doctoral thesis later published as Writing against the State: Political Rhetorics in Third & Fourth Century China (Brill: Sinica Leidensia, 1998). After a stint teaching Chinese History, he returned to China in 1994 as General Manager of a joint venture established by the Cables Sector of Alcatel of France (subsequently restructured as Nexans). He became President of Nexans Greater China, based in Shanghai, in 2000. In 2003, he was awarded the Magnolia Silver Award by the city of Shanghai for contributions to the city’s economic development. Late in 2004, Dominik Declercq was appointed Chief Representative of ACEA (the "Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles", or European Automobile Manufacturers' Association) in China, based in Beijing. He led the ACEA Beijing Representative Office until his retirement in mid-2023. Back in Belgium since mid-2023, Dr. Declercq resumed free-lance academic research, publishing A Prince of Martial Splendour in the Sixteen Kingdoms: Li Hao (351-417), Ruler of Western Liang (Brill: Sinica Leidensia, 2025).

In April 2025 he joined the Board of the Verbiest Stichting as Vice Chairman responsible for research and publications. This decision to join the Verbiest Foundation as Vice-Chairman responsible for research and publications reflects a long-standing personal commitment to promoting scholarly exchange between Europe and China. The Stichting’s mission resonates strongly with his own life’s work at the intersection of Sinology, intercultural dialogue, and sustained engagement with China across academic, professional, and human dimensions.

Board member

Relinde Geys worked in a printing office and was library assistant at the KU Leuven Philosophy Library.

She provides in the Verbiest Foundation guidance and advice on editing documents and publications.

Jeroom Heyndrickx cicm was born in Haasdonk (Belgium) on December 26, 1931. In 1951 he entered CICM (Scheut) and was ordained a priest in 1956. As of 1957 he was active in Taiwan as cicm missionary. After learning Chinese for two years, he worked five years in Taichung Diocese: as teacher of Latin at the Holy Spirit Minor Seminary, as chaplain of the Student Association which he established and as assistant parish priest at the cathedral parish. In 1964 he went to study Pastoral Theology in Paris (Institut Catholique), Counseling and Education in Chicago (Loyola University). When he returned to Taiwan, he founded the Taiwan Pastoral Center (TPC) and taught Pastoral Theology at TPC and at Fujen Catholic University. In 1967 he was appointed CICM Provincial Superior of the Chinese Province. From 1974 to 1981 he was Vice General Superior of CICM in Rome. In 1982, in cooperation with KU Leuven he founded the Verbiest Foundation to promote dialogue with China following the policy promoted by the popes. For that purpose, he visited China many times developing exchange with the Church, with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and other academic institutions as well as teaching Pastoral Theology in Major Seminaries. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as member of the Pontifical Commission for Matters of the Church in China.

As of November 2025, he stepped down from the Board of the Verbiest Foundation Leuven. He now serves as an advisor to the Board, as his experience and expertise remain indispensable to the organization.

Leuven Office

Our Leuven office is located in Belgium and consists of six full-time staff members, each bringing their own area of expertise. We work closely with our colleagues in Taipei and hold biweekly meetings (DCC) to ensure smooth communication, coordination, and effective cooperation between both offices.

Taipei Office

In Taiwan, the Verbiest Association Taipei organizes initiatives that promote cultural exchange between Christian Churches and society, and support for pastoral initiatives. Some of these activities include: Workshops on the spirituality of dialogue, Academic Symposia, and a series of courses covering Church history, catechesis, spiritual formation and Catholic Social Teaching.

The Verbiest Association Taipei and the Verbiest Foundation Leuven meet regularly through the Daily Coordination Committee to coordinate activities.

Representation

of the Verbiest Foundation for Asian Affairs

Joseph Lim 

Joseph Lim possesses an extensive and distinguished record of service, primarily dedicated to the mission and growth of the Verbiest Foundation. His career is defined by a profound commitment to pastoral formation, organizational leadership, and scholarly research in ethics and catechetics. With a strong foundation in theological education and practical teaching, his expertise is further complemented by early professional experience in both the fields of the private school and the bank.