Prof. Dr. Frank Witlox

Frank Witlox (°1967, Merksem) is professor of economic geography at the Geography Department of Ghent University and Associate Director of the Globalization and World Cities group and network (GaWC). He is also a visiting professor at the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp.

Frank Witlox holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning (Eindhoven University of Technology), a Master's Degree in Applied Economics and a Master's Degree in Maritime Sciences (both University of Antwerp). Currently, he is Professor of Economic Geography at the Department of Geography of the Ghent University. He teaches among others Social and Economic Geography, Transport Geography, Urban Geography, Spatial Modelling Techniques, Geography of the World Economy, and Maritime Economic Geography. His research focuses on transport economics and geography, economic geography, spatial modelling techniques, (city) logistics, world cities and globalization, urban planning, land use, agro-environment and geography of enterprise.

Career

  • 01/10/2008-present : Professor of Economic Geography, Ghent University
  • 01/09/2007-present : Associate Director 'Globalization and World Cities' - Study Group & Network, Loughborough University (UK)
  • 01/10/2006-30/09/2008 : Associate Professor of Economic Geography, Ghent University
  • 01/10/2002-present : Part time visiting Professor Hinterland Transportation, University of Antwerp-Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp
  • 01/10/2000-30/09/2006 : Assistant Professor of Economic Geography, Ghent University
  • 01/10/2000-30/09/2002 : Part time visiting Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Antwerp
  • 01/10/1998-30/09/2008 : Part time Assistant Professor of Transport Policy, Hasselt University
  • 01/10/1990-30/09/2000 : Teaching and doctoral assistant, University of Antwerp
  • 01/04/1990-30/09/1990 : Research assistant, University of Antwerp

Publications
Frank Witlox produced a series of papers in a large number of internationally high impact factor journals (e.g. Biotechnology Advances; Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition; Global and Planetary Change; Agriculture; Ecosystems & Environment; Regional Studies; Computers, Environment and Urban Systems; Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie; Expert Systems with Applications; Geographical and Environmental Modelling; Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services; Electronic Journal of Geography and Mathematics; The Land; Brussels Economic Review; Belgium Journal of Geography; Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Geographischen Gesellschaft; Transportation Planning and Technology; Journal of Air Transport Management; Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice; IEEE Intelligent Systems; Urban Studies; Transport Reviews; Children, Youth and Environments; Childhood; Urban Geography; Eurasian Geography and Economics; Journal of Transport Geography; International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence; International Journal of Geographical Information Science; Transportation Research Record; The Journal of European Economic History; Flux: International Scientific Quarterly on Networks and Territories; Revue d'Economie Régionale et Urbaine; Journal of Geographical Systems; European Journal of Transport Infrastructure and Research; GeoJournal; Kwartaalschrift Economie; International Journal of Production Economics; Journal of Urban Technology; Area; Transportation Research A; Cybergéo; Global Networks; Papers in Regional Science; International Migration; Geografiska Annaler B; European Urban and Regional Studies; Decision Support Systems; The Service Industries Journal; Ruimte & Maatschappij). Furthermore, he edited or contributed to several academic books. He was a speaker at about 150 international and national conferences.

Research Projects
As project manager or consultant he conducted research for the European Commission, the Belgian Government (DWTC, Kabinet Minister van Mobiliteit en Vervoer; OFO; Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid), the Flemish Government (PBO, FWO-V, IWT, Steunpunt Ruimte en Wonen, Steunpunt Verkeersveiligheid, MORA, Studiedienst van de Vlaamse Regering), city councils, professional associations (FEBETRA, SAV), consultancy firms (Studiegroep Omgeving, Resource Analysis, GEDAS, WES, IBM Business Consulting Services, BCI, RebelGroup), universities and institutions (SFO, BOF-UA, BOF-UGent, Vlaams Instituut voor de Logistiek, VITO), and private companies (Touring Wegenhulp, VTB-VAB, PaperPak, SGS Belgium).

Most important academic services

  • 2008-present : Chairman of the Educational Commission Geography-Geomathics
  • 2000-2008 : Secretary of the Examination Commission Geography/Land Surveying
  • 2005-present : Chairman 'Vervoerslogistieke Werkdagen' (Den Haag)
  • 2006-present : Member of Faculty Council
  • 2007-present : Member of the Steering Committee 'Vlaanderen in Actie'
  • 2009-present : Chairman Benelux Interuniversity Assocation of Transport Economists (Brussels)

Present editorial boards
Tijdschrift Vervoerwetenschap, Business Logistics, Aerlines Magazine, Belgian Journal of Geography, European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research

Awards
In 1999 Frank Witlox was awarded the "Two-year research award of the Joint Research Board of the University of Antwerp (category Applied Economic Sciences and Political Sciences)". He is also a laureate of the "Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen Stichting" (The Hague) (1993-1994) and the "Prix Fondation Louis Davin" (2e période biennale 1995-1996), Académie Royale des sciences, des lettres & des beaux-arts De Belgique (Classe des Lettres - Ministère de la Communauté française) (1995-1996).

 

Frank Witlox is maried to Ingeborg Jongbloet, and father of Sarah, Hanne and Lucas.