Lieve Helsen is Professor in Mechanical Engineering (KU Leuven - EnergyVille), leading the Thermal Systems Simulation (The SySi) research group, focusing on modelling, optimal control and optimal design of thermal systems in the built environment. System integration over multiple building types, multiple energy services, multiple energy vectors and multiple sectors is key to provide low-carbon services. In the path towards a carbon-neutral society Model Predictive Control is set forward as the system integrator. Flexibility is unlocked through demand response, thereby increasing the share of renewable and residual energy sources (R2ES).

As chairwoman Lieve established the Flanders Heat Pump Platform in 2008 and organised multiple highly-attended local Heat Pump Symposia that stimulated interaction between researchers and practitioners. In 2021 she acted as Conference Chair of the 17th International Building Simulation Conference of IBPSA in Bruges. She is member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, the Board of Directors of the Flemish Organisation Sustainable Energy, IBPSA-NVL, ATIC, IEA-HPT, EHPA, the Steering Group of the Flanders Heat Pump Platform, core-member of EnergyVille, AcademiaNet, which is The Portal to Excellent Women Academics, and co-founder of the company Builtwins. In 2022 Lieve and The SySi team were granted the Joule Award, recognizing a person, company or institute that shows potential to become a superstar of the energy transition in the coming 25 years.