Marcel De Jonghe
Director | Architect | Delivery & Impact Lead
Phone:
07494 883075
Email:
Get to know Marcel...
Marcel is the architect of The Belonging Lab's systems and stories, blending strategic clarity with a deeply human touch. He designs the frameworks and leads delivery with a balance of precision and warmth that helps people feel both held and challenged. His work is grounded in the belief that inclusion is not a performance but a practice that must be intentional, measurable and emotionally resonant.
As a person, Marcel brings curiosity, compassion and a quiet boldness that invites others to think differently. He has a gift for creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest and brave enough to stretch. Whether he's guiding a room through a sensitive conversation or translating complex data into meaningful insight, he brings emotional intelligence, creative design thinking and a steady commitment to real change.
At The Belonging Lab, Marcel holds the tension between rigour and rebellion. He builds systems that are robust yet adaptable, designs experiences that are immersive and accessible and champions approaches that honour both evidence and lived experience. His work is strengthened by his creative partnership with Monique, whose design-led perspective and shared values help shape the Lab's distinctive blend of clarity, care and courageous imagination.
Experience
2012 - 2016
Early practice and foundations
2017 - 2020
Programme design and delivery
2019 - 2023
Mutual Mentoring
2024 - 2025
Transition to independent practice
2025 onward
Founding The Belonging Lab
Marcel sharpened his core skills in campaign strategy, audience segmentation and stakeholder engagement while delivering frontline inclusion projects for public and third-sector partners, blending evidence, lived experience and accessible design.
Marcel led EDI and wellbeing programmes for local government and major employers, designing anti-racism workshops and mentoring pilots that sparked real dialogue. He began turning one-off interventions into repeatable templates and playbooks - laying the groundwork for scalable, lasting change.
Marcel developed Mutual Mentoring as a fully packaged product - complete with templates, facilitator guides and evaluation metrics. He piloted formats across sectors, refining them for scale and ease of adoption.
Marcel consolidated key frameworks, assets and evaluation tools to prepare for a standalone offering - laying the foundation for The Belonging Lab. Alongside Monique, he began shaping it's proposition, brand voice and service lines with clarity, care and a bold sense of purpose.
Marcel launched The Belonging Lab as a boutique practice offering systems design, mutual mentoring, campaigns and delivery support. He led multi-channel launch campaigns, delivered client programmes and shared public-facing thought leadership, all while continuing to productise services, build strategic partnerships and embed accessible, batchable outputs that make inclusion work scalable.
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