Press Release: CTG’s Michaël Pilaeten Appointed Chairman of Agile Working Group at International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)

Belgian Instrumental in Defining Future of Testing at Global Software Tester Organisation

Belgian Michaël Pilaeten of CTG, a leading provider of information technology solutions and services in North America and Western Europe, has been appointed as a key strategic leader at the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB). This worldwide organisation is the leading authority for software testers. As the Chairman of the Agile working group, Pilaeten’s duties include defining the role of testers in the digital transformation of businesses.

IT specialists looking to advance their careers as software testers are advised to complete training courses and prove their theoretical knowledge by achieving industry-recognised certificates. ISTQB, an international not-for-profit organisation, defines syllabi that are used to issue comprehensive training courses in more than 100 countries on the technical knowledge testers are expected to have, and has conducted nearly one million exams globally over the past 18 years.

“It is an honour to be invited as a Belgian to help guide the strategy of an international organisation,” said Michaël Pilaeten, Learning and Development Manager at CTG. “In doing so, I’ll keep my finger on the pulse of the latest developments in the area of testing at a global level and be able to share my own experiences on an international podium,” he continued. 

Belgian Determines Standard of Testing

ISTQB is the international benchmark when it comes to software testing. Over the next two years, Pilaeten will be part of a key group that will be writing the future of software testing, thereby safeguarding the standards of the discipline.

“Michaël’s appointment as one of the worldwide chairmen at ISTQB is a wonderful recognition of the skills and competences we have at CTG,” said CTG’s Global Director of Testing, Pieter Vanhaecke. “It underscores our pioneering role in Belgium in the field of agile testing as part of software development.”

Software Testers Crucial to Digital Transformation

One of Pilaeten’s priorities as the Agile chairman at ISTQB will be to define the strategic path moving forward. In recent years, the organisation has awarded significantly more certificates in Agile worldwide. In part, this rising popularity is explained by businesses embarking on the process of digital transformation.

“In the years ahead, testers will be among those that lend shape to digital organisations, which is why it is vital that they are involved from the outset of a project to lend their input regarding the software requirements, and for them to be actively involved in developing the software,” commented Pilaeten. “In my new role at ISTQB, I’ll be designing these guiding principles for the global community of testers.”