Jo Deman from Belgium has been awarded the Bronze Wolf, World Scouting’s highest honour, in recognition of his exceptional service to international Scouting spanning more than a decade.
Jo has played a significant role in shaping World Scouting's long-term direction and supporting the Movement's growth and strategic vision. He oversaw the implementation of Vision 2023, coordinated the participatory processes for three consecutive Triennial Plans at the global level, and led the development of the new Strategy for Scouting, adopted in 2024.
Jo also worked with multiple teams to develop and implement a global growth agenda for Scouting, supporting NSOs in growing and retaining their membership while contributing his expertise to several resources, including the Growth Toolkit and the 7 Key Ingredients for Growth.
Jo was elected twice to the World Scout Committee in 2017 and 2021, serving as its Vice-Chairperson in his second term. During both mandates, he provided strong leadership during a time of significant change, guiding the Movement during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and served on World Scouting’s crisis management team at the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Korea.
Jo also held various volunteer roles at the European level, focusing on organisational development, where he helped to build capacity and foster collaboration among National Scout Organizations across the Region. At the national level, Jo was International Commissioner of Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen (2011-2017) and Chair of Guiding and Scouting Belgium (2013-2015), representing Belgian Scouting at major international events and strengthening cooperation across the Movement.
He is currently the National Commissioner of Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen, and remains active in World Scouting through its Operational Framework and at international events, including supporting the planning and delivery team of the 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal in 2025.
Jo’s Scouting journey began at the age of six and reflects a lifelong dedication to empowering young people and strengthening the Scout Movement. Over the years, Jo’s leadership has significantly contributed to the Movement’s growth and strategic focus, ensuring its continued relevance to millions of young people worldwide. These achievements make him a worthy recipient of the Bronze Wolf Award.