Ben Bakker has been working on increasing the effectiveness of ground- based safety nets in Europe (and beyond) since shortly after the Überlingen mid-air collision in 2002. As secretary of the related working arrangements, under the auspices of the EUROCONTROL ATM Safety Team, Ben was instrumental in the development of the EUROCONTROL speci cations and supporting guidance material for ground- based safety nets. He as been employed by EUROCONTROL in its Brussels Belgium headquarter as senior expert in the ATS Unit of the ATM Directorate since April 1995.