Aquafin: Launching Data Governance use cases related to FTE, absenteeism, and CSRD
18.07.2025
“During the workshops with the Starfish team, we received guidance on how to build a strong and clear business case so that we not only focus more on data in our initiatives but can also demonstrate the impact of our HR initiatives based on HR data.
Thanks to their expertise throughout the process, we developed concrete roadmaps to further advance our data-driven HR approach. The interaction was warm and professional. We received many practical tips, ones that seem obvious at first glance but that we hadn’t always been applying consistently.”
Katleen Jaspers – HR Business Partner at Aquafin
Context
Period: September 2024 – October 2024
Aquafin is responsible for treating domestic wastewater in Flanders and manages a network of infrastructure, facilities, and employees for this purpose. With more than 1,200 employees, Aquafin strives for sustainability not only in its core activities but also in its internal operations.
Challenge
In the fall of 2024, Aquafin’s HR department approached Starfish with a clear question: How can we better support our strategic HR projects (such as reporting on full-time equivalents and CSRD) with high-quality data and processes? The existing reporting data on FTEs and absenteeism had evolved over the years without a centralized framework, and the new legal requirements under CSRD called for a well-organized data flow. At the same time, Aquafin also wanted to strengthen broader data governance within HR, from definitions to data quality and reporting processes.
Our approach
The project consisted of two interactive workshops and preparatory desk research. First, we mapped out the existing data flows, reporting logic, and definitions. During the first workshop, the current process for VTE and CSRD reporting was outlined and supplemented with critical bottlenecks. In the second workshop, these insights were further refined and translated into concrete action items.
Throughout the project, we served as a sparring partner and guide in refining definitions, structuring processes, and identifying opportunities to improve data quality.
We maintained constant coordination with the HR business partner and the internal stakeholders involved in data collection and reporting.
Final result
The approach resulted in several valuable deliverables:
- a clearly defined process for FTE and CSRD reporting,
- a template for drafting a strategic business case, including an accessible explanation of the processes. The template is structured so that even employees without in-depth expertise in People Analytics can use it independently.
- and an action-oriented roadmap with growth opportunities in People Analytics, mapped out based on focus (over time) and mastery (feasibility).
This concrete output enabled Aquafin to continue building a structured data governance framework on its own, with internal project groups taking the lead on the initial work streams. The workshops not only provided insights but also fostered buy-in: participants indicated that the recommendations were clear, actionable, and realistic within the organization.
Would you like to learn more, or does our approach sound like the perfect solution for your organization? Feel free to contact us!