Antoine Rivet
Managing Director @ GOPA Com
Antoine Rivet
Managing Director @ GOPA ComAntoine Rivet is GOPA Com.’s Managing Director and a communication enthusiast. After working in the development and cooperation world, he embarked on a career change to specialise in public sector communication, and quickly grew from consultant to Managing Director of the cosmopolitan Brussels-based agency today. Antoine and the people at GOPA Com. are passionate about the European project and focus their work with European institutions to develop solutions to build bridges between citizens.
Eric Van den Abeele
Counsellor, at Permanent Representation of Belgium at the EU
Eric Van den Abeele
Counsellor, at Permanent Representation of Belgium at the EUA counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the European Union (covering the single market, European policy, and competition), Mr Van den Abeele is a university lecturer at the University of Mons-Hainaut and visiting professor at IHECS. He is also a research associate at the European Trade Union Institute and has written many books and articles on European policy.
Gokce Kalayci
Business Development Director @ Tipik Communications Agency
Gokce Kalayci
Business Development Director @ Tipik Communications AgencyGokce Kalayci started her career as a journalist during her BA studies on International Relations. After a few years of working as a journalist for different types of media, she got her MA degree on European Studies. Meanwhile, in 2002, she started working in the field of EU communications. After a few years of designing and managing communications campaigns, she has been recruited by a Brussels-based institutional communications agency, where she led the conceptualisation of various communications projects for the EU and other international organisations. Since April 2018, she has been working at Tipik Communications Agency, one of the top five communications agencies in Europe specialised in public sector communications and particularly those of the EU
Quentin Galland
Quentin Galland, Hague Corporate Affairs
Quentin Galland
Quentin Galland, Hague Corporate AffairsQuentin Galland, Hague Corporate Affairs Quentin is Senior Advisor, European Affairs at Hague Corporate Affairs. Trained lobbyist, he has an MA in Political Science (UCL, BE), completed by an EM in Communication and European Affairs (IHECS, BE). Quentin has developed his public affairs and corporate communication skills working for several European trade associations (wine, chemical and railway operators) and operating in several public affairs companies where he advised corporations and associations on agri-tech, health, energy and resource efficiency related issues. At Hague Corporate Affairs, Quentin oversees and implements public affairs strategies on projects pertaining to innovative agri-tech and health, at both European and Washington D.C. levels. Next to his career as a lobbyist, Quentin lectures at IHECS on case studies applied to EU public affairs.
Martin Todd
Communications/Media Relations Professional
Martin Todd
Communications/Media Relations ProfessionalMartin Todd is a professional journalist, with extensive experience in communication and coaching in media relations. He currently works as a communication consultant for the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU). His responsibilities include developing and implementing EPSU’s communication strategy. This involves supporting the organisation’s advocacy efforts, developing press material and implementing online and audiovisual campaigns. Martin recently served as secretary of the Brussels branch of the National Union of Journalists (UK & Ireland). He has been employed by several consultancy firms working in communication and for industry associations, helping to create and run strategic communication programmes. Originally trained as a journalist at the London College of Communication, Martin Todd has worked for many business and industry publications specialised in science and aviation.
Paul Culley
Speaker on European Affairs
Paul Culley
Speaker on European AffairsSince 2016 - speaker, lecturer and facilitator for students and specialists in European affairs. 2010 - 2015 - Director of General Policy in the Cabinet of Secretary-General of the Council of the EU. 2005 - 2010 - Director of Trade and International Development in the Secretariat of the Council of the EU. 1986 - 2010 – a range of responsibilities in the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU in the areas of agriculture, public health and the single market.
Patrick Vastenaekels
EU Strategic Communications expert
Patrick Vastenaekels
EU Strategic Communications expertAs a communication expert, he has been responsible for over 25 years for the design and implementation of numerous public information campaigns, notably for the European institutions. Mr Vastenaekels was one of the founders of Mostra (now ICF Next), the Brussels-based agency specialising in European communication campaigns, and with around 150 employees from some 20 countries. He was responsible for the agency’s development and later served as its managing director.
Alan Hardacre
Director of Group Corporate Affairs @ Imperial Brands
Alan Hardacre
Director of Group Corporate Affairs @ Imperial BrandsDr Alan Hardacre is the Director of Corporate Affairs with Imperial Brands based in Brussels, Belgium. In this role he is responsible for developing and driving a sustainable global Corporate Affairs strategy. A major element of this is how the company works in the EU. Prior to this he was a lecturer in the ‘European Decision-Making’ Unit at the European Institute for Public Administration (EIPA). Alan holds a BA (Hons) in Modern European Studies from Loughborough University (UK) and a DEA de Science Politique from the Institut d'Études Politiques de Lyon. In 2008, he was awarded his PhD in International Economic and Political Relations from Loughborough University.
