Geoffrey Joris

Head of Public Affairs | Executive Advisor on Regulation and Institutional Affairs | Infrastructure and Tech

Liège, Walloon Region, Belgium

About

I operate at the intersection of public affairs, strategic governance and institutional alignment in complex regulatory environments. Over 15+ years, I have advised CEOs, executive committees and public leaders on political positioning, regulatory risk and long-term investment frameworks across infrastructure, telecom, technology and mobility. My work spans stakeholder engagement, multi-level governance and strategic coordination with federal, regional and European institutions. I focus on aligning corporate priorities with political and regulatory realities to enable sustainable decision-making and long-term value creation.

Experience

  • Head of Public Affairs at Infrabel
    Nov 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 9 mos

    Lead Public Affairs and regulatory strategy for Belgium’s national rail infrastructure operator. Senior advisor to the CEO and Executive Committee on institutional positioning, political alignment and regulatory risk. Contribute to cross-functional coordination across Corporate Affairs, ensuring coherent positioning towards federal, regional and European stakeholders.

  • Global advisor - Head of Telecom Industries at Agoria
    Apr 2019 - Nov 2021 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    Led public affairs and regulatory strategy for the Belgian telecom sector, shaping industry-wide positioning and representing national operators and global infrastructure players in high-stakes political negotiations. Driving consensus on controversial telecom policy issues in high-visibility national debates. Directed strategic alignment on 5G deployment, spectrum allocation and emission standards during a period of intense public scrutiny and political sensitivity. Built and coordinated cross-industry coalitions to secure stable regulatory frameworks enabling national 5G rollout and long-term digital investment.

  • Senior Program Manager – Digital Transformation | Public Sector at DXC Technology
    Jan 2017 - Apr 2019 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    Acted as strategic interface between senior government decision-makers, delivery teams and international technology stakeholders. Engaged with C-suite and public sector executives to shape digital strategies and governance models. Oversaw multi-disciplinary teams and complex program governance structures, ensuring alignment between political objectives, contractual obligations and operational delivery. Contributed to client engagement, executive steering committees and commercial positioning in large-scale public modernization initiatives.

  • Deputy Head of Cabinet – Minister-President of Wallonia (Belgium) at Gouvernement wallon
    Mar 2012 - Jun 2017 · 5 yrs 4 mos

    Senior advisor to the Minister-President on public investment, industrial policy and innovation strategy at regional and EU levels. Played a central role in shaping and coordinating a €2.9B industrial transformation agenda, aligning political priorities with economic and European frameworks. Oversaw €500M+ infrastructure investment programs, structuring governance mechanisms, interministerial coordination and stakeholder negotiations. Operated at the core of executive decision-making in a high-pressure political environment, balancing strategic objectives, institutional constraints and long-term economic impact.

  • Internal Auditor – Public Policies at Cellule de stratégies transversales - SPW
    Nov 2010 - Mar 2012 · 1 yr 5 mos

    Assessed governance, performance and compliance of large-scale public investment and EU-funded programs across infrastructure, innovation and economic development. Analyzed strategic allocation of public resources, identifying structural risks, efficiency gaps and policy inconsistencies in high-impact programs. Developed a deep understanding of public finance, regulatory frameworks and institutional decision-making processes in complex governance environments.