Brussels Metropolitan Area
Combining 20 years+ experience in human resources, communication, management of international programmes, projects and policies at the heart of EU politics. I have had the privilege to gain experience across the non profit, public, academic and the private sector. This has forged my ability to address issues from various angles and viewpoints and has allowed me to develop a well-knit and robust network across these sectors. My deeply rooted motivation for putting my skills and competence at the service of developing people and organisations has led me to look out for opportunities to train, teach and develop capacities in all my assignments.
As HR Business Partner and Head of the HR Business Correspondent Team for the Department "European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations" (DG NEAR / DG ENEST), I advise senior management on strategic HR development and lead change management processes in this area.
Resident coordinator and co-covener of the annual Brussels EU study workshop for executives organised by the Hertie School of Governance; course design, planning, and coordination of meetings with top level decision makers from all relevant stakeholder groups.
As team coordinator and policy advisor I coordinated the set-up of a new humanitarian programme initiated by the EU with a total budget of 150 million EUR for 2014-2020.This included the preparation and negotiation of the legislative proposal and its implementing rules with EU Member States, Parliament and other decision makers involved as well as the ensuing supervision of the programme implementation and management including delegating activities to an Executive Agency of the Commission. The initiative entails a European-wide training programme, standard setting and certification for humanitarian volunteer programmes with worldwide deployment, and a capacity building dimension. I wasalso focal point for communication and policy training in my unit aiming to instil modern ways of internal and external communication as well as learning and development of colleagues in a policy oriented department of the Commission. As part of the Commission-wide pool of trainers I wasinvolved in planning, designing and implementing training for colleagues and newcomers to the Commission and my department as well as team-building and away-days for for units and departments across the Commission.
Main achievements: Strategic leadership and development of the organisation: Membership has more than tripled during my tenure and has diversified significantly, including entities from NGO, public, academic and private sectors. I have extended and diversified the funding base of the organisation including successfully obtaining core funding from the European Commission. Successful advocacy: the CEV-led European wide campaign for a European Year of Volunteering 2011 can serve as expression of the reputation the organisation has gained during my mandate. We have been able to mobilise all major European volunteer based NGOs behind the common campaign and successfully rally political support from governments and parliaments all over Europe. The Year was the first to be declared on initiative of civil society and several subsequent Years have followed the example of this campaign. - Strategic management of an international NGO network, providing leadership to develop the NGO as a ‘voice of volunteering and active citizenship’ - Coordinating a network of over 80 member organisations reaching out to some 17,000 local organisations in more than 28 European countries and beyond; - Managing and developing the European secretariat with a staff of 8; - Planning and implementing policy and advocacy strategies; - Obtaining and project managing EU funding from various programmes; - Designing and implementing capacity building and training for member organisations all over Europe amongst others on effective advocacy in the EU; project management; and EU funding programmes. - Planning, organising and facilitating 20+ high-level conferences with decision-makers, experts and actors from business and civil society with up 300 participants.