My Job
Head of Public Affairs at CLERENS, a leading public affairs and communications consultancy, specialising in the energy, environment, climate, and mobility sectors. My job is to build up CLERENS’ public affairs practice and to integrate it with the wider CLERENS ecosystem. There is a wealth of in-house experience on technical topics that I can draw on, so it should be an easy job!
My Experience
I have 20 years of experience in EU public affairs. I started in the European Parliament, before short term assignments with an NGO and a trade association. I then moved in to consultancy, where I ran the EU offices of two public affairs firms and worked on a variety of topics. Energy and environment has always been my big favourite though.
My Specialisms
My Proudest Achievements
With hindsight, getting my internship in the European Parliament, to kick everything off, because I kind of lucked out. I like an underdog story, so helping ‘small’ clients get comfortable with the EU policy environment and realise it isn’t as scary as they thought is always nice.
My Education
I studied French and Politics in Glasgow.
My Languages
French, German, Dutch.
My Interests outside work
Football, cooking. I have quite a big family, so I end up cooking quite a lot.
My Favourite Brussels anecdote
NSFW – I attended the AGM of a trade association many years ago and the President left his mic on when he went to the bathroom. Those who were there will never forget.