Team

Friso Coppes

Partner at Bureau Brussels

Friso is our expert on managing relationships with the EU institutions and stakeholders. His career in European Public Affairs stretches well into its second decade. Prior to the creation of Bureau Brussels, Friso was VP Corporate Affairs for Royal Ahold in Brussels. During his work in Brussels, from 1994 on, he refined his value-chain approach to driving the issues. This goes hand in hand with improving the professional image of the company and its executives. The leitmotiv of Friso’s career can best be described as issue-driven liaison management contributing to the ‘licence to operate’ of the organisation.

Rinus van Schendelen

Partner at Bureau Brussels

Rinus is a partner at Bureau Brussels. Thereby, he is also a professor in political science at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He is specialised in European public affairs and has published over 200 articles and 30 books on this topic. His most recent book concerning public affairs is named ‘the Art of Lobbying in the EU’. As a visiting professor, Rinus lectures at universities in the US, China, the Middle East and Europe. Rinus is also experienced in training organisation, companies and governments on public affairs. Amongst others, Rinus has advised Glaxo, 3M, Philips, Shell, Siemens and ministries of China, Finland, Hungary, Oman and the Netherlands.

Welmoed Neijmeijer

Director

Welmoed has been working for Bureau Brussels since 2013. She has obtained her Master´s degree in International and European Law and in European Law School at the University of Groningen. She has also studied in Ireland at the National University of Ireland in Galway.

Welmoed has experience in the following areas: payments, taxation, disability rights and healthcare.

Arnolds Eizensmits

Consultant

Arnolds joined Bureau Brussels in February 2018, working with clients in fields such as digital technologies, financial services and healthcare. As a Consultant since February 2019, he also assists our Trainees in their work and self-development. 

Prior to that, he gained experience in EU politics through traineeships at the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia and at the European Parliament. Arnolds obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Complutense University of Madrid and a Master’s degree in Political Economy of Europe from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has actively participated in various international projects, including the European Youth Parliament.

Astrid Smeets

Account Executive

Astrid has joined Bureau Brussels as Account Executive in September 2018. She has a Master’s degree in European Studies from KU Leuven (Belgium) and has a great interest in European politics. She gained experience as a trainee in the European Parliament and in the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the OSCE in Vienna. She previously worked on the #DiscoverEU campaign regarding European integration, mobility and youth participation.

Celinda Nordqvist

Trainee

Celinda joined Bureau Brussels as a European Public Affairs Trainee in February 2019. She holds a joint honours Bachelor’s degree in Politics, International Relations and Sociology from University College Dublin, Ireland. Celinda has previously worked at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU as a Trainee for the Aland Government. Within that role, she gained knowledge about the Council of the European Union and how governments work within the EU, getting acquainted with a wide range of topics. She is especially interested in environmental issues and international politics.

Fotis Kapsalis

Trainee

Fotis joined Bureau Brussels as a European Public Affairs Trainee in February 2019. He has gained diplomatic experience working at the Dutch Embassy in Skopje, focusing on Political, Economic and Security Affairs of the Western Balkans. He obtained a Master’s degree in EU External Relations, focusing on International Conflict and Security, from the University of Kent, and a Bachelor’s degree majoring in European Law and minoring in EU Political Integration from the University of Amsterdam. He has a passion for Geopolitics, Diplomacy, Languages and Security & Defence.