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.

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.

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.

Fotis Kapsalis

Junior Account Executive

Fotis joined Bureau Brussels in February 2019, working on topics such as digital and financial services. Prior to this, he gained experience at the Dutch Embassy in North Macedonia, working on security issues in the Western Balkans and has worked on legal issues at the EU Rights Clinic in Brussels. Fotis obtained a Master’s degree in EU External Relations from the University of Kent, and a Bachelor’s degree in European Law and EU Political Integration from the University of Amsterdam. In addition to his native Dutch and Greek, he speaks fluent English, intermediate German and French and is studying Russian.