Executive Board
The Executive Board of the LSE AAB is in charge of the management of the association. It consists of volunteers who work together to implement all the activities that benefit the LSE alumni in Belgium, ranging from regularly updating the website with new career opportunities to organising events and drinks.
The President chairs the board while other board members are in charge of various tasks such as communications, event planning, careers and membership. Feel free to approach them at the next event or drink and ask more about their work.
Maria Sotiriou, MSc European Studies: Ideas and Identities (2012)
President
Maria is an External Relations Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO), focusing on digital health, research and innovation. Before that, she worked for the GSMA, the global trade body of the mobile industry, where she was in charge of building strong relationships with the EU Institutions and other actors on key digital topics, including AI, e-justice, data, disinformation, and health. She also led GSMA Brussels advocacy on diversity, inclusion and the UN SDGs.
Prior to that, Maria worked for the European Young Innovators Forum, the Government of Gibraltar and the European Commission’s DG CONNECT. Maria received an MSc in European Studies from the LSE in 2012, after completing her studies in Translation and Conference Interpreting in Greece. Twitter LinkedIn
Vice President
Arnolds graduated from the LSE in 2017 with an MSc in Political Economy of Europe, having previously completed a BA in Political Science at the Complutense University of Madrid with an exchange year at ISCTE – Lisbon University Institute.
He currently works as a Policy Advisor on economic, budgetary and environmental issues to a Member of the European Parliament, having previously gained experience in EU politics through several traineeships and as a Public Affairs Consultant in Brussels.
Peter van Strijthem, MSc European Studies (1991)
Senior Advisor & Belgium Liaison
Peter studied International Relations and International Economics at the American University of Paris before graduating in European Studies at the LSE.
After having lived and worked in Holland, UK, France and Germany, Peter now runs his family's furniture company in Brussels.
Lieven Brouwers, MSc International Relations (2006)
Advisory Board Manager
Lieven studied law, human rights and international relations in Leuven, Brussels, Madrid, Louvain-la-Neuve and London. Upon returning to Brussels from the LSE, he co-founded the LSE Alumni Association Belgium in its current incarnation in 2007 and remained at its helm for the next 8 years.
He works at DG Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission where he deals with legal migration. Previously he has worked at a business law firm, a think tank on EU policy, and an EU public affairs consultancy.
Despina Manousos, MSc European Political Economy: Integration (2006)
Strategic Partnership Manager
Passionate about European Integration, Despina has extensive experience of European policy-making in the European Parliament and the European Commission.
She holds a Masters in European Political Economy: Integration from the European Institute of the LSE and is currently working as a Policy Advisor to an MEP, focusing on Energy, Climate and Environment policies.
Mikaela d'Angelo, double MSc European Studies (2014)
Events Officer
Mikaela graduated in 2014 with a dual master’s degree in European Affairs from Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics, specialising in European Political Economy.
She currently works as a public affairs and corporate communications consultant at Edelman, focusing on policy, corporate messaging, brand reputation and strategic engagement with European and global stakeholders.
Board Member
Elias graduated from the LSE in 2011 with an MSc in Global Politics, having previously completed a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.
He currently works as a political consultant in Brussels, specialising in digital and technology policy, having previously worked in a consultancy role in London and as a Blue Book Trainee at the European Commission.
Mentorship Officer
Deborah completed a BSc from Cass Business School prior to graduating from the LSE where she focused on Behavioural Economics.
She started her career as a Consultant at EY in London, where she mainly worked on regulatory projects relating to Trading and Investment Banking practices. She is now back in Brussels and continues to work in the Consulting business, specialising in Sustainable Finance Strategy, Regulations and Implementation for Banks and Asset Managers.
Victoria Heinen, LL.M Competition, Innovation and Trade Law (2019)
Board Member
Victoria holds an LL.M in Competition, Innovation and Trade Law from the LSE, and a Belgian Law Degree from the Université catholique de Louvain and the Université Saint-Louis-Bruxelles. During her studies, she spent an exchange semester at the University of Vienna.
She currently practices as an attorney at the Brussels Bar, focusing on Belgian and European regulatory law, particularly competition law, state aid law and internal market legislation. Prior to that, Victoria interned with the legal department of Euroclear and the DG for Competition of the European Commission. LinkedIn
Anita Jarzynka Jennings, MSc International Relations (1994)
Events Officer
Anita received her Master’s degree in international relations from the LSE (specialising in European Studies and the Political Economy of Transition) and her Bachelor's in international relations from Keele University in England. She did two internships at the European Commission, worked at an NGO and the European Parliament.Her last position was in the Public Diplomacy section at the U.S. Mission to the EU, where she developed and implemented strategies on economic and political policies through events with think-tank partners, wrote reports, and managed Public Affairs grants.
The LSE Alumni Association Belgium is open to both LSE Alumni and friends of the LSE.
The association offers two types of membership:
Paying Membership. The annual membership fee is 25 euros and helps the association meet its financial needs, organise events of high quality, subsidise certain activities and develop new initiatives. Paying LSE Alumni have access to all of our events and can use exclusive services such as the Alumni Directory and our vacancy board. Paying Friends of the LSE are invited to the majority of our events.
Non-paying Membership. LSE Alumni and Friends of the LSE that sign up as non-paying members can receive our monthly newsletter and attend a limited number of our events, such as our monthly drinks.
Disclaimer: The data that LSE alumni provide to become members are shared with the LSE to verify their alumni status. We will never share the personal information of our members with any other third party.