The Team

Having over 20 years of experience in public affairs and corporate government relations, Will Parker leads SEC Newgate EU’s public affairs and policy team.

Will has a deep knowledge of the tech sector, including cloud computing and data protection regulation, having led the Dell Technologies government affairs team in EMEA. He has also worked on sustainability issues in and around the EU institutions and European governments.

Will studied Spanish and Politics at Manchester University.

Alba is an international communications practitioner with a career spanning three continents, focusing on strategic communications, reputation management, public affairs, corporate responsibility, employee engagement and business transformation.

Prior to joining @ SEC Newgate EU, Alba led the PR practice of Ogilvy in Kuwait, providing strategic counsel to C-level executives, key government institutions and diplomatic missions, addressing complex issues and winning multiple prestigious PR awards.

During her decade-long Brussels career, Alba worked for EU consultancies and think tanks, on issues pertinent to the healthcare, ICT, real estate, travel and tourism, food, mining, entrepreneurship, as well as education and culture sectors.

Alba brings extensive experience working with European, US and GCC governments, UN agencies, and global foundations on foreign and security policy and women economic empowerment, managing multi-country public diplomacy and media relations campaigns.

Educated in Europe and the USA, Alba holds a degree in International Business and a master’s degree in International Politics. She has also authored a number of media articles and blog pieces on EU enlargement, EU-GCC relations and EU entrepreneurship policy for various EU and GCC publications.

Patricia is part of the sustainability team of Sec Newgate EU, assisting on monitoring and advising clients with interests in the chemical sector.

Prior to Sec Newgate, Patricia worked for the European Parliament’s office in Madrid where she gained experience in communication.

Last year she completed a master’s in European Politics and Governance Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges where she chose to specialise in environmental policy and secondary legislation. Previously she had graduated from a double degree in Political Science and International Studies at Carlos III University in Madrid.

In addition to her native Spanish, Patricia speaks English and has some knowledge of French.

Ivet is part of the digital team at SEC Newgate EU, specializing in content creation, visual storytelling and strategic communications. She helps clients unleash their creative potential and supports them in developing multi-media content. 

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Ivet gained insights as a journalist and digital communications assistant in think tanks and international humanitarian NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders.

Ivet graduated in Journalism and Humanities at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. She is a native Catalan speaker, fluent in English, French, and Spanish.

Giovanni is a policy specialist focusing on the tech, agri-food and sustainability sectors. He supports and advises clients in the digital and agri-food sectors in keeping trace of regulatory developments and building effective EU affairs strategies.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Giovanni gained experience in public affairs in another Brussels-based consultancy. He also carried out a traineeship at the European Parliament.

Giovanni graduated in law at the University of Milan with a thesis in parliamentary law and followed a course in corporate communications and public affairs at the 24ORE Business School in Rome.

In addition to his native Italian, Giovanni is fluent in English and has an intermediate level of French.

Adam is a member of the policy team. With a keen interest in energy and commodities, he specialises in helping governments, NGOs and corporate actors navigate the complexities of the geopolitics of the green transition.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Adam was active in the civil society sector, helping bridge the gap between business, politics and young talent. Through the A Seat At The Table NGO, he often worked with the EU Bubble, organising and moderating events with the European Commission, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and more. He also gained valuable research and analytical experience while writing for Politico Europe and working under Dr. John C. Hulsman at his geopolitical risk management firm.

Adam is fluent in French, Dutch, English and Arabic.

With over 10 years of experience in public affairs, communications and project management, Laura provides hands-on association and event management services to a wide variety of clients.

Laura has worked with industry, governments, associations and research centres in Colombia, France and Belgium, focusing mainly on foreign policy, healthcare and circular economy.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas. In addition to her native Spanish, she’s fluent in English and French and speaks a little Danish.

Ion joined the SEC Newgate EU trade and foreign affairs team where he helps clients navigate the European political and media landscape.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, he advised institutional clients in the financial sector on the political risks impacting their portfolio holdings. He then joined NATO where he supported policy work in politico-military affairs after which he joined the Council of the European Union, working on foreign affairs and communication.

Ion holds an MA from the Central European University in political science obtained in Budapest. A Romanian national, he is fluent in English and competent in French

Ciara is part of the media team at SEC Newgate EU. With a well-rounded knowledge of European politics, she supports governments, corporates and associations to better understand and leverage the European media landscape.

Ciara graduated in European Studies at Trinity College Dublin. In addition to her native English, Ciara speaks French, Spanish, and a little Irish.

Josef Cutajar supports the Digital Communications team at SEC Newgate EU. He assists and advises clients to implement successfully their digital media objectives.

Prior to SEC Newgate EU, Josef worked in communications, with Medicines for Europe and carried out a communication traineeship at the European Commission. Josef is a Maltese national and while in Malta he wrote in the ‘Times of Malta’ and co-produced and presented a TV show on ‘Television Malta’ focusing on EU affairs.

Josef holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications (Hons.) with European Studies from the University of Malta and has a keen interest in new media and journalism. Besides his native Maltese, Josef speaks English and has knowledge of German and Italian.

Javier is a public affairs professional with several years of experience providing strategic counsel and building advocacy campaigns for various clients. Having a keen interest and expertise in sustainability policies, at SEC Newgate EU he focuses on the energy and environment sectors.

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Javier worked at a Brussels-based consultancy, where he managed a portfolio of clients across a variety of sectors including transport, environment, agri-food. Before becoming consultant, he began his career working in the policy department of two  EU-level NGOs and completed and internship at the European Parliament.

Graduated in Law, Javier holds a Master’s Degree in European Studies from the RWTH Aachen University. Besides his native Spanish, he speaks English, German and Italian and has good knowledge of French.

Ilaria is an environmental policy expert with a keen interest in circular economy and sustainability issues. She supports clients across sectors with advocacy strategies and regulatory advice.

Prior to SEC Newgate EU, Ilaria worked in the public affairs department of a trade association representing plastics manufacturers, where she specialised in chemical and waste management policies. She also worked at the legal service of the European Parliament supporting the institutional and budgetary law unit.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Palermo and a Master’s Degree in European Public Law and Governance from the Maastricht University. In addition to her native Italian, Ilaria speaks fluent English and Spanish and has a good command of French.

Alberto provides hands-on coordination, communication, and event services to a wide variety of associations.

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Alberto worked as Communications and Events Officer for the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) and the Forum for the Future of Agriculture. From 2019 to 2021, he also served as Secretary-General of the Young Friends of the Countryside (YFCS). A graduate in Advertising and Public Relations from Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Alberto is also an avid photographer and produces a podcast in his free time.

Alberto speaks Spanish, English, French, Italian and has some knowledge of Dutch.

Kanika is a strategic communications expert with 9 years of experience. Over the course of her career, she has designed and implemented numerous advocacy campaigns including advocating for anti-protectionist trade policies and calling for crucial incentives for the growth of the local manufacturing ecosystem.​

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EUe, she was the Global Communications lead at WWF International where she led a project aimed at halting biodiversity loss funded by the German Environment Ministry (IKI) and the United Nations. ​

Kanika holds a Masters in English Literature. She is fluent in English, Hindi and also speaks some Flemish.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Marco carried out an internship at another consultancy with a focus on consumer rights. With a passion for environmental policy and a particular interest within the circular economy, Marco supports our chemical clients with navigating the EU policy on sustainability, gathering the views of stakeholders and clarifying regulatory developments.

Marco holds a master’s degree in European Public Affairs from Maastricht University and an interdisciplinary Liberal Arts & Sciences degree from University College Maastricht. In addition to his native Norwegian, Marco is also fluent in Spanish and has a basic understanding of German.

Katarina is part of the digital communications team. She specialises data and digital analytics, social media management and building digital campaigns. With an eye for data visualisation and storytelling, Katarina is always looking for ways to turn data into meaningful and actionable insights. Thanks to her interest in digital innovation and programming experience, Katarina also supports website and app optimisation and development.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Katarina worked as a CRM marketeer, where she gained experience in marketing by developing data-driven strategies, digital campaigns and analysing consumer data to enhance customer understanding.

Katarina is a Utrecht University graduate with a Master Degree in New Media and Digital Culture. The study program strengthened her abilities to conduct media research and gave her a deeper understanding of the digital world around us. Katarina is from Estonia and speaks Estonian, English, and a little German and Russian.

Jarek is well-versed in communications and strategy. He has worked in the private, public and NGO sectors. He specialises in communication strategies, campaigns, and community building.

At SEC Newgate EU, Jarek helps clients increase their visibility and promote their organisation’s objectives through digital campaigns. With a flair for visual communication, he believes that the proper visuals can simplify complex content and reach a wide audience.

Prior to SEC Newgate EU, Jarek worked for the British Embassy in Warsaw, where he coordinated the Brexit and Defence campaigns. His work in the start-up sector where he introduced a new co-working concept to Eastern Europe provided him with brand-building experience. Jarek has also explored his interest in journalism through his multimedia projects with Brussel-based magazine Are We Europe.

He holds an MA in International Studies from Leiden University (Netherlands) and a BA in International Studies from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK). In addition to his native Polish, he is fluent in English and is competent in Spanish.

Alice is part of the sustainability team, with a keen interest in circular economy and sustainability issues. Alice has experience in regulatory affairs, notably health, sustainability  & consumers issues.. She also operated as a Policy and Communication Assistant for a trade association related to agri-food policies.

She holds a MA in International Relations from the University of Turin, and an Advanced Master in EU studies from the University of Brussels. Next to her Italian mother tongue, Alice is also fluent in English and Spanish, and has an intermediate level in French.

Antonio is supporting the trade and external relations practice, helping clients navigate the European political and media landscape.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Antonio gained insights in the trade and economic sectors at the European Parliament, the Embassy of Italy in the United States, and the Milan Chamber of Commerce.

He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the Catholic University of Milan, with a specialisation in international trade. Native Italian, he is fluent in English and has a basic knowledge of French and German.

Julia is part of the media team at SEC Newgate EU, supporting governments, corporates and associations to better understand the European media space.

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Julia fostered her skills at the Office of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in Washington D.C. and the Confederation of British Industry in Brussels.

Julia holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bath.

Julia is a native Polish speaker, fluent in English and with a basic understanding of Japanese.

Paul is part of the digital team at SEC Newgate EU, specialising in the development and implementation of content and strategies. With a keen interest in innovative ways of communication, he helps corporates and NGOs better understand their social media potential and engage in a fast-paced online environment.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Paul gained insights into public relations by supporting Action Against Hunger’s advocacy and the European Climate Foundation’s communications. He gained digital strategy experiences by supporting worldwide networks in delivering impactful campaigns.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Political Sciences from the Institute of Political Studies in Aix-en-Provence, and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Aix-Marseille University. French native, he speaks English fluently.

Jie-Yi is a senior HR Generalist. She advises the company on engaging, growing, and retaining talents by creating and nurturing a positive, inclusive, collaborative, and rewarding employee work experience.

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Jie-Yi was Head of HR of a Public Affairs and Communications consultancy, providing strategic and operational guidance to the leadership team and managing the entire employee life cycle for offices in Brussels, Paris and Berlin. Previously, she worked in a European brand design consultancy, setting up and leading their HR department in Brussels and Sofia.

Jie-Yi holds a Master degree in Corporate Communications from the Free University of Brussels (ULB). A Belgian and Taiwanese national, she speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and has an intermediate level in Dutch.

Kristin is part of the sustainability team at SEC Newgate EU, where she supports clients in the chemical, mobility, and energy sectors. With a keen interest in public policy, Kristin provides assistance in the improved understanding of sustainability developments, as well as in the analysis of stakeholder views.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Kristin gained experience in the intersection between the public and the private sectors through her position as a Creative Director at an organization, connecting universities, public authorities, and businesses. Further, Kristin explored her interest in societal inequalities and developed her event management skills through her active participation in non-profit initiatives.

Kristin is graduating with a BA in European Studies from The Hague University of Applied Sciences with a strong specialization in the field of European Union policy-making. In addition to her native Bulgarian, Kristin speaks fluent English, has a good command of German, and a basic understanding of Russian.

Vanessa is a Communications expert specialising in the development of integrated communication strategies, in particular for clients in the chemical sector. Her expertise extends to digital communication, building campaigns and social media strategies for a variety of clients and providing insights on the best tools and platforms to achieve a successful digital presence and outreach.

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Vanessa built a 10+ year experience in PR, corporate communications, events and social media management. During her career she gained in-depth knowledge of industrial and manufacturing environments after working for companies such as Bridgestone and DuPont Sustainable Solutions managing their local and European external communications strategies.

She holds a Master’s Degree in European Affairs from the Sorbonne University in Paris. Vanessa is a French, American and Venezuelan national and native English, French and Spanish speaker.

As part of the Association Management team, Zeynep provides comprehensive association and event management services to a diverse range of clients, leveraging over seven years of experience in public affairs, communications, and association management.

Before joining SEC Newgate EU, Zeynep worked at a consultancy specialising in EU funding and supported various clients with EU funding mechanisms and government relations. She also has experience in an international trade association in a role focused on public affairs, communications, and technical committee management.

She holds an MA in European Political & Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges and an Executive Masters in Governance & Development Studies from the CERIS-ULB Diplomatic School of Brussels. In addition to her native Turkish, she is fluent in English and French