Meet our new Brussels team!

Building on the success of its UK counterparts, WiPA Brussels is an initiative created to support and empower women working in public affairs across The Capital of Europe. WiPA Brussels sets itself apart by offering a cross-sector platform focused squarely on career development, rather than general networking or sector-specific discussions. Open to women at all career stages - from those just entering the field to seasoned leaders - it offers a flexible and inclusive model. With no membership fees and an open-door approach, the group aims to foster a diverse and supportive community, grounded in practical, impactful initiatives such as speed mentoring and targeted professional development sessions.

At its core, WiPA Brussels is driven by a commitment to advancing gender balance and inclusion within the public affairs sector. Through collaborations with established networks the group hopes to amplify existing efforts while filling an important gap in the local ecosystem. Future programming will focus on real career-building tools—skills workshops, leadership panels, and sector-wide research on diversity. By tackling the specific challenges women face in public affairs and promoting accessible solutions, WiPA Brussels aims to build a stronger, more equitable industry for all.

We’re always open to new supporters and sponsors who would like to get involved by hosting events. If you have ideas for initiatives, know an inspiring speaker, or can offer a suitable venue, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

If you’re working in Public Affairs in Brussels, want to receive updates from WiPA Brussels, and be the first to hear about our events, please get in touch with us at wipabrussels@gmail.com.

Executive Committee

The Women in Public Affairs Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day co-ordination and organisation of the Network.

Laura Owen-Onsea, Co-chair

Hydrogen Europe

Laura is EU Advocacy Manager at Hydrogen Europe, where she leads strategic engagement with EU institutions and stakeholders to advance the role of hydrogen in Europe’s energy transition. A British-born Canadian, Laura brings a strong background in relationship-building, public affairs, and policy advocacy to her work in Brussels. Outside of her professional life, Laura is a published poet and believes in the power of creativity to connect personal and professional worlds. Laura lives in the suburbs of Antwerp with her husband and their two children. 

Claudia La Donna, co-chair

Edelman

Claudia leads Edelman's team in Brussels, providing high-level strategic advice on digital policies, as well as advocacy strategies and campaigns targeting EU policymakers. She has 20 years of professional experience in public affairs in Brussels, gained in different positions in consultancies, in-house and Institutions. Throughout her career, she advised several European and non-European blue-chip clients on their engagement and profiling in Brussels and ran thought leadership campaigns for them. She gained first-hand experience inside the European Commission, working for 3 years in the Directorate-General for Connect, dealing with telecom-related files and 1 year in the Directorate-General for Competition, where she developed her expertise on regulatory and competition issues in the telecom and financial services sector.

Anais Laporte, Secretary

Fourtold

Anaïs is currently Head of Sustainability at Fourtold, advising clients on sustainability and policy advocacy, and previously led Government Relations for clean tech manufacturer Battolyser Systems. She has extensive experience in the hydrogen sector, having helped build the Hydrogen Council between 2017-2022 and advised C-suite leaders on strategy, while also working as a Director at FTI Consulting Brussels in energy and industrials. She actively promotes gender diversity in the clean energy sector as co-lead of the Women in Green Hydrogen Brussels Hub.

Roberta Brumana, DEI Lead

American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union

Roberta is Senior External Relations Manager at the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU). In this role, she manages the Executive Council, the forum of European CEOs of AmCham EU’s member companies. She also leads the coordination of AmCham EU’s high-level outreach strategy to the European Institutions and drives AmCham EU’s work on inclusion. As a passionate advocate for women’s leadership, Roberta serves as WiPa’s DE&I lead and helps to foster a community that connects, empowers, and elevates women in policy and public affairs. With 10 years of experience in both the private and public sectors in Brussels, and a strong track record in high-level outreach and stakeholder engagement, she brings a collaborative spirit to the WIPA team, championing diversity, inclusion, and mentorship.

Zuzana Púčiková, Campaign Lead

Acumen Public Affairs

Zuzana is the Strategy Director and Head of Tech at Acumen. She has two decades of policy and comms experience in digital and consumer topics - from within and around EU and local institutions, media and disruptive tech companies like Uber, Amazon, EVBox and bwin. Zuzana is also a recognized thought leader on diversity and sustainability topics, acting as EU Climate Pact and Diversity Ambassador, and as Special Advisor on Digital and Climate Transition with the European Parliament’s network SME Connect. A Slovak national, she holds degrees in Economics, in EU affairs and in International Relations. A mum of two (and a puppy), she's also an avid mud-racer and a bookworm (when time permits).

Barbara Ozanon, Events & Comms

Hanson Search

Barbara is a Partner at Hanson Search, she leads the firm’s European Public Affairs desk, partnering with senior talents and clients in public affairs, government relations, regulatory affairs, and public policy. With over a decade of experience in business advisory, executive search, and headhunting, she has successfully led senior-level search assignments all across Europe. A passionate advocate for gender equality in the industry, she played a founding role in launching Global Women PR France, and is now actively driving forward the Women in Public Affairs (WiPA) initiative in Brussels.

Arantxa Gurtubay Loza, Events

Ipas

Arantxa is the Strategic Partnerships manager in Europe of Ipas, a global network of localized experts funding feminist movements to accelerate access to reproductive health and rights. With over 15 years of experience in INGOs and at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with a four years jump into the private sector, Arantxa has worked extensively in program and partnership management as well as in Public Affairs. Arantxa likes chocolate, sunny days and is obsessed with sorting garbage (even in public spaces).

Divya Singh, Events

FTI Consulting

Divya is a Senior Consultant at FTI Consulting in Brussels, where she advises multinational corporations and EU-based companies on digital and sustainability policy. With a focus on the intersection of technology and climate, she supports clients in navigating complex legislative landscapes and aligning their strategies with evolving EU priorities. With a background in strategic public affairs and communications, Divya has led advocacy campaign efforts for companies in the robotics and electronics sector, and delivered impactful policy events. She also serves on the Executive Committee of Women in Public Affairs (WiPA) Brussels, where she co-leads the organisation’s events portfolio. In her free time, she likes to cook, hike and travel.

Carmen Bell, Communications

APCO

Carmen is Managing Director for APCO in Brussels where she advises businesses on critical EU policy and regulatory issues. Since moving from the US to Belgium in 2008, Carmen has held a variety of senior EU affairs roles including at Insurance Europe, Global Counsel, Hill+Knowlton and Portland, and previously sat as a member of the Board for the British Chamber of Commerce. Her advisory expertise covers the digital, sustainability and financial sectors, including both targeted advocacy programmes and integrated public affairs and communications strategies. She also has extensive experience counselling clients on EU geopolitical relations with strategic markets such as the UK, US, China and India.

Sofia Trenor Michelena, Strategic Partnerships

Amazon Web Services

Sofía currently serves as Head of the Brussels office at Amazon Web Services and Director for Trade policy in EMEA. Prior to joining Amazon in 2017, Sofía held senior roles at the Business Software Alliance, Sony Pictures Networks, Discovery Communications, and Warner Music Spain, where she managed regulatory compliance and intellectual property matters across the media and entertainment sectors.  Beyond her corporate work, she is also a singer-songwriter in the band Personal Belongings and serves as a mentor and educator with the nonprofit Play4Peace.

Advisory Board

Karen Massin

Google

Karen Massin leads Google’s Government Affairs & Public Policy team in Brussels. She drives the development and implementation of outreach strategies, and engages in various policy areas affecting the digital industry such as platform policies, AI, privacy, cybersecurity, content management, economic recovery and sustainability. She is a board member of DOT Europe and ITI and part of the Executive Policy Advisory Committee of DigitalEurope. Previously, Karen was the CEO of a public affairs consultancy in Brussels and worked at the UN, the European Commission and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Claire Boussagol

Euractiv

Claire is Chief Strategy Officer of Euractiv. Prior to this, Claire was CEO of POLITICO Europe and President of DII. Claire moved to the media sector after almost 26 years at APCO Worldwide, where she was a member of the firm’s global leadership and a member of the Executive Committee, having also served as managing director of the Brussels and Paris bureaus. Previously, she worked at European Strategy (Graying Group) and at the European Consulting Company. Claire has unparalleled experience in strategic planning and managing pan-European and global expansion.

Deborah Nash

Teneo

Deborah is CEO of Teneo Brussels, specialising in government affairs and strategic communications. She has 20 years’ experience providing strategic advice on positioning, reputation management and advocacy. A trained lawyer, Deborah began her career at a Belfast law firm, later working with a human rights NGO and public affairs agencies Cabinet Stewart (now Interel) and cabinet DN. 

Julia Harrison

ExpectAI

Currently non-executive director at ExpectAI and EIES, Julia has worked in the policy and political communications field in the UK, US and EU for some 30 years advising international corporate and not-for-profit organisations. She founded Blueprint, an all-women international consulting business, which she sold successfully to FTI Consulting, where she ran Global Public Affairs. She previously held various Non-Executive Director and leadership roles including at, a privately held UK/US think tank and consulting firm sold to ERM; the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society where she was a founding board member; and Downing College, Cambridge where she is currently President of the Downing Alumni Association.