PROFILE
Jennette Plooij
Strategic Marketing and Communications Consultant
Biography
Jennette is a strategic marketing and communications leader with over 12 years of experience helping global, premium A-brands bring meaningful and relevant narratives to the market. Her expertise is building strong brand equity through marketing plans that are insight-driven and strategically led. She has proven success working with external agencies and in-house brand teams to develop powerful campaign strategies that drive consumer engagement and conversion.
Jennette is an influential and stimulating leader who is willing to suggest brave new solutions and innovative methods to solve problems and gain agreement. Jennette has experience recruiting and developing strong teams and leading cross-functional global professionals. She brings a high energy
and inspirational approach to building team culture and getting the best out of talented people.
Languages
English, Dutch
PROFILE
Tom De Bruyckere
Consultant
Biography
I’m a senior specialist with over 30 years of experience in strategic advice, media relations, spokesmanship, stakeholder management and international relations. As co-founder of crisisexperts.be, a collective of independent senior consultants in crisis communication, I am well equipped to deal with crises.
A career spanning three decades as a communications consultant, gave me a broad experience in various sectors, with a special interest and expertise in environment, industry, logistics, energy and waste-to-energy industry.
Thanks to my experience in the waste management sector (research on technologies, building networks with academic and political influencers and decision makers), I also play an active role within the International Solid Waste Association, where I am the Chair of the Working Group Communications and Social Issues and member of the Scientific and Technical Commission.
Languages
Dutch, English, French, German
PROFILE
Rana Walker
Consultant
Biography
I am an award-winning public speaker, corporate consultant and trainer, passionate about stepping outside comfort zones, sharing knowledge, and building online spheres of influence. Today, I help global companies, organizations and associations harness the positive power of branding, thought-leadership, social media, change management and disruptive innovations via public speaking opportunities, global consulting and corporate training initiatives.
Delivering speeches in 22 countries and 30 of the United States, I have traveled the globe inspiring the travel and hospitality industries, the global MICE market, technology and finance corporations, educational institutions and even governmental organizations such as NATO, to embrace the dynamism of social media, disruptive innovations and new technologies as smart business. I am a founding board member of Women in Travel and an active participant in mentoring and philanthropic activities worldwide.
My successful 20+ year professional career includes a firm emphasis on digital marketing, public relations, new media and B2B, B2C communications within an airline, two corporate payment solutions, and consulting. I also worked with the leading travel industry experts in media production, research, business development and as on-air talent in Los Angeles for two years. Originally from the middle of the U.S., I have lived on both American coasts, and in Europe for the last decade.
Languages
English, Dutch, Spanish
PROFILE
Keir Bonine
Senior Consultant
Biography
A seasoned communications strategist and adept writer, I help companies and organizations engage effectively with their stakeholders – employees, customers, shareholders, the media, NGOs, etc. Communications is the lynchpin between strategy and implementation, clients trust my ability to help them convey complex issues in a clear and captivating manner. They know they can count on me to deliver both on time and on budget.
I have a strong track record leading communication teams, programs and projects in media, and corporate and public affairs roles at the European and global level. This includes experience in senior editorial and communication roles at NATO and SWIFT, and as a consultant to top global multinationals. My sector expertise spans the aerospace, automotive, transport and logistics, financial services, chemical, life sciences, and technology sectors, along with European policy and security and defense.
American by birth with dual Belgian nationality, I studied in the U.S., France and Italy, earning a Master of Arts from Johns Hopkins University SAIS, as well as degrees from IEP (Sciences Po Paris) and the University of Washington in Seattle.
Languages
English, French, Dutch
PROFILE
Grégoire Van den Ostende
Consultant
Biography
As an experienced strategic communications specialist, I execute crisis communication, copywriting, press and public relations, and provide media training.
Throughout Belgium, I have worked across the fast-moving consumer goods sector with companies like 3M, Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Panos, Carrefour, Marlow Foods and Kraft Foods. I also have experience in various other industries such as Eurogenerics, 3M Pharma, the Federal Institute for Public Health and the Federal Agency for Food Safety. Additionally, I was the director and spokesman for the Bureau du Champagne Benelux for 15 years. For 10 years, I was the account director and head of consumer affairs for Porter Novelli in Belgium. In 2004, I created my own strategic communications firm, Breaking News, which I still run today. I am also a partner of SoContent, a collective of communications specialists, based in Ghent.
Languages
French, Dutch, English
PROFILE
Gina Wessels
Strategic Digital Marketing Consultant
Biography
As a strategic digital marketing consultant with over 17 years of global experience, I work with companies to help define and build their marketing strategies, developing and supporting them within their digital transformation. My experience spans across a range of industries including luxury hospitality and travel, airline, restaurant and catering, green coffee, wine, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and telecoms. Notable clients include Google, Shell, GSK, Estee Lauder, Syngenta, and Groupe SEB.
My experiences have shown me the importance of bridging theory and practice with tangible examples, including industry best practices. I’ve trained over 10,000 people face-to-face and online, and I have been a Google Digital Academy partner for over four years, specializing in modules such as Brand, Mobile, Programmatic, and the Executive Leadership Transformation labs. I’ve recently been selected as one of the 13 consultants to join Google’s Master Faculty.
Originally from South Africa and having spent a good part of my life learning to ski in the Colorado Rockies and learning to dive in the Dubai desert, I’m now settled in the English countryside with my family and pets. When I’m not working, I like to spend my days outdoors: horseback riding, camping, cycling, swimming in the river and enjoying a good South African barbeque. I also love cooking and have a particular penchant for a good glass of red.
Languages
English
PROFILE
Eric Dickmann
Senior Marketing Strategist
Biography
An executive leader with over 30 years of experience in marketing, product development and digital transformation, I work with global companies and small startups to develop strategies to bring innovative products to the market. I help companies build a strong foundation for success by designing a comprehensive marketing strategy that identifies target audiences and communicates the brand’s value proposition. Through the development of compelling content, I strive to increase inbound marketing effectiveness by promoting the company’s unique benefits and competitive differentiators. By implementing marketing automation technologies, I help companies optimize lead generation and improve customer relationship management across channels and lines of business.
During my career, I worked extensively in the financial services industry and with technology companies to bring innovative products to the market, including nearly 18 years at Siebel Systems/Oracle Corporation, running their global marketing team for retail banking. I’m passionate about communicating value and helping brands understand how they can best serve their target customers.
In 2009, I moved to Orlando, Florida, and continue to call central Florida home. I’m an avid skier and enjoy staying active by running, hiking and exploring the great outdoors. I’m a Master’s swimmer and frequent race participant.
Languages
English
PROFILE
Colleen Jolly
Senior Consultant
Biography
As a senior consultant, I provide timely and meaningful communications strategies, helping our clients achieve their goals and positively impact their communities.
I spent 18 years in the fast-paced world of procurement in the U.S., U.K., and Australia; rapidly responding to multi-billion dollar requests, where every moment counted, and every message had to be perfect — the first time. I bring extensive experience in project management, thought leadership, communication strategy, process development and stakeholder engagement across a wide range of companies and industries.
I have a double major undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in studio art/English with a minor in computer science. I currently live in the Washington D.C. area with my spouse, a pair of orange tabby cats and a cuddly mutt. In my free time, I run an annual fitness event and am a fitness instructor, competing/performing at the professional level.
Languages
English
PROFILE
C. Pate Moore
Human Centered Design Strategist
Biography
I have my dream job: I’m a design strategist and I love what I do. I get to spend much of my time solving problems, coloring outside the lines, and playing with legos. I have a consulting background in vision building, strategic planning, and brand and product development. My experience spans start-ups and established companies where I help design solutions for the most complex business challenges – the ones that impact culture, markets, value, and profitability.
I come from a long line of successful entrepreneurs, inventors and community builders. I have always been a tinkerer, much like many of those before me. I have always been curious and I constantly try to figure out how things work. So now, I co-create with all types of organizations using an ingenious innovation and design process called, “Human-Centered Design” to provide powerful insights, disruptive new ideas, and game-changing solutions.
When I am not leading design workshops or championing social causes I can be found cooking new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new cultures through food and supporting farmers and artisans at local farmers markets. When food is not on the table, I am most likely looking for the next hiking trail, mountain lake, or travel adventure to inspire my next creative endeavor.
Languages
English
PROFILE
Axel Waiengnier
Digital Project Manager
Biography
As an insourced consultant, I work on-site with clients helping companies and organizations manage end-to-end large digital marketing projects and programs. I build bridges between technical and business teams, striving to create an atmosphere that makes each team member feel comfortable in their role while keeping the focus on planning and methodologies. If I would be a type of software, it would probably be Google Earth. I love to provide clients with both a helicopter high-level project vision as well as with street view detailed task zoom.
For more than a decade, I worked at Belgian telecoms leader Proximus as a digital team manager holding various positions in eMarketing communications divisions. After earning a master’s degree in communications and journalism, I started my career as an entrepreneur pioneering cybercafés in the early days of the internet.
Born and bred in Brussels, I consider myself a typical Belgian: optimistic, creative and sometimes a bit surrealistic, but always hands-on and ready to find a solution – especially when it requires a compromise.
Languages
French, English, Dutch