People

Giles Keane has more than fifteen years’ experience in EU public affairs consultancy. Prior to joining acumen public affairs as a founding partner, he was a Director of International Corporate Communications at Hill & Knowlton in Brussels. He has worked across numerous sectors and policy areas including digital policy, healthcare, environment & energy, and food and agriculture. Giles has been supporting the GSK Consumer Health Government Affairs team since 2018 on issues relating pharmaceuticals in the environment

Current and recent clients of Giles since the creation of Acumen include Cargill Europe, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, Heineken, LEO Pharma, PlasticsEurope, Procter & Gamble and Syngenta. Previous clients of relevance include the British Poultry Council and US national renderers association for whom he monitored and advised on EU veterinary legislation, the European Sugar Manufacturers Association, Kellogg’s, and the European Whey Producers Association. Giles is an Irish national and in addition to his native English, he speaks fluent French and Spanish, as well as conversational Italian.

Nikos is a Partner. He has over 12 years experience in public policy, EU public affairs, communications and academia. He is a health and pharmaceuticals policy expert with in-depth knowledge in areas such as vaccines, IP, pricing and access, HTA, AMR. 

He has advised the company’s healthcare clients on public affairs issues and has led assignments on strategy development, advocacy, in-depth policy analysis, media relations and communication, disease awareness, stakeholder engagement and outreach. 

Before joining Acumen, Nikos worked for a medical association in Brussels, where he set up and ran the EU Affairs and Media department. He has also worked in academia and for another Brussels consultancy. 

Former and current clients at Acumen include Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, Roche, Sanofi, LEO Pharma, Vifor Pharma, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). He is a native Greek speaker, is fluent in English and an intermediate level French speaker.

Maëlle Quintart is the acumen public affairs office manager. She has over 15 years administrative experience in the EU, Trade Association and Consultancy world. Prior to joining acumen public affairs as Office Manager in 2011, Maëlle was New Business and Marketing coordinator at Hill & Knowlton Brussels, where she had started as personal assistant to Elaine Cruikshanks. At Acumen, Maëlle is in charge of the day-to-day running of the office (accounting, HR, travel organisation, website, suppliers, translations…) and provides client support where her skills are needed. Maëlle is a native French speaker and holds a translation degree in English and Spanish.

Journalist since 1968. Former German Correspondent, Industrial Editor and European Business Editor, The Guardian. Senior adviser CabinetDN 2009-17. Now: editor, Social Europe and sceptical.scot. Graduate of Oxford University (BA) and King's College London (MA); studied at Saarbrücken and Strasbourg Universities; fluent French and German.

Ana-Maria works on public affairs and communications for clients in the fields of public and global health.  She is involved in policy research and analysis, strategy development and advocacy, but also communication activities such as drafting press releases and blogs, or developing social media strategies for clients around policy milestones or disease awareness campaigns.

Prior to joining acumen, Ana-Maria worked for FleishmanHillard Paris, as well as with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania and the European Institute of Romania, where she helped national experts provide input to the Romanian Government on several key European policy areas. Ana-Maria holds a Master’s degree in European Affairs from Sciences Po Paris, and is fluent in Romanian, French, English, Greek and has a basic understanding of Spanish and Italian.

George is an Associate Director. He joined the Acumen team in April 2016 and since then has worked on a range of clients including Uber, EuroCloud, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Mastercard. 

He previously worked as a Policy Advisor for EUROCITIES, the network of major cities in Europe, where he focused on issues such as citizen digital inclusion, open data and innovation policy. Prior to this he worked for a public affairs consultancy as a policy officer for EDiMA, the European Digital Media Association. Through this work George acquired in depth knowledge on issues such as innovation policy, digital transformation and data issues.

He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from University College Dublin. In addition to his native English George speaks Italian. 

Alex is a Senior Account Manager at acumen public affairs. He joined Acumen in 2016, having previously been an intern in late 2015, a trainee and Consultant until 2018.

Since joining Acumen, Alex has worked on a broad range of projects for clients in the healthcare, transport, industrial and agriculture sectors. Alex has particular expertise on antimicrobial resistance, vaccines and Brexit, and also has a flair for creative work within the Acumen team. Alex has been recognised for his work at Acumen, winning the award for the public affairs industry’s Promising Newcomer at the 2017 EuroPAwards.

Outside of his work at Acumen, Alex is also a member of the Executive Committee of the young public affairs professionals organisation ECPA 2.0, and Alex is actively involved pro-EU movements in UK politics. Alex has previously worked at the central office of a major UK political party, including during a General Election, and has a background working on a variety of creative projects.

Alex holds a BSc in Government from the London School of Economics. He is a native English speaker and is proficient in Spanish.

Iveta Kazlauskaite is a Senior Account Manager at Acumen. Iveta was previously a trainee at the company, and prior to that she completed a Blue Book traineeship at the European Commission, where she worked in the Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis for Health and Food Safety.

Iveta holds a Master’s Degree in Development Policy from KDI School in Public Policy and Management, in addition she holds MA in European Studies from KU Leuven and BA in International Relations from Lancaster University. Iveta is a native Lithuanian speaker, fluent in English and proficient in Russian.

Prior to joining Acumen in October 2018, Giorgos developed the outreach of a Washington-based NGO establishing its presence in US Congress, got an insider’s view on EU policymaking during his work at the European Commission, and helped to shape the advocacy strategy of a large multinational company on innovation. His policy experience includes working with trade associations, diplomatic missions, and NGOs in Europe and the United States. At Acumen, he supports clients on mobility, innovation and circular economy.

Giorgos has a Master’s in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, graduating at the top of his class with a Fulbright Fellowship. He speaks English, French, Greek, and Russian.

Alastair Crooks is an Account Manager in the healthcare team and joined acumen public affairs in January 2020. Prior to joining the team, Alastair served as the Engagement & Communication Manager at the European Medicines Verification Organisation (EMVO), where he worked closely with the key stakeholders of the pharmaceutical supply chain. While working at EMVO, Alastair was responsible for external communication during the launch and initial period of the European Medicines Verification System. 

Before his time in Brussels, Alastair spent over 3 years working in the British Parliament as a researcher and assistant to a senior backbench MP. 

Alastair holds an MSc in Crisis and Security Management from Leiden University and a BA in Politics from the University of Lancaster. He is a native English speaker and is proficient in Spanish.

Lana joined Acumen in October 2020 as an Account Manager, following her diplomatic posting at the Permanent Representation of Croatia to the European Union. She worked for the COREPER I coordination team during the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Anne-Sophie is an Account Manager supporting the EU and Global Health client portfolio. Prior to joining, Anne-Sophie completed traineeships at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the French Ministry of Health and the Assistance Publique – Hopitaux de Paris. She has also gained experience in public health research at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

Anne-Sophie holds a Master of Public Policy with a major in Global Health from Sciences Po Paris, as well as a BA in Social Sciences. Anne-Sophie is a native French speaker, fluent in English and has a basic knowledge of German.

Pauline is a Consultant at Acumen supporting clients in various EU policy fields, including mobility, healthcare and environment. Prior to joining, Pauline completed a traineeship in DG Health and Food safety at the European Commission. Pauline started her career in Leuven as trainee at the Forest Stewardship Council where she advised politics on environmental policy.

Pauline holds a Master of Biology from the Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven as well as a Master of Sustainability Science and Policy from Maastricht University. Pauline is a Belgian national. In addition to her native French, she is fluent in English and Spanish, and has a professional knowledge of Dutch.

Nabina is a Consultant supporting Acumen’s global health client portfolio. Prior to this, Nabina has direct experience working on a pharmacological research projects that investigated the pharmacokinetics of hypertensive drugs. As a student Nabina partook in an Internship with the Minas Gerais health department in Brazil where she was worked on developing strategies to advance SDG.3. Nabina has volunteered with the UCL European institute, Young Leaders for Health and the UCL Grand Challenges team. In the UK, Nabina worked with several NGOs working on topics ranging from democratizing the education system, rising the profile on adolescent health needs and increasing youth voter engagement.

Nabina holds a BSc in Medical Pharmacology from Coventry University and an MSc in Global Health and Development from UCL. Nabina is a Native Somali and English speaker and speaks intermediate French and Arabic. 

Anna is a Consultant. She joined acumen public affairs to support the EU Health team and the growing portfolio of clients focusing on the health sector. Prior to this, she completed a traineeship in DG Health and Safety at the European Commission where she gained experience in health systems and performance. Anna holds a MSc in Governance and Leadership in European Public Health and a BSc in European Public Health from Maastricht University. Anna is native in English and speaks intermediate German. She has a basic knowledge of Dutch and French. 

Laura is an Office Manager Assistant supporting the daily running of the office. Prior to joining acumen, she completed a traineeship as a personal assistant of a MEP where she gained experience in EU public affairs, communication and administration. Laura holds a LLM in European and International law from Vrije University Amsterdam and a BS in International Relations with a minor in European Institutions from Milan University. Laura is native in Italian and speaks English and Spanish. She has a basic knowledge of German and French. 

Yae is an EU Health Consultant. Prior to joining Acumen she completed an internship in a European trade association where she worked on EU health-related issues.

Yae obtained a master’s degree in International and European Law at the Catholic University of Leuven, where she wrote her dissertation on the pricing of medicine under EU Law. During this period, she also completed an Erasmus Program at the University of Copenhagen and an exchange program at Venice International University. Being born and raised in Brussels, she speaks Dutch, French, English and has a basic knowledge of Japanese.

Gianluigi is a Consultant supporting Acumen’s environment and mobility client portfolio. Prior to joining acumen public affairs, he worked as an Intern at the EU Regional Office of Regione Campania in Brussels, where he was in charge of monitoring all the developments related to the EU environmental policies. 

Gianluigi obtained a Master's degree in Law at the Federico II University of Naples, graduating cum laude with a dissertation on EU State Aid and tax rulings. During this period, he also completed an Erasmus Program at the Université Catholique de Louvain.

Gianluigi is an Italian national. In addition to his native Italian, he is fluent in English and has intermediate knowledge of Spanish and French.

Louise is a Junior Consultant supporting the EU Health client portfolio at acumen public affairs. Prior to joining, Louise worked at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU during their Council Presidency and at INBAS GmbH as well as completed an internship at the DG Health and Food Safety of the European Commission.

Louise holds a Master from SciencesPo Paris in European Affairs with a major in Global Health and a Bachelor in European Public Affairs from Maastricht University. Louise is a native German and French speaker, fluent in English and has a good knowledge of Spanish.

Jack Matthijnssens is a Trainee Consultant in the Healthcare team at acumen public affairs. Prior to joining the team at Acumen, Jack served as a Press Advisor to the Irish MEP’s in the EPP Group in the European Parliament in 2019 following an internship in the group’s ITRE (Industry, Technology, Research and Energy) policy team. He has previously worked as a freelance social media manager.

Jack successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts in History and English in University College Dublin before going on to complete his Masters in European Studies at the Catholic University of Leuven.

Jack is a native English speaker and a dual citizen of Ireland and Belgium. He also speaks Dutch.

 Marta Provencio is an EU Health Trainee Consultant at Acumen Public Affaris. Prior to joining the team, Marta worked as a Market Access Consultant in Spain, where she gave support to pharmaceutical companies during the Market Access process in Spain. She collaborated with relevant Spanish stakeholders, scientific societies and patients’ associations.

Marta holds an MBA of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological companies from Ephos Pharmaceutical School in Madrid, a MSc in Assessment and Market Access from Carlos III University in Madrid and a BA in International Relations from the Complutense University of Madrid. She is a native Spanish speaker, proficient in English and has a basic knowledge of French and Arabic

Carlotta is a Global Health Trainee Consultant at Acumen Public Affairs. 

Prior to joining Acumen, Carlotta worked as a Team & Event Coordinator in an events agency based in Milan and as a PR and Communications Assistant at a public relations and marketing communications firm in New York City, gaining experience in drafting communication strategies, media plans and in managing clients’ needs. During her studies she has also worked as a Research Assistant conducting policy research on European issues.

Carlotta holds a B.S. in Political Science and International Relations from the Catholic University of Milan and a M.S. in Crisis and Security Management – Public Administration from Leiden University. She is an Italian native speaker, also fluent in English and Spanish.

Maxime is a Trainee Consultant supporting the Sustainability team. Prior to joining acumen public affairs, Maxime completed various internships focused on a multitude of social and environmental subjects including plastic pollution, gender in artisanal fisheries, and farmland biodiversity. Her most recent internship at EurEau allowed her to take part in studying EU water policy and waste-water management. 

Maxime holds a bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Sciences with a minor in Public Health from the Free University of Brussels (ULB). She also obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Management from the same institution in 2019. Passionate about environmental matters and circular economics in particular, her master’s thesis was a life cycle analysis (LCA) of a cosmetic-grade essential oil. 

Maxime was born in Atlanta, Georgia and holds dual citizenship for Belgium and the United States. She is fluent in English and French and has a beginner’s level of Spanish and Dutch.

Felix Sames is an EU Health Trainee Consultant at acumen public affairs. Prior to joining the team, he completed an internship at a European trade association, where he worked on international issues related to the innovative pharmaceutical industry.

Felix holds an LL.M. in European and European Legal Studies from the University of Hamburg, an LL.M. in International and a European Law from Tilburg University, and a Bachelor of Laws from Universitas Pelita Harapan in Indonesia.  Felix is native in English, speaks intermediate German and Indonesian, as well as conversational Mandarin.