The ERIF is a registered Société Sans But Lucratif under the Belgian law. Accordingly, it is governed by a Board of Directors, to which the Executive Team reports. The General Assembly of the ERIF sets outs the mission of the think tank and oversees its activities and accounts. The ERIF is financed by its members.
For more information about membership, please contact info@eriforum.eu.
Board of Directors
For more information about membership, please contact info@eriforum.eu.
Board of Directors
Howard Chase, Chairman
Howard Chase is Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive of Dow based at the Dow Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) regional headquarters in Horgen, Switzerland. He advises on major public policy and government relations issues of strategic importance for the company. These include energy and carbon policy, trade policy, plastics and the circular economy, chemicals regulation, industrial policy and political and geopolitical risk.
Prior to joining Dow, Howard held senior Government Affairs posts for BP plc in Brussels, Washington DC, Moscow and London and undertook various assignments in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Angola, Algeria, Colombia, Vietnam and other locations worldwide.
Howard studied at Cambridge University in the UK and at Harvard Business School.
Amongst various external and industry roles, Howard is Chairman of the European Regulation and Innovation Forum (ERIF), a former Chairman of the Industry Advisory Panel of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and served on the European Commission High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment.
Howard Chase is Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive of Dow based at the Dow Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) regional headquarters in Horgen, Switzerland. He advises on major public policy and government relations issues of strategic importance for the company. These include energy and carbon policy, trade policy, plastics and the circular economy, chemicals regulation, industrial policy and political and geopolitical risk.
Prior to joining Dow, Howard held senior Government Affairs posts for BP plc in Brussels, Washington DC, Moscow and London and undertook various assignments in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Angola, Algeria, Colombia, Vietnam and other locations worldwide.
Howard studied at Cambridge University in the UK and at Harvard Business School.
Amongst various external and industry roles, Howard is Chairman of the European Regulation and Innovation Forum (ERIF), a former Chairman of the Industry Advisory Panel of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and served on the European Commission High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment.
Paul Leonard, Member
Chair, ERIF Innovation Task Force
Paul has a BSc in zoology from the University of Bristol, an MSc in entomology from Imperial College and an MBA from the Open University Business School. He started his career In 1984 with Dow as an entomologist. In 1994, he moved to American Cyanamid, as technical manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa. In 2000, he joined BASF’s global regulatory team, then moved to Government Relations in 2008 where he was responsible for corporate innovation and technology policy. In January 2018, he took over as Director of Global Government Affairs for BASF’s Agricultural Solutions Division. Previous board positions include Rothamsted Research (UK’s premiere agricultural research institute) from 2009 to 2019 and the British Chamber of Commerce in Brussels from 2009 to 2014.
Chair, ERIF Innovation Task Force
Paul has a BSc in zoology from the University of Bristol, an MSc in entomology from Imperial College and an MBA from the Open University Business School. He started his career In 1984 with Dow as an entomologist. In 1994, he moved to American Cyanamid, as technical manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa. In 2000, he joined BASF’s global regulatory team, then moved to Government Relations in 2008 where he was responsible for corporate innovation and technology policy. In January 2018, he took over as Director of Global Government Affairs for BASF’s Agricultural Solutions Division. Previous board positions include Rothamsted Research (UK’s premiere agricultural research institute) from 2009 to 2019 and the British Chamber of Commerce in Brussels from 2009 to 2014.
Dr. Veronique Steukers, Member
Chair, ERIF Scientific Integrity Task Force
Veronique is Director, Health and Environment Public Policy at the Nickel Institute. She has more than 18 years professional experience in the area of regulatory and government affairs as well as advocacy with corporate metal and chemicals companies. Prior to joining the Nickel Institute, Veronique was Advocacy Director at the Corporate Sustainability Department of Albemarle. Veronique has a deep understanding of international chemicals management gained through her involvement in EU and global chemicals policy processes and negotiations. She has also been extremely active within the different sectors, having performed functions as chair or vice-chair of industry organisations and is currently chair of the EHS Committee of Eurométaux, the European non-ferrous metals association. During her early career she was responsible for product liability for the Umicore Group. Veronique holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Exeter in the UK, and a MSc in Chemistry from the University of Namur, Belgium.
Chair, ERIF Scientific Integrity Task Force
Veronique is Director, Health and Environment Public Policy at the Nickel Institute. She has more than 18 years professional experience in the area of regulatory and government affairs as well as advocacy with corporate metal and chemicals companies. Prior to joining the Nickel Institute, Veronique was Advocacy Director at the Corporate Sustainability Department of Albemarle. Veronique has a deep understanding of international chemicals management gained through her involvement in EU and global chemicals policy processes and negotiations. She has also been extremely active within the different sectors, having performed functions as chair or vice-chair of industry organisations and is currently chair of the EHS Committee of Eurométaux, the European non-ferrous metals association. During her early career she was responsible for product liability for the Umicore Group. Veronique holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Exeter in the UK, and a MSc in Chemistry from the University of Namur, Belgium.
Bernd Halling, Member
Bernd studied history and geography at the Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Edinburgh. He worked as Head of Office for a Member of the European Parliament (1995 – 1999) and was Director of Public Policy for the European Biotech Association EuropaBio (1999-2004). Mr. Halling served as Senior Advisor in external affairs for IDEA in Stockholm (2004-2005), an international organization with the task to support democratization as well as director for Communication for IFAH Europe and IFAH Global, the industry representation of the animal health industry (2005-2008). Bernd Halling was Head of the EU-Liaison Office for the Bayer AG (2008-20017) and is since 2017 Head of Corporate Policy and Strategy in Bayer Public and Governmental Affairs.
Bernd studied history and geography at the Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Edinburgh. He worked as Head of Office for a Member of the European Parliament (1995 – 1999) and was Director of Public Policy for the European Biotech Association EuropaBio (1999-2004). Mr. Halling served as Senior Advisor in external affairs for IDEA in Stockholm (2004-2005), an international organization with the task to support democratization as well as director for Communication for IFAH Europe and IFAH Global, the industry representation of the animal health industry (2005-2008). Bernd Halling was Head of the EU-Liaison Office for the Bayer AG (2008-20017) and is since 2017 Head of Corporate Policy and Strategy in Bayer Public and Governmental Affairs.
Martina Bianchini, Member
Martina became President of IFRA in June 2016. She has a passion for bringing together science and society, drawing from her multinational and multicultural experiences working across the chemical, agricultural, biotech, food, health and luxury goods sectors in a wide range of functions.
Martina has been educated at Louisiana State University, the University of Trier, the University of London and the Harvard School of Public Health. She holds an MSc in Environmental Toxicology and a BSc in Earth Sciences. Martina’s career has included roles at Monsanto and Dow, where she was global advocacy lead for chemicals and health, and as Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Environment and Energy Commission and Chair of ICC’s Green Economy Task Force.
Martina became President of IFRA in June 2016. She has a passion for bringing together science and society, drawing from her multinational and multicultural experiences working across the chemical, agricultural, biotech, food, health and luxury goods sectors in a wide range of functions.
Martina has been educated at Louisiana State University, the University of Trier, the University of London and the Harvard School of Public Health. She holds an MSc in Environmental Toxicology and a BSc in Earth Sciences. Martina’s career has included roles at Monsanto and Dow, where she was global advocacy lead for chemicals and health, and as Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Environment and Energy Commission and Chair of ICC’s Green Economy Task Force.
Executive Team
Dirk Hudig, Secretary General
Dirk was Secretary General of the Union of Industrial & Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE, now BusinessEurope) from 1998 to 2001, having previously chaired UNICE's Committee on State Aid. He has held several other posts including Chairman of the BIAC Environment Committee in the OECD, Secretary and later Treasurer of the Society of Chemical Industry Europe Committee, and sat on the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN) Programme Committee. Dirk is also a former President of the British Chamber of Commerce and was honoured with an OBE by the British Government for this. He joined ICI, the UK Chemicals company, in 1970 and worked in various businesses within the group in Rotterdam, London & Brussels before becoming national Head and Group Manager of EU Government Relations for ICI from 1987-1998.
Contact: +32 2 613 2828
dirk.hudig@eriforum.eu
Dirk was Secretary General of the Union of Industrial & Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE, now BusinessEurope) from 1998 to 2001, having previously chaired UNICE's Committee on State Aid. He has held several other posts including Chairman of the BIAC Environment Committee in the OECD, Secretary and later Treasurer of the Society of Chemical Industry Europe Committee, and sat on the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN) Programme Committee. Dirk is also a former President of the British Chamber of Commerce and was honoured with an OBE by the British Government for this. He joined ICI, the UK Chemicals company, in 1970 and worked in various businesses within the group in Rotterdam, London & Brussels before becoming national Head and Group Manager of EU Government Relations for ICI from 1987-1998.
Contact: +32 2 613 2828
dirk.hudig@eriforum.eu
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Richard Meads, Rapporteur
Richard has been involved with better regulation for over twenty years. He has worked with a number of different think tanks.
As Rapporteur of the ERIF, Richard has contributed to over 100 articles, papers and studies covering better regulation, science and decision-making, and innovation. A director of Business Decisions Limited for more than twenty-five years, Richard previously worked for British Petroleum in a range of different functions including finance, corporate planning and marketing.
Educated at Oxford University, Richard is also a Chartered Accountant.
Contact: +44 2920 899 318
richard.meads@eriforum.eu
Richard has been involved with better regulation for over twenty years. He has worked with a number of different think tanks.
As Rapporteur of the ERIF, Richard has contributed to over 100 articles, papers and studies covering better regulation, science and decision-making, and innovation. A director of Business Decisions Limited for more than twenty-five years, Richard previously worked for British Petroleum in a range of different functions including finance, corporate planning and marketing.
Educated at Oxford University, Richard is also a Chartered Accountant.
Contact: +44 2920 899 318
richard.meads@eriforum.eu
Lorenzo Allio, Senior Policy Analyst
Lorenzo has 20 years work experience with Better Regulation, both the EU level and internationally. He is the Owner of allio|rodrigo consulting, a dynamic firm specialised in private sector development and good governance through the deployment of regulatory management tools (Regulatory Impact Analysis, stakeholder engagement and ex post evaluation) in bureaucratic organisations; as well as risk regulation and innovation. Lorenzo is a member of the European Risk Forum’s Founding Team. Previous to starting his own consulting activity in 2009, he has served as an Administrator in the OECD Regulatory Policy Division in Paris, after coordinating the Programme on Better Regulation of the European Policy Centre in Brussels (2002-2007).
Lorenzo holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy (2009) from King’s College London, and obtained his MA diploma in European Political and Administrative Studies at the College of Europe (Bruges) in 2002. Lorenzo is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Université de Lausanne since 2016 and a Honorary Associate Research Fellow at the University of Exeter since 2010. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the European Journal of Risk Regulation.
Contact: +41 76 393 1030
lorenzo.allio@eriforum.eu
Lorenzo has 20 years work experience with Better Regulation, both the EU level and internationally. He is the Owner of allio|rodrigo consulting, a dynamic firm specialised in private sector development and good governance through the deployment of regulatory management tools (Regulatory Impact Analysis, stakeholder engagement and ex post evaluation) in bureaucratic organisations; as well as risk regulation and innovation. Lorenzo is a member of the European Risk Forum’s Founding Team. Previous to starting his own consulting activity in 2009, he has served as an Administrator in the OECD Regulatory Policy Division in Paris, after coordinating the Programme on Better Regulation of the European Policy Centre in Brussels (2002-2007).
Lorenzo holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy (2009) from King’s College London, and obtained his MA diploma in European Political and Administrative Studies at the College of Europe (Bruges) in 2002. Lorenzo is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Université de Lausanne since 2016 and a Honorary Associate Research Fellow at the University of Exeter since 2010. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the European Journal of Risk Regulation.
Contact: +41 76 393 1030
lorenzo.allio@eriforum.eu
Max Bentinck, Programme Executive
Max joined the ERF in January 2013, where he focuses among other topics on the links between regulation and innovation. Prior to this, Max worked at the European Commission in the Directorate General for Development Cooperation, at the European Parliament in the Directorate for Interpretation & Conferences as well as at a leading international public affairs consultancy. Max holds a Masters degree in law from the Université Catholique de Louvain and a Masters degree in Political Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges. Max grew up in Brussels and is fluent in Dutch, English and French.
Contact: +32 2 6132828
max.bentinck@eriforum.eu
Max joined the ERF in January 2013, where he focuses among other topics on the links between regulation and innovation. Prior to this, Max worked at the European Commission in the Directorate General for Development Cooperation, at the European Parliament in the Directorate for Interpretation & Conferences as well as at a leading international public affairs consultancy. Max holds a Masters degree in law from the Université Catholique de Louvain and a Masters degree in Political Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges. Max grew up in Brussels and is fluent in Dutch, English and French.
Contact: +32 2 6132828
max.bentinck@eriforum.eu