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 [email protected].
Board of Directors
For more information about membership, please contact [email protected].
Board of Directors
Howard Chase, Chairman
Howard Chase was 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 advised 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 was 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 advised 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
Jimena Canda, Member
Jimena currently serves as EU Government Affairs & Public Policy Leader at Dow, where she coordinates advocacy strategies related to certain areas of the Green Deal, leading Dow’s work on policies related to circular economy, sustainable finance and industrial emissions. Jimena joined Dow in 2015 as Government Affairs Manager for the South Region of Latin America, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her previous experience includes four years in British American Tobacco in areas such as regulatory affairs, corporate communications and sustainability as well as an assignment to the global headquarters in London, UK, as member of the global regulatory affairs team.. Jimena is a lecturer in the Graduate Program of Corporate Affairs of the Universidad Católica Argentina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences from the same university and a master’s degree in Applied Economics from Torcuato Di Tella University.
Jimena currently serves as EU Government Affairs & Public Policy Leader at Dow, where she coordinates advocacy strategies related to certain areas of the Green Deal, leading Dow’s work on policies related to circular economy, sustainable finance and industrial emissions. Jimena joined Dow in 2015 as Government Affairs Manager for the South Region of Latin America, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her previous experience includes four years in British American Tobacco in areas such as regulatory affairs, corporate communications and sustainability as well as an assignment to the global headquarters in London, UK, as member of the global regulatory affairs team.. Jimena is a lecturer in the Graduate Program of Corporate Affairs of the Universidad Católica Argentina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences from the same university and a master’s degree in Applied Economics from Torcuato Di Tella University.
Executive Team
Jan Ahlskog, Secretary General
Jan Ahlskog is a Senior Director with more than 25 years of experience in public affairs advising top global consumer goods companies; food, chemicals and mining industries; and high-tech and transport companies. Jan has extensive experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green transition. From 1993 to 2004, he worked for a leading international public affairs firm heading the Public Policy Management Practice. Before that, he was a member of the EFTA Consultative Committee and served as Counsellor on European Affairs for the Finnis Central Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki.
Contact: +32 2 613 2828
[email protected]
Jan Ahlskog is a Senior Director with more than 25 years of experience in public affairs advising top global consumer goods companies; food, chemicals and mining industries; and high-tech and transport companies. Jan has extensive experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green transition. From 1993 to 2004, he worked for a leading international public affairs firm heading the Public Policy Management Practice. Before that, he was a member of the EFTA Consultative Committee and served as Counsellor on European Affairs for the Finnis Central Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki.
Contact: +32 2 613 2828
[email protected]
Dirk Hudig, Senior Advisor
Dirk is the founder of ERIF and served at its Secretary General until May 2023. He joined Fipra, a public affairs consultancy, as chairman and head of their Brussels office in 2001. Prior to this, he 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 has served as president of the British Chamber of Commerce and was honored 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: +32 477 51 08 34
[email protected]
Dirk is the founder of ERIF and served at its Secretary General until May 2023. He joined Fipra, a public affairs consultancy, as chairman and head of their Brussels office in 2001. Prior to this, he 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 has served as president of the British Chamber of Commerce and was honored 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: +32 477 51 08 34
[email protected]
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: +32 479 23 70 15
[email protected]
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: +32 479 23 70 15
[email protected]