O UR R ECENT A CTIVITIES
On 19 January 2012, Ambassador Frans van Daele, Chef de cabinet of H.E. Herman Van Rompuy, and Christian Leffler, Managing Director for the Americas, European External Action Service, shared their diplomatic experience with the alumni of the LSE and KU Leuven, followed by a reception hosted by the UK Representation to the EU.
On 16 October 2011, Professor Christopher Coker, LSE Department of International Relations, discussed the security state of ‘The world 10 years after 9/11’ with us; hosted by The Brussels Office, Brussels. On Saturday 8 October 2011, Mayor Patrick Janssens, LSE Alumnus, gave a speech and hosted a reception for LSE alumni at the C ity Hall in Antwerp, followed by a traditional Flemish lunch and a guided tour in the 'Museum aan de Stroom' (MAS). On 14 July 2011, panel debate on the challenges and possible scenarios for tackling the euro crisis with Etienne de Callataÿ, Chief Economist of Bank Degroof, former C hief of Cabinet of the Belgian Finance Minister and Deputy Chief of Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister, LSE Alumnus and member of the LSE AAB Advisory Board; Philippe Legrain, Advisor to Commission President Barroso, Head of the Analysis Team of the Bureau of European Policy Advisors (BEPA), European Commission, Author of Aftershock: Reshaping the World Economy After the Crisis, LSE Alumnus; moderated by Peter Spiegel, the Brussels Bureau Chief of t he Financial Times, LSE Alumnus; followed by a Summer reception in the Sachsen Representational Office, Brussels. On 30 March 2011, panel debate on “ The European Parliament after Lisbon: at the height of its powers or work in progress?” with Prof. Simon Hix, LSE; Edward McMillan-‐Scott MEP (ALDE), Vice-‐President of the European Parliament; György Schöpflin MEP, Member of the Advisory Board of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism at L SE, LSE alumnus; and Michiel van Hulten, consultant, former MEP, LSE alumnus; hosted at the European Parliament. On 9 March 2011, alumni reception and discussion on “The Obama Administration: Two Years On” with HE Howard Gutman, U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, at the United States Ambassador’s Residence. On 17 F ebruary 2011, we held our New Year's Reception with a keynote speech on “One year as Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response” by European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, a former LSE visiting fellow, hosted by the British Ambassador to Belgium, HMA Jonathan Brenton at the British Residence in Brussels. On 10 November 2010, HE Pisan Manawapat, the Thai Ambassador to the EU, discussed the current state of play of EU-‐South East Asia relations with Willem Van de Voorde, Head of Unit of the European Policy Coordination Unit at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The debate was held at the Prince Albert Club and m oderated by Peter Spiegel, the new Bureau Chief of the Financial Times in Brussels. All panellists were L SE Alumni. On 12 October 2010, LSE Prof. Mary Kaldor presented her new book “The ultimate weapon is no weapon: human security and the new rules of war and peace” at the Hanse Office. A week before, LSE Prof. Eileen Barker talked to us on “How tolerant should our society be? Coping with religious m inorities in Western Europe” at the Cercle des Voyageurs.
On 12 July 2010, we organised an event on the Belgian Presidency of the EU with Prof. Peter Bursens, Professor at the University of Antwerp, alumnus Willem Van de Voorde, Head of Unit responsible for the Belgian Presidency at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alumnus Dirk Wouters, Chief of Staff of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and moderator Simon Taylor, the European Voice's news editor. On 21 May 2010, we welcomed the Honourable Peter Sutherland, chairman of the LSE Court of Governors, chairman of Goldman Sachs International, UN Special Representative for Migration, former Attorney General of Ireland, former EC Commissioner and former Director General of GATT/WTO. Mr. Sutherland addressed a selected circle of Members of our Advisory Board and senior L SE alumni in Brussels on “the current state of Europe and the challenges the EU is facing” at the Hilton hotel. In April 2010, LSE Prof. Iain Begg joined us for a presentation on the "Europe 2020 strategies", followed by a walking supper at the Representation of the F reistaat Sachsen. In December 2009, we organised an LSE Expert Talk & Christmas event on “How can the EU's Trade Priorities lead Europe out of Recession” w ith Roderick Abbott, former Deputy Director-‐ General of the WTO and DG Trade; Edward Bannerman, Member of the Cabinet of Baroness Ashton; LSE Prof. Razeen Sally, Director of ECIPE, and Peter Witt, former German Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU. All participants were LSE alumni and staff. Hosted by the Representation of the Freistaat Sachsen. In June 2009, Advisory Board Member and alumnus Etienne de Callataÿ invited us to the exclusive launch of his book “Confessions of an ordinary economist -‐ The lessons from the Financial C risis” at Bank Degroof, introduced by Advisory Board Member Baron Paul Buysse CMG, CBE. In March 2009, we were delighted to welcome LSE Director Sir Howard Davies in Brussels for an event on the financial and economic crisis gracefully hosted by former Advisory Board Member HE Dr. Rachel Aron, former British Ambassador to Belgium, at the Ambassador's residence. Every year in March, for the past four years, we organise the European Internships Fair together with LSE and Science Po to help LSE graduates find internships in Brussels. In 3 hours, over 200 ambitious students met face to face with 25 potential employers. The alumni association also hosts an Alumni Networking Event and a Brussels' Career Panel Discussion
Every year in September, for the past four years, w e organise a Pre-‐ Departure & Welcome Home Event for prospective LSE students, their parents and recently graduated students, together with the LSE Alumni, over some drinks we provide useful information on life at LSE and wished them a great start in London. Finally, our Monthly Networking Drinks – every first Wednesday of the month at different locations in Brussels – continue to be especially popular, with a special Christmas edition, a wine tasting edition, a UK elections edition and joint drink events with alumni groups of other leading universities. Photo of the current Team of the LSE Alumni Association Belgium with European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, and British Ambassador to Belgium HMA Jonathan Brenton: Dorlin Muresan, L aurent Donceel, Helene Banner, Florian Köbele, Lieven Brouwers, Thomas Cole, Joana Cruz, Audrey Dereymaeker, Elena Arène, Peter van Strijthem, Christopher Kalla-‐Bishop