Nicole Schenkelaars

Assist expatriates moving to Switzerland with finding a new home, a school/nursery for their children, arrange internet/TV/phone providers, handle the immigration process, open up a bank account, get insurance, explain the Swiss waste disposal system, provide information on cultural differences, identify appropriate language courses etc.

Head of the EU Public Affairs Department. Represented the interests of the various 3M businesses (pharmaceuticals, consumer products, tranportation, satefy and security etc.) vis-à-vis the EU institutions and informed the latter about 3M's activities and businesses. Analyse EU legislation to assess whether and how it affects 3M and its business, and if it does, suggest language to key legislators to mitigate the effects.

Developed and implemented Public Affairs campaigns for Hewlett-Packard and 3M Pharmaceuticals; successfully lobbied the EU to maintain a zero-rate taxation for UK building construction contractors.

Authored guides on EU funds for SMEs investing in Hungary, sold worldwide; directed evaluation studies for the European Commission; counselled clients on EU legislation in telecom, pharma and energy; led a trade mission to Moscow.

Tracked EU legislation for member associations in the retail and wholesale trade; delivered presentations that clarified the consequences of EU policies on the retail and wholesale trade; developed lobbying campaigns on various EU issues; organised international meetings in EU developments in international trade and consumer affairs.

Business and Politics

Dual major in Economics and Linguistics