The teams and governance of the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX)

The Management Committee

The Management Committee is responsible for the Agency’s operational management and for implementing the strategic directions defined by the Walloon Government and the Board of Directors.

• Ms Pascale DELCOMMINETTE, Chief Executive Officer
• Mr Michel KEMPENEERS, Director General for International Affairs
• Ms Dominique TOURNEUR, Director General for Products and Services
• Mr Jacques JADOUL, Support Services Department
• Mr Dominique DELATTRE, Geographical Department
• Mr Fabio MAURO, Sectoral Department

In the application of the provisions in force, the Board of Directors of the Agency shall comprise twelve members, including a chairman and a vice-chairman, appointed by the Government and divided as follows:

a. Four representatives from representative organisations

Fairly divided between, on the one hand, organisations representing small and medium-sized businesses and agriculture, and on the other, organisations representing industry and large businesses, appointed by the Government on the basis of a double list put forward by the General Assembly of the economic, social and environmental Council of Wallonia.

b. Four directors appointed by the government

c. Four external directors

Appointed by the government for their professional experience and foreign trade, corporate international expansion, and foreign investment expertise.

Also attending Board of Directors meetings in an advisory capacity are: the Administrator General, the Agency’s Directors-General, a representative from the executive management team of SPW Economy, Employment and Research (SPW EER), and a representative of the Walloon Agency for the Promotion of Quality Agriculture (Agence wallonne pour la promotion d’une agriculture de qualité, APAQ-W).

Two Government Commissioners take part in the Agency’s Board of Directors meetings in an advisory capacity.

1. Directors

Representatives from representative organisations

• Mr Jean-Christophe DEHALU
• Mr Olivier DUFRASNE
• Mr Olivier ETIENNE
• Ms Marianne STREEL

Walloon Government representatives

• Mr Pierrick FASTRE
• Mr Pierre LEONARD
• Ms Mélanie MESTDAGT, President
• Mr Jean-Albert NYSSENS, Vice Chairman

External directors

• Mr Bruno WATTENBERG
• Ms Caroline CLEPPERT
• Mr Mathieu RYCKEWAERT
• Ms Coralie BOULEZ

2. Attending Board of Directors meetings in an advisory capacity

• Ms Pascale DELCOMMINETTE, Administrator General – Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX)
• M. Michel KEMPENEERS, International Affairs Director General – Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX)
• Ms Dominique TOURNEUR, Products and Services Director General – Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX)
• Ms Claire HOUSEN, observer (APAQ-W)
• Mr Lionel BONJEAN, observer (SPW EER)

3. Government Commissioners

• Mr Martin BALBACHEWSKI
• Mr Vincent MOYSE

According to Article 5 of the  Decree of 12 February 2004 on the status of public directors, their term of office is limited to five years.

There are five divisions within the geographical department:

1. Neighbouring European countries,
2. Other European countries,
3. The Americas,
4. Africa and the Near & Middle East,
5. Asia-Pacific.

This department’s responsibilities include market analysis, trend monitoring and analysis, networking and economic diplomacy (in particular through coordinating state visits and princely missions), taking part in joint committees and geographical coordination, and briefing new Belgian ambassadors.

The geographical department and the sectoral department work together to allow us to identify partnerships and business opportunities and offer a coherent, targeted programme of commercial actions that Walloon companies can take abroad.