Project Assistant

Carmen is a project assistant who has been working for MICHEL IRS since 2022 with a focus on multilateral cooperations between Africa and Europa.

Furthermore, she has been involved in high-profile events such as the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Western Balkan Summit, both in 2022.

Carmen has a background in music as well as a bachelor of science in psychology from Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès. It is exactly this human aspect – which she also strives to underline with her every project – that fuels her passion for her work. In addition to Estonian, her mother tongue, Carmen is fluent in English and French, and is also proficient in German.

Project Assistant

Pablo has experience in protocol and event management, having previously worked in the context of the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union, the Buildings and Climate Global Forum in Paris. He has furthermore gathered extensive experience in the production of events as well as in marketing.

During his undergraduate studies at Kings College London, he specialised in modern history and international relations, focusing on contemporary conflicts and cybersecurity. This was followed by his master’s degree on esports, where he eventually lectured at the university and academically published his work on the impact of digital technology on society.

A native speaker in Spanish, Pablo speaks fluently English and French.

Senior Project Manager

Géraldine is a senior project manager who not only takes a leading role in the delivery of the high-level segment of international events but is also involved in business development, drafting proposals/tenders and developing operational plans.

Rebecka says: “In addition to her natural charm and diplomatic skills, I value Géraldine’s ability to have a vision for a project that can be executed effectively – she is excellent at linking the concept with the administrative and budget requirements.”

Prior to joining the MICHEL IRS team, Géraldine worked for a number of high-end European groups such as Caviar House & Prunier, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and the Hilton Group. Whether in the position of key account manager or in the role of event manager in Switzerland and France, she was required to deliver on a common credo – that “service excellence lies in the detail”.

Raised in a multicultural environment, she turned to Anglo-Saxon literature and civilisation at the University of Strasbourg and then in Dublin, Ireland, before pursuing studies in tourism, leisure and hospitality at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce et Management Omnis in Strasbourg, France.

In addition to French, her mother tongue, Géraldine is fluent in English and has an upper intermediate level in Spanish.

Associate Advisor

Dr Nomfundo Xenia Ngwenya is the Chief Strategy Officer for Ntsele Global, a small, black-owned South African investment group. She has worked extensively across the African continent as a senior government official, policy researcher and businesswoman.

She was previously Chief Director for African Economic Integration at the National Treasury, where she represented South Africa at key continental multilateral economic institutions such as the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the International Monetary Fund’s Afritac-South Steering Committee, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She previously chaired SACU’s Finance and Audit Committee and was South Africa’s Deputy at the ADF, where she co-chaired (with the UK) the working group on mobilising financial resources for Africa’s low-income countries.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Director, she was Director: Global Development Policy, where she headed National Treasury’s BRICS unit. In this role, she oversaw the formulation of South Africa’s negotiating position at the New Development Bank (NDB) and was part of the South African delegation to the inaugural negotiations of the NDB. After leaving National Treasury, she was appointed Programme Head for the the DfID-funded Globabl Economic Governance programme, where she oversaw research on regional trade, illicit financial flows and infrastructure financing. She has also headed the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA’s) South African Foreign Policy and African Drivers programme, served as an analyst at the South African Secret Service and lectured at the University of South Africa.

Dr Ngwenya is a member of the Institute of Directors and a Non-Executive Director of the Johannesburg Development Agency. She holds a PhD in International Studies from the University of Cambridge, MSc in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), MA and BA (Hons) in International Studies from the University of Stellenbosch and BA (Political Science) from the University of Port Elizabeth.

Associate Advisor

Torben Michael Theis holds a track record of more than 15 years of work experience in the German political landscape and so advises MIRS on German government relations and content. After completing his political apprenticeship at the Federal Chancellery, he held various positions in political committees and in multinational organisations, as well as for members of the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) before becoming Deputy Managing Director of Germanys biggest political youth organisation in 2007. Over subsequent years Torben has built up an admirable network of high-level contacts across the German political scene. In 2013, he established THEIS International Consulting, which provides strategic guidance to its clients on matters of policy, government relations and public affairs.