Our committees and working groups address members’ most important business challenges, while the Secretariat team manages Afera’s daily operations

Afera’s mission is carried out by a Steering Committee headed by the President of the Association and supported by 2 additional bodies, the Marketing and Technical Committees. Full-time logistical support is provided by Afera’s Secretariat which resides at Afera’s head office in The Hague, The Netherlands, under the management of Lejeune Association Management.

Complying with Competition Law

Afera and its members adhere to a policy of strict compliance with European Community Competition Law (Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty) in all of its operations.
Download Afera Antitrust Guidelines

Steering Committee

Afera’s Steering Committee (SC) consists of delegates from ‘active’, ‘associated’ and ‘converter’ member companies, as well as the committee chairmen, who serve 3-year terms of office. The representatives of classes of membership and committee chairmen are nominated by members, approved by the current SC and subject to election by the General Assembly with an absolute majority. Chaired by a president and vice-president, the SC generally meets twice a year and is entrusted with decisions concerning the working programme of the Association. The SC may appoint necessary advisory committees in which all members are entitled to be represented. Currently there are 2 such committees, the Marketing Committee and the Technical Committee, and 8 committee working groups.

President Evert Smit’s focus for 2019-2021

Members of the Steering Committee

Tape Manufacturer	President Evert Smit	Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Tape Manufacturer	MKC Chair Jacques Geijsen	American Biltrite Inc. (Belgium)
Tape Manufacturer	TC Chair Reinhard Storbeck	tesa SE (Germany)
Tape Manufacturer	Richard Marchant	Novacel SAS (France)
Tape Manufacturer	Dirk Pittoors	Nitto Europe N.V. (Belgium)
Converter	İbrahim Hatipoğlu	Egebant Zımpara ve Polisaj Malzemeleri San. ve Tic. A.Ş. (Turkey)
Supplier	Ian Grace	Loparex B.V. (The Netherlands)
Supplier	Melanie Ott	H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

Marketing Committee

Afera’s Marketing Committee (MKC) is composed of marketing and industry specialists with the mission to 'grow the pie' for all companies in the European adhesive tape value chain, including both commodity and specialty tape producers. The MKC meets at least two times a year and is assisted by the Secretary-General of the Association. Its topic-driven agenda is pursued through working groups (WGs) established on the following: Social Media Programme, Website Management, Education Awareness, Membership Recruitment, General Communications and Annual Conference. Each MKC Member is committed to one or more of the WGs, which meet and work between regular MKC meetings.

Marketing Committee Chairman Jacques Geijsen’s focus for 2019-2020

Members of the Marketing Committee

Delegate	Member company	Afera working group
Chairman Jacques Geijsen	American Biltrite Inc.	Content Generation & Engagement, Leader
Giovanni Scognamiglio	3M Italy	Sustainability
Joanna Oleskow	Advance Tapes International Ltd.	Member Recruitment
Aris Venetis	Atlas Tapes SA	Content Generation & Engagement
Rupert Kichler	Avery Dennison Performance Tapes	Content Generation & Engagement  Industry Promotion
Stevi Liakopoulou	Dow Europe GmbH	Future Workforce
Evert Smit, Afera President	Lohmann GmbH & Co KG	Future Workforce, Leader  Content Generation & Engagement
Florian Heller	Mondi Inncoat GmbH	Future Workforce
Stefan Neuner	Neenah Performance Materials	Member Recruitment
Stefan Meirsman	Nitto Europe N.V.	Member Recruitment
Deniz Bölükbaşı	Organik Kimya San. Ve TIC. A.Ş.	Future Workforce  Sustainability
Wolfgang Aufmuth	Sekisui Alveo AG	Future Workforce
Karsten Krahwinkel	tesa SE	Content Generation & Engagement
Beverley Weaver	TSRC (Lux) Corporation S.a.r.l.	Member Recruitment

Additional Member delegates of Marketing Committee working groups

Delegate	Member company	Afera working group
Thorsten Petersson	tesa SE	Marketing Communications

Technical Committee

Afera's Technical Committee (TC) is a working group of technical experts assisted by the Secretary General of the Association that also meets at least two times a year. All technical subjects, such as test methods development, and publication and application of European and GTF standards, are matters for the TC’s agenda. The TC also handles all industry-related regulatory matters, including legislation originating from national or European bodies, as well as private and global initiatives.

Technical Committee Chairman Reinhard Storbeck’s focus for 2019-2021

Members of the Technical Committee  

Delegate	Member company	Afera working group
Chairman Reinhard Storbeck	tesa SE	Technical Events, Leader  Regulatory Affairs
Anne-Marie Klink	3M Europe	Content Generation & Engagement
Teoman Köksal	A&G Ambalaj San. Tic. Ltd. Sti.	Sustainability
Alan Gilding	Advance Tapes International Ltd.	Regulatory Affairs  Content Generation & Engagement
Costas Yiannopoulos	Atlas Tapes SA
Paul Schwitter	ATP adhesive systems AG
Klaus Menzel	BASF Aktiengesellschaft	Test Methods
Eric Parois	Bostik Smart Adhesives	Sustainability
Thorsten Meier	certoplast Technische Klebebänder GmbH	Content Generation & Engagement, Leader  Test Methods
Lutz Jacob	Consultant to Afera TC on standardisation issues	Test Methods, Leader   Convenor CEN TC 193 / WG 7
Ralf Roenisch	Coroplast Fritz Müller GmbH & Co. KG	Technical Events  Test Methods
Danny Beekman	DRT
Gert-Jan van Ruler	DRT	Technical Events  Sustainability
Jarno Weemers	Eastman Chemical B.V.	Sustainability
Jürgen Pomorin	Evonik Industries AG	Test Methods
Uwe Maurieschat	Fraunhofer Institute IFAM	Test Methods
Jeff Burrington	H.B. Fuller UK	Regulatory Affairs  Content Generation & Engagement  Sustainability
David Vanraes	Henkel AG & Co. KGaA	Test Methods
Axel Hessland	IVK/FEICA	Regulatory Affairs   Sustainability
Evert Smit, Afera President	Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG	Future Workforce, Leader
Martijn Verhagen	Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG	Sustainability, Leader  Technical Events
Ian Grace, Afera SC Member	Loparex B.V.	Sustainability  Technical Events
Annette Kelsch	Mondi Group
Lucio Trincia	NAR SpA
Michael Raidt	Neenah Gessner GmbH	Content Generation & Engagement
Michel Sabo	Nitto Europe N.V.	Technical Events  Sustainability
Yasemin Seyren	Organik Kimya San. Ve TIC. A.Ş.	Sustainability
Satish Palika	Sekisui Alveo AG	Sustainability
Mikko Rissanen	UPM Specialty Paper

Additional Member delegates of Technical Committee working groups

Delegate	Member company	Afera working group
Miriam Verbruggen	Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG	Regulatory Affairs
Ingrid Wasbauer	Nitto Europe N.V.	Regulatory Affairs
Jürgen Kahl	tesa SE	Test Methods
Dirk Lamm	tesa SE	Regulatory Affairs

Secretariat

Afera’s Secretariat is responsible for the daily management of the Association and operates on behalf of Afera’s SC and the other committees. The Secretariat serves as the co-ordinator and contact point for most of Afera’s events, activities, and publications.

Based in The Hague, the Netherlands, Afera’s Secretariat is operated by Lejeune Association Management, which provides full management and office resources to associations which lack the scope, manpower, and/or financial means to run the administrative and functional structures of their organisations independently. LAM's mission is to provide management services and expertise to industry and professional associations in the broadest sense.

Afera Secretariat staff members

Astrid Lejeune, Secretary General
Elke Verbaarschot, Marketing Communications Manager
Stephanie Feith, Management Assistant
Cora van der Lek, Financial Support
Pablo Englebienne, Afera Regulatory Affairs Manager

Afera External Support

Bathsheba Fulton, Independent Communications Specialist
Bert van Loon, Independent Strategist
Elisabetta Caminiti, Annual Conference Support