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About US - Our Team

This is the team that will do it for you.

In order to make the Chamber and its projects successful in the current environment we live and work in, we require people who go for it 100% all the time. Stepping away from mediocrity is a way to do this.

Olivier Smekens

Olivier Smekens | President

Olivier Smekens is Vice-President with KBC USA and Head of the Corporate Network Banking Department.

Follow the blog of our President Olivier Smekens in "De Tijd" on banking versus/and entrepreneurship.

After graduating, Olivier joined KBC Bank and has built international expertise in corporate relationship and investment banking and entrepreneurship focusing on small caps (Belgium, 1997-
2001), midcaps (London 2001-2004) and large multinationals (2004-2007). Olivier is also President of the Round Table New York and heads the Round Table-GMF Marathon team, using the power of sports to enhance the lives of the less fortunate. Olivier holds a Master in Applied Economic Sciences (University of Antwerp) and Financial Sciences (Norwegian School of Management). Olivier is married to Nele and has 3 children.

Tamara Zouboff

Tamara Zouboff | Director & Event Manager

Tamara Zouboff is Executive Director at the Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce.

Executive Committee

Lorin Van Nuland
Sofie Van Gijsel
Stan Himpe
Philippe Ryckaert
Ludovic Saverys
Olivier Zimmer
Tamara Zouboff
Olivier Smekens

Senior Advisors

Ambassador Herman Portocarero
Consul General of Belgium in New York

Marc Struyvelt
Investment & Trade Commissioner, FIT Flanders Investment
&Trade

Edith Mayeux
Investment & Trade Commissioner, AWEX Wallonia Trade &
Investment

Luc Lippens
Investment & Trade Commissioner, Brussels Trade Commission

Brigitte Peleman-Vantieghem (Atlanta Chapter)
Kristof Abbeloos (Houston Chapter)
Diane Van Hoof (Chicago Chapter)
Matt Van Steenkiste (Detroit Chapter)
Frederic Bien (New Social Networks Belcham)
Pierre Dodion (Senior Advisor Boston Chapter)
Claudine De Scheemaecker (Silicon Valley Chapter)
Mario Schmit (Portland Chapter)

And of course… our `Young Belcham students team`

Every year, the U.S. hosts many young, bright, ambitious Belgian students. The Chamber can count on their support, know-how and bright ideas making it more successful every single day.

The Chamber would like to thank Professor Emile Boulpaep (Yale University) and his organization ‘Belgian-American Educational Foundation`, supporting and guiding this ‘Young Belcham students Team`.