Olivier Hinnekens has nearly 30 years of experience in politics, public affairs, corporate communications and crisis management, backed by an extensive political and civil society network at European level and in Belgium.

Olivier is currently a board member of the European Movement International and has held leading positions over the years in multiple pro-European civil society organisations at EU, national and local level.

Before starting up SoWhatCommunications in April 2023, Olivier worked between 2015-2023 as a consultant inside the Publicis Groupe network of companies, where in his last role he was co-managing director of the Brussels EU office of Kekst CNC.

From 2005-2014, he worked as policy advisor on Trade Policy, Foreign Policy, European Affairs, Economic Affairs, Labour Market and Innovation with the Flemish Christian Democrats, representing his party also at European level within the European Peoples Party.

Before working in politics, Olivier was Partner and Head of the Belgian Public Affairs Practice at Interel Public Relations and Public Affairs (now Denton’s).

He also worked in regional development for the Strategisch Plan Zuid-Oost-Vlaanderen and did internships at the European Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

Olivier holds a master of laws (LL.M) of the University of Illinois and studied law in Namur and Leuven.

As a Belgian national, Olivier’s working languages are Dutch, French, English, with a good understanding of German.