Meet the Team
Maaike Van Hooidonk
Co-CEO
Wepublic
My expertise and focus is mainly public affairs and stakeholder management. I have ample experience with the lobby in The Hague, but also with advocacy at regional and local levels. I like to switch between strategic choices, contemporary issues that arise and hands-on support. I am passionate and work side-by-side with my clients throughout the process. I am also passionate about intelligence questions, data driven public affairs and the development of IT tools for ambitious public affairs professionals. For example, together with colleague Mark van den Anker I developed our successful Stakeholder Intelligence Monitor (SIM) and I bear the responsibility for the further development and growth of the SIM. Representing Wepublic, I am also involved in our international Interel network.
Previously, I worked as a public affairs advisor at Schiphol Group and as a consultant at Berenschot and EPPA Politiek & Lobby Consultants. I have also been working for the VVD for years, at both local and national level.
In my spare time I enjoy sports (running, crossfit, strength training), surfing, reading and dinners and drinks with family and friends. I can cook quite nicely and I also really enjoy eating out. I have two daughters with whom I like to go out to museums and theaters or explore the outdoors.
Mark van den Anker
Co-CEO
Wepublic
I love working on complex issues in the field of public affairs and stakeholder management by helping to make it concrete and to just do it. I gladly assist clients in supporting and developing public affairs strategies, which we then jointly implement. By making the representation of interests and lobby concrete and tangible, I show how they can contribute to the objectives of the organization. I am passionate and work closely with my clients throughout the process. My working method is characterized by a ‘hands-on’ and a thorough approach combined with humor and perspective.
I am enthusiastic about asking questions regarding intelligence, data driven public affairs and developing IT tools that can be of added value in our field. Together with my colleague Maaike van Hooidonk I developed our successful Stakeholder Intelligence Monitor (SIM) and I bear the responsibility for the further development and growth of the SIM.
The future of our field will, in my view, be based more on the use of data and IT applications.
Maurice Jansen
Managing Director
Wepublic
Working on a stronger profile and a clear position of my clients, that is what I like to do as a consultant. If that position comes under pressure, it only makes it more relevant – and more interesting professionally. As a consultant I want to help clients to (continue to) do what they are good at and to grow; as managing director I do that for the agency and my colleagues.
Before I started at Wepublic, I worked at an international communications consultancy and I was communications director at Albert Heijn.
Besides my work at Wepublic, I am also member of the supervisory board at a partnership group for appropriate education and a director at a theatre. I also enjoy reading, writing, running and walking with my little son, and I like going to museums and Milan.
Gijs Petter
Director Intelligence
Wepublic
At Wepublic I am responsible for the Intelligence tools. I make sure that our team of consultants keeps you up to date on all relevant political and social developments with the Stakeholder Intelligence Monitor (SIM).
I gained the necessary experience in the House of Representatives of the Netherlands but also in the public affairs sector. I see myself as an all-round and involved consultant, familiar with many sectors and quickly informed and aware of (political) sensitivities.
Besides the above, I like to cook and to play field hockey, and I listen to (almost) all political podcasts.