Dr. Irina Michalowitz

A former pilot and certified systemic coach, Irina is the person you want to rely on to help you navigate the Brussels and European lobbying and public affairs landscape. Brussels-based since 15 years, Irina steers clients calmly but purposefully through complex business challenges, proposing unconventional but ultimately rewarding paths. Combining academic excellence (a PhD in political science as well as an MBA) with true insight knowledge in public affairs, Irina looks back at an impressive and multi-faceted career bringing together research, lobbying (among others for Telekom Austria Group and Austrian Federal Railways) and consulting (with a strong focus on leadership and career development). She recognises opportunities where others see problems and tackles them hands-on. Pragmatic, yet visionary, focused, yet curious and open-minded, Irina is an inspiration to people around her. She is the driving force behind Emerald, born from her desire to create a different kind of consultancy.

Cristina Zygomalas

Cristina is a professional marketeer who learnt her trade working in international advertising for cor-porate clients. She always thinks of the target audience and market when advising on the promotion of products or services. She also has in-depth knowledge of the agri-food, drink and tourism sectors, as well as EU and regional policy from working on public procurement projects.

Cristina is a truly multi-cultural European, a Greek who grew up in Italy, studied in the UK and fell in love in Germany. She has a creative flair that comes from her wide experience of different cultures and languages, and a natural curiosity to understand and connect with others.

She adds a splash of colour and a spark of creative energy to brighten up a grey Brussels day!

Natalie Sarkic-Todd

Natalie is an adviser, a colleague, a business partner and a friend all in one. She is fair, reliable, understanding – and passionate about not compromising on principles or quality. She cares about a thorough intellectual foundation for decisions to be taken – and will ensure thorough background research and a 360 degrees look at the issue at stake.

Her professional career is very rich and diverse, encompasses diplomacy, corporate business, and managing public affairs and pan-European media networks, which matches her cultural and language background across Europe.

Her strong experience in senior management consulting roles helps the Emeralds to sail as close to the wind as the client and the task allow, whilst her ethically motivated professional choices and in-depth knowledge of corporate and social responsibility make her a trusted adviser and valuable addition to the team.

Dr. Julia Stamm

With Julia as part of your consultant team, you can rest absolutely assured that your project will have a clear and transparent structure and a perfect schedule. No matter how hectic things get, Julia effortlessly masters them and manages to get everyone quickly aligned to get the tasks done. Moreover, this capability also makes her the ideal person to spot weaknesses in your programme or department set-up, or to mastermind the perfect big high-level conference for you.

At the same time, Julia loves a good laugh and professionally moderates your events with a smile. Her particular interest belongs to building bridges between science and society – be it helping scientists communicate better, non-EU experts gaining EU funding or policymakers and researchers understand each other better.

With 15 years of work experience in academic organisations and EU institutions based on the thorough foundations of a Ph.D. in sociology and an Executive Master of Public Management, she has seen more than her fair share of what can go wrong and how it can be done better, and she will do everything it takes to make you succeed.