In this edition of Faces of EUMEPS, we introduce Mieke Kets, who recently joined EUMEPS as Assistant to the Director General. Alongside her role at KU Leuven, Mieke supports EUMEPS one day a week, bringing experience in administration, coordination, HR and event organisation. In this interview, she explains how she approaches her new role, what she brings to the team and what she is looking forward to discovering about EUMEPS, its members and the EPS industry.
You recently joined EUMEPS as Assistant to the Director General. What does your role involve, and what will you be supporting Jürgen with on a day-to-day basis?
I have always been someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity, so this role feels like a natural fit. As Assistant to the Director General, I support Jürgen in a variety of ways, from coordinating meetings and managing priorities to making sure projects keep moving forward behind the scenes.
What I enjoy most is being the person who connects the dots. A good day for me is when everybody has the information they need, things run smoothly, and potential problems are solved before they become actual problems. Jürgen may be the face leading the organisation, but I like helping create the framework that allows him to focus on the bigger picture.
You bring many years of experience in administration, coordination, HR and event organisation. Which parts of that experience do you think will be most useful in your work with EUMEPS?
Probably the people side of it all.
Over the years, I have learned that every spreadsheet, meeting agenda or project plan ultimately comes down to people. My experience in HR taught me how important it is to listen, event organisation taught me to stay calm when things don't go according to plan, and administration taught me that details matter more than most people realise.
If there is one thing I bring with me, it is the ability to combine structure with empathy. I like finding solutions that work not only on paper, but also for the people involved.
In an association like EUMEPS, a lot happens behind the scenes to keep projects, meetings and priorities moving. What do you enjoy most about this kind of coordination role?
I genuinely enjoy helping others succeed.
Some people love being on stage. I am perfectly happy making sure the stage is there, the lights are working, and everybody knows where they need to be. There is something very rewarding about bringing clarity to a busy environment and helping people work together effectively.
I also love variety. One moment I can be preparing a meeting, the next solving an unexpected issue or helping coordinate a project. No two days are exactly the same, and that keeps the work interesting.
You describe yourself as proactive and someone who likes to anticipate issues before they arise. How do you approach this in practice when supporting a Director General?
I am naturally curious, which helps!
I pay attention to details, ask questions and try to understand the bigger context of what is happening. Often, anticipating problems is simply a matter of looking a little further ahead than today’s agenda.
I also believe that preparation creates peace of mind. If information is ready before it is needed and deadlines are monitored before they become urgent, everyone can focus on their work instead of reacting to emergencies. My goal is never to be the hero who fixes a crisis; it is to help prevent the crisis from happening in the first place.
You are joining EUMEPS one day a week while continuing your work at KU Leuven. What interested you about working with a European industry association alongside your current role?
I have been working at KU Leuven for many years and still enjoy it immensely, but I have always believed that learning should never stop.
When the opportunity to join EUMEPS came along, I saw a chance to step into a completely different world and broaden my horizons. I was curious about working in a European environment, learning about an industry I knew very little about, and meeting people from different countries and backgrounds. I bring with me the backbone expertise and examples (administration, project & financial follow-up, HR related & event organisation of a huge organisation to implement in a truly small and dedicated team of expert professionals and that is an amazing experience.
What appealed to me most was the combination of continuity and discovery: continuing a job I love while challenging myself to learn something entirely new.
Finally, what are you most looking forward to discovering about EUMEPS, its members and the EPS industry in the coming months?
Without a doubt, the people.
Every organisation has policies, projects and products, but the stories behind them are what make them interesting. I am looking forward to getting to know our members and their industries, understanding what drives them and learning how their work contributes to society.
I am also curious to discover more about the EPS industry itself. Before joining EUMEPS, I had never really thought about how much expertise, innovation and cooperation sit behind materials we encounter every day.
Most of all, I hope that in a few months I will be able to say that I have not only learned about a new sector but also built meaningful connections with the people who make it what it is.
At this point, I am happily learning (a lot) in every EUMEPS-related moment.
Mieke’s arrival adds further coordination and organisational support to EUMEPS’ day-to-day work, helping the team manage meetings, priorities and projects across the association. As she continues to discover the EPS sector and the European association environment, she will also be getting to know the members and people behind EUMEPS. We look forward to sharing more of these perspectives through the Faces of EUMEPS series.