Communications · EU affairs · Brussels
Pieter-Jan Herman
Communications Officer, Cooperatives Europe
Ghent-born, Brussels-based communication professional. Since 2021 I have coordinated communications at Cooperatives Europe, covering brand, website, campaigns and EU-funded projects.
Organisations I've worked and studied with
Selected work
Branding, websites, campaigns and visual stories for European organisations.
Rebranding & brand development
Developing and rolling out Cooperatives Europe's refreshed identity across the website, social media, events and print.
One consistent identity across every channel
Cooperatives Europe website
Content, structure and SEO for the organisation's main platform, in line with its themes and visual identity.
Active users up from 28K to 41K Read the case →
Cooperatives Europe's 20th anniversary
A two-day event at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, 15 and 16 October 2026.
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#CoopAnniversaryAwards
A campaign celebrating cooperatives across Europe, from the call for nominations to the finalists and winners.
Read the case →General Assemblies 2021 to 2025
Event lead for five General Assemblies, coordinating with local hosts in Paris, Oslo, Brussels and Antalya, plus one online edition.
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SE4Ces communication lead
Co-led WP8, the largest work package, for a European social economy knowledge alliance.
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A blueprint for the future
Research and groundwork for a scroll story on the EU's long-term budget.
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EU Month of Diversity
A short social media campaign with a series of posts and visuals.
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Greta Thunberg at the Environment Council
Instagram content guiding followers through the visit, made under heavy time pressure.
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Europe Day
Instagram product for Europe Day at the Council of the EU.
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Kayzr League
Visuals for the Kayzr esports league during my first internship.
Read the case →Experience
Communications Officer
- Define and implement communication strategies for Cooperatives Europe and EU-funded projects.
- Lead the Communications Working Group and coordinate joint campaigns across the ICA network, including #coops4dev and the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
- Event lead for the General Assemblies (Paris 2021, online 2022, Oslo 2023, Brussels 2024, Antalya 2025) and coordinator of the 20th anniversary event.
- Write and edit press releases, newsletters, speeches and social content.
- Repositioned LinkedIn as the main channel with a data-led strategy, tripling the following.
- Oversee website content and SEO; track results with Google Analytics, Hotjar, Mailchimp and Hootsuite.
Junior Communications Manager (trainee)
- Social media reporting, A/B testing and benchmarks feeding management decisions.
- Ran #EUDiversityMonth and #Together4STEM; supported the SDG Summit and General Assembly.
Communications Trainee
- Justice and Home Affairs follow-up, daily media monitoring and weekly social analytics.
- Social media coverage of European Council summits; MFF scroll story and Green Deal content.
Communications & Marketing Trainee
- Market research, a KPI-driven communication plan and content for the Kayzr League.
Captain (student job)
- Coached student teams recruiting donors for NGOs; best door-to-door recruiter in Belgium three years running.
Education
Master of Science in EU Studies
- Thesis: Cosmopolitanism in the EC: refugee crisis as a turning point? (17/20)
Bachelor in Communication Management
Skills & languages
Tools
Strengths
Languages
"A thorough, conscientious team-player, who does not hesitate to work independently and take initiatives." Eleni Kindyni, traineeship advisor, Council of the EU
Beyond work
Music & sound
I have produced electronic music since I was 16: dark, melodic and experimental. I teach music production in Brussels, focusing on FL Studio and synthesis, and I design my own audio plugins.
Let's talk
Open to conversations about communications roles, projects and collaborations in Brussels and beyond.