About us

Meet the Team

Kristine Dewaele, Counsellor, Office and Project Manager

I started my career in 1997 at ISOPA and ALIPA. I started as secretary assisting the Secretary General. Quite quickly my position changed to office manager and with the experience I gained over the years I became counsellor, office and project manager with special focus on Product Stewardship matters. I am especially involved with the set up and roll out of the ISOPA driver training program and Reach restriction training program.

Jörg Palmersheim, Secretary General

Jörg Palmersheim leads as Secretary General of ISOPA and ALIPA the industry associations since January 1st 2013. ISOPA and ALIPA represent the European aromatic and aliphatic di-isocyanates industries, both located in Brussels, Belgium. Jörg Palmersheim was born 1962 in Brühl, Germany. After his graduation from high school, he joined BAYER AG in 1985 as a trainee and gained a Master of Business Administration. He also holds an Executive Master in international association management from Solvay Business School in Brussels. At BAYER, Jörg Palmersheim held international leadership positions such as Marketing Director at BAYER plc in the UK. He relocated to Germany in 1999 and later on to Switzerland in 2007, where he held Marketing Director roles in Polyurethanes Business Unit until 2012. Under Jörg’s leadership ISOPA and ALIPA successfully launched the digital platform for the training of the safe use of diisocyanates, the lighthouse project for the entire polyurethane industry in the EU, to the benefit of safety and health of millions of workers across Europe. He also conducted the establishment of ISOPA as an independent non-for-profit entity an drove the 10 year journey of advocacy on the REACH regulation on Diisocyanates.

Brieuc Lits, Public Affairs & Communications Officer

I was born and raised in Brussels, which sparked my interest for EU affairs. I joined ISOPA as a Communication Officer in 2021. My main responsibilities include the management of external and internal communications and the monitoring of issues related to the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Prior to joining ISOPA, I earned a PhD in Communication from the Université libre de Bruxelles with a doctoral dissertation analysing advocacy strategies and measuring their success. I still regularly give lectures on interest representation and political communications.

Iva Jurat, Communication Assistant

I moved into the Communications sector from an educational and professional experience in languages and translation. During my bachelor’s studies, I started freelancing as a translator. I had the opportunity to work with people and companies from around the world. This experience got me interested in studying abroad in an international environment. That brought me to Belgium, where I obtained an MA degree in English Linguistics and Literature, and later joined ISOPA as a communications assistant.