who we are?
Our team
Based in Brussels, the UIPI Secretariat is the executive body of UIPI in charge of public affairs, policy research, communication activities and administrative work of the association.
Emmanuelle
Causse
SECRETARY
GENERAL
Emmanuelle has been Director of UIPI since 2009, when she settled the UIPI Representation in Brussels. Her role is to lead the Brussels office, act as a representative toward EU institutions and prepare as well as defend the positions of the organisation on all EU topics relevant for private property owners. In February 2020, she was also elected Secretary General.
Emmanuelle started her career in EU Affairs in 2001, working for different organisations, including the European Parliament, a well-known European think tank, the Ile-de-France region representation in Brussels and a wide European umbrella association. She was also a researcher on EU policy at the Austrian Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS).
She graduated in Public Administration from ‘Sciences Po’ Toulouse (Institute of Political Sciences), and has a Law Degree from the University of Toulouse, France. She also holds a Master Degree in EU Affairs from the University of Aalborg, Denmark.
A French national, she is also fluent in English and German.
Nataša
Vistrička
POLICY
DIRECTOR
Nataša acts as Policy Director at UIPI. Her tasks include monitoring EU policy developments and representing the voice of property owners towards EU institutions and other stakeholders. She also works on EU funded projects to which UIPI is a partner.
Nataša has professional background both in private and public sectors, as she worked as a Senior Consultant for a Public Affairs and Public Relations consultancy in Brussels, as well as a Policy Officer at the European Parliament, and most recently the European Commission, where she has gained extensive knowledge of the EU legislative system and the functioning of the European institutions.
Throughout most of her career, Energy and Environment have been the core of her work. She has developed this expertise primarily during her experience at the European Parliament serving as a policy advisor for a Member of the European Parliament, whom she advised on European affairs and public policies mainly related to ITRE and ENVI Committees.
Nataša holds two master’s degrees from Brussels based ULB in Multilingual Communication, where she specialised both in international relations and human resources. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from UNIGE in Geneva.
Besides her native Croatian, she is fluent in French, English and Spanish, and has a solid knowledge of Italian.
Maria
Figueira
PROJECT &
EVENT MANAGER
Maria took up the role of Project and Outreach Officer to coordinate UIPI projects. Her tasks include the undertaking and management of EU projects, as well as the organisation of seminars and events. She also contributes to all UIPI outreach and communication activities.
Maria started her career working for communication consultancy agencies in Portugal and later worked in the real estate and tourism industries.
She was also an assistant researcher at ISCTE’s Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-IUL) on gentrification trends in Lisbon.
She graduated in Sociology from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) and holds a Master degree in Urban Geography from Utrecht University in The Netherlands.
She is currently a PhD candidate in Urban Studies at ISCTE-IUL and at the NOVA University of Lisbon (UNL), specialising in condominium management challenges and informal power structures.
A Portuguese national, Maria speaks fluently English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Anna
Klöpper
PROJECT AND
COMMUNICATION OFFICER
Anna joined the team in November 2022 as Communication and Project Officer. She is in charge of UIPI’s internal and external communication and manages UIPI’ activities in EU funded projects.
Anna studied the Bachelor program ‘Media and Culture’ at the University of Cologne and accomplished several internships in the areas of Marketing and Journalism.
Three years ago, she moved to Brussels to obtain her master’s degree in Communication studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Before joining UIPI, she was working as a Project Coordinator for an online news media.
Next to German as her native language, she speaks English, Dutch, and French.
Eva
Saring
EU AFFAIRS ASSISTANT
Eva joined the office in September 2023 as EU Affairs Assistant. She will be working both in the area of policy and communications.
Eva finished her LLB in International and European Law at the University of Groningen in 2023. Previously, she gained insights into the field of communications through several internships in Europe and Canada.
Next to German as her native language, she speaks English and French.
Francesco
Robimarga
LEGAL
ASSISTANT
Given his mixed legal and policy background, Francesco takes on the comparative legal analysis for UIPI members as well as pursuing legislative monitoring on EU legislation, drafting position papers and participating in lobbying activities.
Francesco has a J.D. degree (Bachelor + Master) from Sapienza University of Rome where he specialised in Parliamentary and Constitutional Law and he is finishing an LLM in European Law and Policy at LUISS University in Rome.
He is trained as an Italian lawyer and, in addition to his lawyer practical training, he gained further professional experience as an academic assistant at Sapienza and in the Legislative Coordination Unit and Whip Office in one of the biggest political groups in the European Parliament.
Next to his native Italian knowledge Francesco speaks English and Spanish.
Yolande
Roekeloos
OFFICE MANAGER
Since the seat of UIPI office has been transferred to Brussels, Yolande has been providing administrative support. Her tasks include accounting, logistic and administrative support.
