Event Partner Forum Europe events are where people and policy meet. We have been organising policy conferences in Brussels and around Europe since 1989. Our events provide unique insights from the people behind the policy and those seeking to influence it. Our expert team develop conference programmes with impact and provide first-class event logistics.
Forum Europe is more than an event management and conference production specialist. With offices in Brussels and the UK, we operate across Europe and globally. Through our international arm, Forum Global, our events cover five continents, and engage policymakers and industry at national and regional levels around the world. Our mission is to drill down to the issues that matter, creating policy events that are ahead of the curve, facilitating frank and open debate on some of the most pressing issues facing Europe and the world today.
You can find out more about us by going to www.forum-europe.com
Event Partner ALIBABA GROUP’S MISSION IS TO MAKE IT EASY TO DO BUSINESS ANYWHERE.
We enable businesses to transform the way they market, sell and operate and improve their efficiencies. We provide the technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses to leverage the power of new technology to engage with their users and customers and operate in a more efficient way.
Our businesses are comprised of core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives. In addition, Ant Group, an unconsolidated related party, provides payment services and offers financial services for consumers and merchants on our platforms. A digital economy has developed around our platforms and businesses that consists of consumers, merchants, brands, retailers, third-party service providers, strategic alliance partners and other businesses.
The Alibaba digital economy generated RMB7,053 billion (US$1 trillion*) in GMV in the 12 months ended March 31, 2020, which mainly included GMV of RMB6,589 billion (US$945 billion) transacted through our China retail marketplaces, as well as GMV transacted through our international retail marketplaces and local consumer services.
SERIES SESSION 1
28 October 2020 | 9:30 – 11:00 CET
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven unprecedented growth for some in the retail sector, whilst others traders continue to be negatively impacted. As the global economy works to get back on its feet, this first edition of the Forum Europe and Alibaba Group online policy series looks at the bearing the crisis has had on European brands and SMEs, and at the same time, the contribution the retail sector can make to economic growth. What is the outlook for the retail industry both on and offline? Has the digital transformation of the sector, and the innovation associated with such a shift, been sped up or stunted because of the crisis? As preparations for the Digital Services Act continue, companies across Europe are adjusting to a new way of doing business. This session provides participants with insights into how innovation is driving the reinvention of business and what impact this may have on policy-making.
Matthew Newman, Chief Correspondent, EU, MLex Matthew Newman is a chief correspondent for MLex and writes about data protection, privacy, telecoms, cyber security and artificial intelligence. Matthew began his journalism career in 1991 in community newspapers. He worked as a reporter in Riga, Latvia in 1993 and then moved to Chicago where he covered local news. In 1995, he became a personal finance reporter for Dow Jones Newswires, and was then transferred to Brussels in 1999. He specialized in EU regulatory affairs, including trade and telecom issues. He began covering competition for Bloomberg News as an EU court reporter in 2004. In 2010, he was named spokesman for Viviane Reding, the EU’s justice commissioner. In January 2012, he helped launch the commission’s proposal to overall data protection rules.
Matthew began working at MLex in April 2012 and has covered mergers, antitrust and state-aid cases. He spent a year studying French, history and communications in Grenoble, France in 1988 and 1989 and is a graduate of Boston University with degrees in history and journalism. He earned a diploma in competition law from King’s College in 2016.
Moderator: Matthew Newman
Chief Correspondent, MLex
Cynthia Sanfilippo Vice President for Public Affairs, L'Oréal Cynthia joined L’Oréal in May 2015 to lead the Corporation public affairs function in Europe. As leader of the function, she is charge of developing steering & implementing the public affairs strategy of L’Oréal in Europe, coordinating the network throughout the EU region and enhancing its PA capabilities. French lawyer by training, Cynthia held Government relations positions for US blue chip corporations such as Dow Corning, the silicones manufacturer and 3M, the diversified technology company. As a recognized leader of the US industry in Brussels, Cynthia had the opportunity to take on leadership positions in Amcham EU and Tech America Europe. Cynthia also gained experience at CLAN public affairs, a public affairs agency, the legal service of the economic and social committee, the NGO Lawyers without borders, & Maître Emmanuel Pierrat law firm. Passionate about music, Cynthia is also a cellist by training. She is married and has 2 children.
Cynthia Sanfilippo
Vice President for Public Affairs, L’Oréal
Cristina Beltramo Co-founder, Assedium Ritual Pastry Cristina was born in Cuneo, or better, in her family pastry shop, based in Cuneo, Piedmont. She moved to Milano to get her graduation in Economics and Management and started her career in the marketing department of a big food company. Then she decided to get a more international perspective, so she moved to Dublin to start her sales experience in Google. Her dream has always been to create a successful company which could leverage on her family pastry roots and on her international ambition. Today, she is co-founder together with her husband of Assedium, a niche pastry and chocolate start up which aims to bring Piedmont authenticity to the world thanks to a modern and sophisticated language.
Cristina Beltramo
Co-founder, Assedium Ritual Pastry
Sébastien Badault Managing Director France/BELUX, Alibaba Group Sébastien Badault was appointed Managing Director of Alibaba Group France in December 2015.
As one of the first employees for both Amazon France and Google France, Mr. Badault drove sales and marketing teams to build local market share and enhance the online ecosystems for each organization.
Prior to joining Alibaba, he spent 10 years at Google, where he was Country Sales Director for France and then in charge of Global Strategic Customer Development.
Sébastien was previously European Business Development Manager for Amazon, where he was charged with the group’s customer and partner acquisition strategy across the UK Germany and France.
Mr. Badault received a bachelor’s degree in Science & Marketing from Boston College and master’s degree in Marketing from ESC Toulouse.
Sébastien Badault
Managing Director France/BELUX, Alibaba Group
Damir Hajduk Head of Unit responsible for Retail and Online Services, DG GROW, European Commission Damir Hajduk joined European Commission in September 2018 at the position of Head of Unit, Retail and Online Services, Directorate Services in the Single Market and Digitalisation, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Damir has extensive experience in regulation of audiovisual media services in Croatia. His private sector professional career includes senior management positions in telecom sector, news agency Reuters and regional ERP software company London Logic Partners. Damir holds Master Degree in Economics.
Damir Hajduk
Head of Unit responsible for Retail and Online Services, DG GROW, European Commission
This conference will take place using Forum Europe’s virtual solution. For more details, please visit forum-europe.com.
For more information on any aspect of the Online Policy Event Series, please contact Forum Europe using the details below:
Forum Europe
| +44 (0) 2920 783 020
