Helga Coppen

Helga Coppen

Regent since 17 May 2021

Profession

Deputy General Director of the Social and Economic Council of Flanders (SERV)

Studies

  • Master’s in Social Law, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2007)
  • Master’s in Business Law, University of Antwerp (2004)
  • Degree in Law, University of Ghent (2002)

Career

  • Deputy General Director of SERV (since 2017)
  • Advisor in the research department of the Flemish Socialist trade union Vlaams ABVV (2014 - 2016)
  • Advisor in the cabinet of the Flemish Vice-Minister-President and Minister for Innovation, Public Investment, Media and Poverty Reduction and the Flemish Minister for Housing, Energy, Social Economy and Cities (2009 - 2014)
  • Advisor in the cabinet of the Flemish Minister for Work, Education and Training (2007 - 2009)
  • Advisor in the research department of the Flemish Socialist Party sp.a (2005 - 2007)
  • Lawyer at the Opdebeeck & De Groote law firm (2002 - 2005)

Other current functions or mandates

  • Member of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Erasmushogeschool (EhB - Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts) (since 2017)
  • Member of the Executive Board and the General Assembly of the ESF-Agentschap (European Social Fund Agency for Flanders) (since 2019)

Past functions or mandates

  • Member of the Executive Board of the Flemish public employment service, Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding (VDAB), as government representative for budget and finance (2010 - 2014) and then as a member (2015 - 2016)
  • Member of the Executive Board of Syntra Vlaanderen, the Flemish Agency for EntrepreurshipTraining (2014 - 2015)
  • Member of the Executive Board of EVA Integratie en Inburgering, the Flemish Agency for Integration and Inclusion (2014)
  • Member of the Flemish Government’s Audit Committee (2012 - 2014)