A passion for European law and international politics has driven my career, starting with a strong focus on EU institutional law as a research and teaching assistant at the “Katholieke Universiteit Leuven”.  My year abroad for a Master of Laws at Harvard Law School allowed me to study US federalism as a possible blueprint for the further development of the European Union. The three year stint at the European Court of Justice in the cabinet of Judge P.J.G. Kapteyn allowed me to deal with a wide array of cases in all areas of EU law, a perfect preparation for my career as an attorney with Linklaters De Bandt where the focus was also on EU competition law and state aid.  As from 2000, I entered the area of government relations where I gained experience on “EU law in the making”, first with General Electric and then for ArcelorMittal. As an energy-intensive industry, the steel industry’s challenges and opportunities are similar to those of the cement industry. So, CEMBUREAU was an obvious next step which allowed me to add management skills to my legal and policy expertise.

I had a first glimpse of what my career would finally be like very early as an intern Geology student in the Brazilian Cement Association (“ABCP”) when I was only 19. I hold a Bachelor, MSc and PhD degrees from the Institute of Geosciences of the University of São Paulo, and a Bachelor degree in Italian from the Faculty of Philosophy, Human Sciences and Letters of the same university. Years after the internship I returned to ABCP as a Geologist and worked there until the career jump opportunity showed up to join CEMBUREAU team: a move towards new goals and broader horizons!

A Brazilian national with Italian roots, now a Belgian citizen as well, Vagner enjoys Brussels’ international environment.

I have started working in 2002, as a chemical engineer in Halyps Cement - former Italcementi Group, now the Heidelberg Group in Athens.

During my 10+ years carrier in the cement industry, working at a cement plant, I have been in charge of the quality assurance, production control and environmental management departments.

I joined the CEMBUREAU team in October 2017, where I can use my expertise gathered working for the cement sector at European level.

In my spare time, I enjoy doing sports and I also have a passion for fine arts.

I joined CEMBUREAU in March 2008 and provide our members and the Secretariat monitoring and research services.

I previously worked two years at the Secretariat General of the European Commission as an Editor. I hold a Master of European Law from the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales et Communautaires of the Aix Marseille III University, a Master of European Law from the Institute of European Studies of the Catholic University of Louvain and a Bachelor in Public Law from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques d’Aix-en-Provence.

In addition to English, I speak French and Portuguese and I have a good command of Dutch, having lived in Leuven for almost ten years.

When I am not working, I like to go out running. Hiking is also regularly on the agenda and on the weekends. I take great pleasure in organizing and cooking diners for friends & family. In the time which is left, you will find me reading a (crime) novel.

Joseph is an experienced EU communications specialist, having moved to Brussels in 2017, firstly working in the press office of the UK Conservatives in the European Parliament, then assistant to a UK MEP, and latterly overseeing the communications of another leading European association.

He started his career in London, working in public relations and government relations consultancies, and read political science at the University of Glasgow.

Originally from Brighton in the south coast of England, Joseph is a keen traveller and takes an interest in photography, cultural activities, cycling, and swimming.