Cristina Vicini is the elected president of the Professional Women International Brussels, since January 2006. Managing Director and Founder of her own Management Consulting practice, Vicini Consulting (www.viciniconsulting.com), Cristina started her career in 1988 and held various international management positions, both in the private sector and within international organizations, including inter alia as former Global Business Development Manager at Microsoft, as Director of Sales at Deutsche Telekom T-Systems-International Public Sector and as Strategic Marketing Manager for the Public Sector in Germany at Siemens Business Services.
She holds a degree with honors in Computer Science from the University of Brussels and a Masters Degree in International Management from Boston University.
Cristina serves on the boards of a number of European technology companies and associations. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Boston University and is an accredited member of the Association of Board Members in Belgium.
Born in Bologna, Italy, Cristina is married, fluent in five languages and is an avid golf and tennis player.
Mimma Pernetti, Secretary General
Mimma Pernetti is Senior Project Manager for Vaccine development in GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals in Wavre (Belgium).
She obtained a Master in Chemical Engineering from University of Rome “La Sapienza” (Italy), after having performed part of her studies and research also in Ecole National Superieure des Industries Chimiques in Nancy (France) and in Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland). She then attained a double PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Rome “La Sapienza” and Ecole Polytechnique de Nantes (France), with a thesis on the development of novel environmental biosensors.
After having worked at University of Rome and Campus Biomedico as assistant professor and researcher, she worked as researcher and then project leader at Unilever Research and Development, in the Netherlands, for the development of new food products. She published her research work on biosensors, encapsulation and food structures in a number of peer reviewed journals, as well as in two book chapters and an international patent.
She has been board member of BEST (Board of European Students of Technology), of which she is now an alumnus.
Born in Salerno (Italy) Mimma has grown in Rome and is now living in Bruxelles with her husband and her daughter. She's fluent in French, English and Italian and learning Dutch.
Armelle Loghmanian, Treasurer
Armelle Loghmanian is currently the owner and general manager of DiphoNet, a consulting company with a branch in Seattle, USA and another one in Belgium focusing mainly in process improvement and new business analysis.
Previously, she led a testing and software Development Company of 120 people in Belgium and 3 subsidiaries, one in France, one in Germany and one in UK. Prior to that, she held several key leadership positions in different companies and divisions of the Philips group in different European countries. In her last assignment within Philips as strategic marketing officer in their digital networks division, she was analyzing potential alliances or participation in companies for external growth.Before she serves in Philips Media, the software publisher of the Philips group, as productions director for the European publishing. She was instrumental in the definition, the launch and the success in Europe of the CD-I platform.
She has a master’s degree in engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique Feminine of Paris, France and a master in Business Administration from IAG, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
Born in Brittany, France, Armelle is married and speaks 5 languages.
Silvia Cambie, Associate Board Member
Silvia Cambié has 15 years of experience in journalism and communication. In the 1990s she traveled extensively throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia, from a base in Prague, writing about post-Soviet economic reforms and investments for leading British and German publications. Silvia also worked for nine years in Brussels managing public affairs and PR for international trade associations. She is currently based in London where she runs Chanda Communications (www.chandacom.com), a consultancy specialized in communication strategies, stakeholder relations, network management and training. Silvia is the President of the Europe-Middle East Region of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). She has a degree in Social Sciences and Business Administration from the University of Innsbruck (Austria), as well as being a certified coach and an accredited journalist. Silvia speaks five languages.
Sonia Neefs, Associate Board Member
Sonia Neefs is Belgian and an event organiser. She used to work for the Tourism Information of Brussels and now runs an event organising company, specialized in Belgian folklore and theme evenings. She is the Award Winner of the "2002 Brussels Ambassador of Tourism", category "Incentives".
Sonia Busselen, PR and Communications
Sonia’s varied career path covers a wide range of roles in Business Development, Business Analysis, Sales Operations, Customer Service, Project and Process Management in international and different company cultures.
Sonia holds a Master’s degree in Archaeology and Art History from the KUL (Catholic University of Leuven) and a degree in Business Management from VLEKHO (Flemish University in Brussels). She is a Certified Six Sigma Consultant and Certified in Lean by the University of Michigan.
Through extensive additional training in Leadership, Teambuilding and Culture Change she increased results driven the business performance of companies by applying the latest state-of-the-art methodologies in a coaching way. She managed change processes and developed business strategies in companies active in the field of medical equipment, water treatment, international courier services, automotive, banking and consultancy. Constantly aware of the powerful human forces and processes that really influence the success of a company she specialised on the human side of management. After additional professional training she obtained the International Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Being prepared through continuous self-development and all her experiences Sonia is now focussing on Communication, Leadership Development, Project Monitoring & Coaching and Personal Coaching.
She is a member of the OMPP (Organisation Mondiale de la Presse Périodique) and fluent in five languages. Fitness is her favourite sport, writing her passion. She finds guiding people to interesting spots fantastic and culinary specialities a delight.
Cristina Vicini is the elected president of the Professional Women International Brussels, since January 2006. Managing Director and Founder of her own Management Consulting practice, Vicini Consulting (
Mimma Pernetti is Senior Project Manager for Vaccine development in GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals in Wavre (Belgium).
