Issued 22nd June 2006   New General Secretary for FEMA

From September 2006, the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) will have a new General Secretary Aline Delhaye - appointed by FEMA Member Organisations at their meeting held on 13 May 2006 - will be responsible for the co-ordination of FEMA activities, management of the three persons office, representing and promoting European motorcyclists' interests in Brussels.

Aline Delhaye has a passion for motorcycling. She first went on a bike in her father's back-pack at the age of 3 months. Rider for over 15 years herself, she is presently riding either her friend's Honda CBF 500 or her father's Honda CX500 Turbo.

Aline is a Belgian living in Brussels, "which is becoming a dying breed"; she said laughing at the interview. Her international background - she grew up in Africa, in the now-called Democratic Republic of Congo, and travelled in Canada, Spain and Russia during her studies - makes her feeling more of a world citizen than merely Belgian. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and understands quite a lot of Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese.

Aline voluntarily started working as a ´lobbyist´ 10 years ago, representing the interests of the students from her university, first towards academic authorities, then Belgian public institutions. Once active on the labour market, she kept on representing Belgian students' interests and positions at European level, representing her federation at the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB). At that time, she was working part-time for a major Spanish telecommunications operator's representation office in Brussels taking in charge all accountancy and human resources matters. She definitely gave an end to the student representation experience when she started working for the European motorcycle industry (ACEM) two years ago.

Her academic track has always been representative of her interests with a first degree in translation studies, followed by some management courses. She then decided to start a master in human resources three years ago. She is currently trying to write the final words of her thesis on Communication among Federations.

Her experience in dealing with representation at all levels and her practical and academic work on ACEM communication activities will definitely greatly help FEMA. When applying for the job, Aline said: "If it hadn't been for FEMA, I would have probably given up this Brussels' bureaucratic atmosphere to go back to Africa. I have taken up this new challenge because I love, and want people to do more for, motorcycling."

Aline Delhaye will be replacing Antonio Perlot who has worked for FEMA since 2001 and will hold the position until end of August. Antonio will then join the European Motorcycle Industry as Public Affairs Manager.

FEMA President Kees Meijer declared: "Looking at Alien’s background I’m confident that FEMA will benefit from this ´fresh blood´ in our federation. Her communicational background allows us to invest in an area we identified as something that could be improved. Besides that it’s always good to now and then have someone new in an organisation, asking more questions than there sometimes are answers available. It ensures that we not only question measures that are taken outside our federation, but also keeps us focussed on what we do ourselves. And she does so from a rider’s perspective, which she obviously is. I’m looking forward working together".

Issued by

Christina Gesios

 

FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047 / Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401
www.fema.ridersrights.org