Our team | Cycling Industries Europe (CIE)

Paul Walsh, originally from Ireland, has lived in Brussels for over 20 years and brings more than 12 years of experience working in Brussels-based associations. He holds a master’s degree in Association Management and has worked across a wide range of sectors, including aviation, research and innovation, tourism, and medical devices. With  expertise in European advocacy and stakeholder engagement, Paul’s cross-sector knowledge and collaborative leadership support the mission of Cycling Industries Europe to advance sustainable mobility and grow the cycling industry across the continent.

Lauha Fried is Policy Director at Cycling Industries Europe. Lauha runs the expert groups for bike sharing, CSR & Sustainability and Women in Cycling network. She also follows closely what’s on the EU’s agenda related to urban mobility and transport.

Previously, Lauha established one of the first regional EU representation offices for Finnish regions in Brussels and worked as an expert for the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy. After regional development, Lauha moved on to renewable energy sector, promoting wind power as a Communications Director at Global Wind Energy Council. She has extensive experience from advocacy, public relations, and communications work both at EU and global levels. 

Lauha has authored several publications on wind energy and renewables. She holds an MSc in Political Science, International Law and Communications.

She has two daughters, speaks English, French, Swedish and her native Finnish and lives in Brussels.

Jacques focuses on getting greater support for cycling as a key industry for Europe. He co-runs the expert groups on market intelligence, supply chain and innovation. 

A career lobbyist with 16 years’ experience working in the EU ‘Brussels bubble’, Jacques has always aspired to work for sectors that make people happier or smarter. Previously, he worked for EU organisations promoting public media and then tourism. He also teaches EU public affairs at Sorbonne University. 

He would describe himself as a ‘European’ and his young son could claim 4 nationalities. Jacques was born in London, studied in Toulouse, lives with an Italian partner and calls Brussels ‘home’.

Mojgan is the Head of Operations of Cycling Industries Europe.

For over 20 years working as human resources and financial management experience with top international organisations and private sector companies reducing staff turnover and creating new sources of revenue. In senior management roles driving organisational change and integrating human resource strategies with internal business processes.

Prior to joining CIE, Mojgan worked for different International humanitarian development, GOPA cartermeill development consulting with EU Project and World Vision EU Representation (NGO) seeks to influence EU institutions and focusing on child protection and child Rights.

Mojgan previously studied Journalism in London.

Ebru Akgün is the Sustainability Project and Policy Officer at CIE. Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, she holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Bilkent University, supplemented by conservatory training in music. She later earned an MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology and Sustainable Development from KU Leuven, specialising in sustainability in the Mediterranean agriculture. During her studies, Ebru gained experience in sustainability-related roles across Turkey, Brazil, and Belgium, in organisation from different governance levels.

Ebru has three years of experience in EU-level sustainability advocacy and lobbying, particularly in the trade and construction sectors. She is also currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science and Sociology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Antwerp, focusing on political communication in sustainability contexts

She speaks her mother tongue Turkish, and fluent in English and Dutch, and has conversational knowledge of German, French and Greek. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing the piano and singing, painting, writing and spending time with her beloved friends - books.