Katrina Sichel

Presenter, former TV producer and campaign director specialising in EU affairs. Based in Brussels.

Rigour. Humour. Dynamism. These are the personal and professional hallmarks for Katrina Sichel acquired after more than 25 years in the communications arena.

Katrina’s style is best described as journalism crossed with theatre. Warm, lively and on point, she puts speakers at ease. She always brings in the audience from the outset, ensuring dynamic, inclusive and engaging conversations. Faultless time-keeping, thoughtful reflections that underline key messages, and strategically-applied humour characterise her approach.

As part of an eclectic career spanning steel-trading in West Africa to business development in the post- Soviet states, Katrina spent four years as company director at an award-winning broadcast PR agency. She produced news packages for BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, ITV, AP and Reuters, covering finance and fashion, sport and current affairs, and more.

Tony Blair, JK Rowling, Tom Hanks, Alex Ferguson and Diana Ross were all on the end of her microphone. Later, when collaborating with two of Brussels’ leading communications and public affairs agencies, she managed the messaging, development and roll-out of pan-EU campaigns that targeted the public, and EU and national stakeholders.

Today, Katrina frequently moderates European policy events featuring heads of state, MEPs, Commissioners and ministers. She is a first choice in Brussels for the European Commission, Member States and Representations, business and industry, assorted trade associations, NGOs and the scientific/research community.

Katrina is re-engaged or recommended by clients time and again for her ability to orchestrate balanced debates where all voices – not least conflicting ones – are heard.

Q&A with Katrina

  • Moderating at the EU Arctic Forum in the presence of high-level IPCC scientists and Swedish royalty. Presenting an evening event at the Guggenheim, Bilbao. Chatting with passionate marine protection project leaders in a magnificently-frescoed chamber in the Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo. Closer to home, moderating events in the voting chamber of the European Parliament.

  • The first virtual event I moderated during the pandemic required being in vision, online, for a non-stop three hours. Learning how to manage speaker discussions whilst keeping your eyeline on your virtual audience, plus reading Q&As and running input in the chat channel from the client’s policy and communications units was a real (and fantastically useful!) baptism of fire.

  • My energy, humour and investment in the topic on the table, as well as for capturing and crystallising the essentials of each speaker’s contribution. Also, for putting speakers at ease and, critically, making the audience a key part of the discussions from the outset!

  • Presenting dry, technical or ‘sober’ content in a dynamic, accessible and thoughtful way. And sticking to time! Reflecting back and creating debate, not just handing the mic from one speaker to the next.

  • Upholding the dying act of listening! Also, the opportunity to meet, listen to and learn from smart, committed and inspirational people from all walks of life, areas of expertise and parts of the world. Scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, young activists, policymakers, trailblazers and experts of all kinds.

Top topics

Energy transition

Climate change & the Green Deal

Sustainability & circular economy

Transport & mobility

Agriculture & farming

Fisheries & maritime affairs

Digital transformation

Regions, cities & urban policy

Health & healthcare

Finance & economic governance

Education

BA, Modern Languages

Oxford University

MA, Modern Languages

Oxford University

Languages

English - native

French - fluent

Russian - just short of fluent

German - conversational

What they say