Martijn Pakker
Senior-level Consultant in Strategy development, Management and Communication/Stakeholder Engagement
Experience
Head of Strategic Relations & Activities
Institute for European Environmental Policy
Led a team responsible for governance, networks, events, and partnerships.
Oversaw the European Green Deal Barometer (3rd edition): design, analysis, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement.
Drafted IEEP’s Resource Mobilisation and Research Uptake Strategy (2023–2027).
Managed Think2030 and Think Sustainable Europe, including annual conferences, partner coordination, and strategic planning.
Strengthened engagement with EU institutions, member states, foundations, and civil society.
Supported alignment of research programmes with policy priorities and funding opportunities.
Founder & Principal Consultant
MNPQ Consulting
Provides high-level advisory support to organisations working across climate, environment, agriculture, public health, children’s rights, and sustainable development. Work centres on strategic engagement, evidence-based advocacy, institutional effectiveness, and policy influence.
Designed and codified an evidence-based operational consulting workflow blueprint for the Lead Operator role, translating strategic intent into repeatable delivery systems.
Embedded structured cognitive bias countermeasures, including anchoring prevention, cognitive-forcing checklists, and systematic “consider the opposite” validation.
Co-designed mixed-methods data divergence resolution processes, including specification of joint-display visualization, methodological appraisal, and auditable resolution memos.
Operationalized AI-human insight validation gates through blind review protocols and socio-technical ethics audit integration.
Led Matrix Integration Protocol facilitation between functional and project mandates to turn structural friction into integrated, jointly validated workflow improvements.
Oversaw multi-stage informed consent design and data ethics compliance for diagnostic stakeholder engagement.
Established psychological safety baseline measurement and empowerment pulse monitoring, aligned to operator responsibilities in complex knowledge work delivery.
Senior Manager / Head of Global Advocacy
International Rice Research Institute / CGIAR
Designed IRRI’s Global Advocacy Strategy (2020–2025) linking research portfolios to SDGs, food security, climate adaptation, and resilient livelihoods.
Led IRRI engagement at UNFCCC COPs, UNGA, SDG Summits, WHA, and high-level global fora.
Coordinated all Golden Rice regulatory communications and multi-country stakeholder engagement.
Built strategic relationships with governments, multilateral institutions, and regional organisations.
Produced strategic narratives translating technical research into policy-relevant messages.
Helped position IRRI at the centre of climate and food systems debates.
Regional Partnerships & Advocacy Manager
International Center for Tropical Agriculture / CGIAR
Developed regional strategy for CIAT’s global policy engagement (UNFCCC, ECOSOC, SDG platforms).
Coordinated research uptake in regional and national policy discussions.
Identified new partnerships with donors and policy actors across Latin America.
Supported regional communications, events, and policy outreach.
Advocacy, Donor Relations & Research Uptake Manager
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Designed advocacy and communications efforts for global health research at WHA, UN events, and donor forums.
Led development of multi-million USD institutional funding applications.
Acted as focal point for international development policy and Global South-led innovation.
Strengthened research uptake pathways and policy alignment across scientific divisions.
Independent Consultant – Advocacy & Programmes
Developed advocacy strategies and campaigns for health and development issues for clients including Porter Novelli, IAVI, International Diabetes Federation, IVCO, and UNDP MENA.
Built relationships with EU institutions and Member State representatives.
Produced political analyses, messaging, and technical communications products.
Interim Executive Director
European Volunteer Centre
Senior Account Manager
Edelman Brussels
Guest Lecturer
Université de Liège
Board Delegation Member
Global Fund
EU Policy Advisor
Stop AIDS Alliance
Project Coordinator
IPPF European Network
Summary
Senior-level expert with over 20 years of experience in international advocacy, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability policy. Has supported research institutes, think tanks, UN agencies, donors, NGOs, and multi-stakeholder platforms across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Global South.
Experienced in connecting research, policy, and practice through political economy analysis, evidence-informed advocacy, and coordinated stakeholder engagement. Extensive background engaging EU institutions, UN bodies, national governments, philanthropic foundations, and research networks.
Brings proven strengths in strategy development, research uptake, MEL for policy influence, coalition-building, network governance, donor stewardship, and facilitation of high-level and technical dialogues. Founder of MNPQ Consulting, providing advisory services across climate, environment, agriculture, food systems, public health, digital rights, and sustainable development.
Skills
Climate Change: Mitigation, Adaptation, Climate Finance, Transparency
- Agriculture And Food Systems Research (Cgiar)
- Environment, Biodiversity, Marine And Coastal Ecosystems
- Global Health, Vaccine Policy, Health Systems, Equity
- Digital And Children’s Rights Online (Eu Context)
- Eu Green Deal, Fit For 55, Refueleu Aviation, Fueleu Maritime
- Research-for-development | Science-policy Interfaces
- Sustainable Transport | Hydrogen And E-fuels Policy
- International Development Cooperation And Sdgs
- Horizon Europe, Mff/eu Budget, Eu External Action
- Mel For Advocacy And Policy Influence
Policy & Advocacy
- Strategy Design; Policy Analysis; Political Economy Assessments
- Legislative Targeting; Positioning Documents; Influence Mapping
- Messaging Development For Senior Leadership And Researchers
Stakeholder Engagement
- Multi-stakeholder Dialogue Facilitation
- Run-of-show Design, Agenda Planning, And High-level Moderation
- Engagement With Eu Institutions, Un Processes, Member States, Donors, Ngos, Research Networks, And Private Sector Actors
Strategic Communications
- Policy Briefs, Talking Points, Speeches, Narratives, Thought Leadership
- Communication Workflow Design And Alignment With Institutional Goals
Partnership Development & Resource Mobilisation
- Donor Mapping; Funding Analyses; Concept Notes; Partnerships
- Aligning Portfolios With Donor Landscapes (Climate, Development, Environment)
Research Uptake & Mel
- Theory Of Change Design; Influence Pathways; Logframe Development
- Evaluating Effectiveness Of Evidence-to-policy Work
- Aligning Research Outputs With Policy Windows And Priorities
Team Leadership & Governance
- Leading Teams, Networks, And Partnerships
- Supporting Organisational Reforms, Accountability, And Operational Efficiency
Languages
Education
University of Liverpool
MSc · Organisational & Business Psychology · Liverpool, United Kingdom
KU Leuven
BA · East European Studies · Leuven, Belgium
Certifications & licenses
Masterclass Certificate, Development Economics
MITx
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