The Board and President are elected each year at the General Assembly attended by representatives of the membership. Only the General Assembly can pass the budget and approve any constitutional changes. The Board meet at least quarterly to overview the strategy and management of the organisation. The President manages the staff who includes a Secretary General based in Brussels dealing with day to day administration, such as organising meetings. The President also manages other staff including assistants and advisors as required, to undertake strategic lobbying and projects.

General Assembly

UNIEP is a democratic organisation. Each member trade association (regardless of size) has an equal vote on all matters concerning the constitution, policies and electing the Board and President.

Each year, UNIEP members meet for its General Assembly at a different location, to discuss topical issues, elect a new President and Board and ensure that UNIEP is transparent and accountable.

The General Assembly is translated into four or five European languages to allow a maximum participation by delegates. The host association provides social events to encourage greater understanding and empathy between the different cultures and countries.

President

Mr Stuart Seddon

Chairman of Seddon Property Services and Seddon Construction Ltd and a Director of the family owned Seddon Group in the UK. Mr Seddon was elected President of UNIEP at the General Assembly in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in May 2011.

The Seddon Group is one of the largest privately owned companies in the UK with a turnover of over £250 million (around €300 million) and employing over 2,000 people.

Secretary General

Mrs Patrizia Di Mauro

Graduated in Political Science, International Policy in Rome, she obtained a Master in European Studies at the University of Brussels and a Master in Management and Marketing.

She worked as Secretary General at the Belgo-Italian Chamber of Commerce creating a European desk for the information on European policies to SMEs. Since 1992, she has been Secretary General of different European Associations in the building and standardisation sector.

In 2003, she became Director of the Italian Confederation for Craft and SMEs at the representation office in Brussels.

Sworn translator at the Brussels Court and the Italian Consulate in Brussels for Italian, English, French and Spanish, she collaborated for several years with the Press Agency “Agence Europe” in Brussels.