EuroFM is pleased to announce the appointment of two new board members, Asaël Akkerman (Netherlands) and Nikos Vasilopoulos (Greece), following their unanimous approval during the General Members Meeting on 9 December 2025. Their addition marks an important step in strengthening EuroFM’s strategic direction, broadening regional representation and ensuring a balanced mix of expertise within the Board.
Bringing research, practice and European diversity closer together
Both newly appointed members bring a strong international perspective and a deep commitment to the future of the facility management profession. Their backgrounds reflect EuroFM’s core mission: connecting research, education, and practice across Europe.
Asaël Akkerman: connecting applied research and FM practice
Based in the Netherlands, Asaël Akkerman is a recognised thought leader in workplace strategies and a board member at Workplaced. He works on improving people, buildings and services, combining a background in hospitality, business administration and facility management with applied research. After completing his hotel management studies and an MBA in Facility Management, he built extensive experience as an FM practitioner in complex, dynamic environments. Previously, he served on the executive board of Spacewell and was a partner at Cushman & Wakefield.
Asaël works at Workplaced, where he collaborates closely with a team of researchers. His day-to-day work revolves around translating research insights into practical, strategic value for organisations. During his introduction, he emphasised how EuroFM plays a unique role in uniting the European FM research landscape, and expressed his ambition to help strengthen the collaboration between universities, practitioners and national FM communities.
“I see enormous potential in creating stronger country-to-country connections and in making research more accessible to the wider FM field,” he shared during the meeting. “EuroFM is one of the few organisations in Europe that truly bridges these worlds.”
Nikos Vasilopoulos: championing innovation and the role of AI in FM
Nikos Vasilopoulos lives in Athens and works in his role as in-house Facilities Manager for GWI, an international AI-driven market research company. His passion lies in the intersection between technology and the human workplace. According to Nikos, the rapidly expanding possibilities of artificial intelligence present an enormous opportunity for FM professionals to enhance workplace experience, decision-making and operational efficiency.
Nikos first connected with EuroFM during World Workplace Europe, where he immediately recognised the value of an international FM knowledge network. As a board member, he aims to give stronger representation to Southern Europe, contribute fresh perspectives on digitalisation and innovation, and help engage regions where FM is still emerging as a formal discipline.
“In many countries in Southern Europe, FM is evolving quickly but inconsistently,” he explained. “EuroFM can be a powerful connector and accelerator, and I would like to help build those bridges.”
Strengthening EuroFM’s future
With the appointment of Asaël and Nikos, the EuroFM Board expands to eight members, enabling better distribution of responsibilities and allowing EuroFM to respond more effectively to its growing portfolio of activities across Europe. Their combination of practical FM experience, research affinity and international orientation aligns strongly with EuroFM’s ambitions for 2026 and beyond.
EuroFM warmly welcomes both board members and looks forward to their contributions to the network, its members, and the broader FM community.