What dilemmas are you facing?
The GRPA functional leader
What you do:
You run the Public Affairs or Government Relations function in an ever-changing environment. Just like the other functions supporting the business – HR, Finance, Legal and IT – you look to do so in the most (cost) effective way.
Things you ask yourself: How effective is GRPA at fulfilling its role? How can we maximize the value our function brings to the business and demonstrate that we do so? And how can we minimize the associated risk, including the risk of non-compliance? How can we be sure that we remain aligned with the business throughout the business cycle? And see to it that GRPA constantly sharpens its ability to help safeguard the long-term future of the company?
The Board member or advisor
What you do:
You run
the business or you have an oversight role in or advisory role to the Board. You rely on the Audit committee to provide assurance against agreed company standards or you are putting a team together to advise your client on strategic challenges.
Things you ask yourself: What assurance do we have that GRPA is fulfilling its role effectively? Who knows what the relevant standards are to test this function’s performance against? How do we know whether GRPA properly manages risk and reward in what is a sensitive operating theatre? And how do we decide which interventions will safeguard or increase the contribution of this group of professionals to the business?
The M&A Transactions Consultant
What you do: You support corporate clients as they change their portfolio by buying and selling businesses and assets. You conduct buyer’s and seller’s due diligence and advise accordingly.
What you ask yourself when supporting a buyer is: What if the value of the entity in question is dependent to a large extent on the relationships with government? What is the position of key stakeholders vs. the asset and the buyer? How do we get valuable insights in unfamiliar territories?
What you ask yourself when supporting a seller is: What if the business being carved out is in an industry that is heavily regulated and needs an instantly effective Government Relations and Public Affairs team that the seller cannot offer the buyer in the sale? How would we limit the discount the buyer may claim?
GRPA HEALTH CHECK
You require a rapid assessment of the state of affairs of the Government Relations or Public Affairs function. We come in on short notice and provide you with an in-depth analysis in a matter of weeks.
How do we identify improvement opportunities for your GRPA function? Click below to learn about our GRPA Maturity Model.
GRPA STRATEGY
You are looking for help to define the vision, mission, ambition and roadmap to bring the Government Relations or Public Affairs function from ‘good to great’.
A strategic roadmap to achieve the outcomes you need would typically take a few months.
Typical clients are Government Relations or Public Affairs Directors responsible for the function or CEOs or other executives with the GRPA functions in their portfolio.
GRPA TRANSFORMATION
You need guidance and leadership to execute the desired projects in your organization and ensure the change is implemented. We help you create a team of internal and external experts (from our network and yours) to set up a program office within your organization
and implement the change.
Depending on your requirements, this Program Office would be managed by your own staff or by us.
The GR-IQ Five Lenses Methodology
GR-IQ’s unique comprehensive analysis methodology uses data to generate a roadmap for your Government Relations function.
WHICH SECTORS CAN BENEFIT MOST?
Typical Industries
Industries where our services add most value share a number of characteristics:
– Owners and developers of physical assets for the long-term
– Active in most regions or globally
– Considering the host government their partner
– Adding significant value to local economies
Think of the oil and gas, chemicals, mining, utilities, transport and building sectors and their suppliers and service providers. We believe our approach can also benefit pharmaceuticals, banking and technology sectors.
Why rely on GR-IQ?
aul Beijer founded GR-IQ after nearly 25 years in international corporate leadership. He most recently served as Vice President, Government Relations at Royal Dutch Shell, with responsibility for Strategy, Planning and Assurance—supporting the strengthening of Shell’s Government Relations capability through clearer operating discipline, standards and strategic alignment.
Earlier in his career, Paul held senior roles in Strategy, Finance and Risk Management across Shell businesses in the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. He has operated in complex external environments and worked across diverse cultures and geographies.
Since establishing GR-IQ, Paul and his associates have delivered assignments across Energy, Logistics, FMCG and Chemicals—helping leadership teams align external engagement with corporate strategy, strengthen governance and decision-making, and build fit-for-purpose Government Relations and Public Affairs operating models with measurable impact.
Paul earned an MBA from the University of Groningen (1994), and has taught in the University of Groningen Executive MBA program since 2023. He has co-authored academic publications and appears in interviews and podcasts.
Paul’s focus is to bring strategy, structure and process to a relationship-driven discipline, equipping executives to capture the full enterprise value of Government Relations and Public Affairs.
About Government Relations and Public Affairs
Government Relations and Public Affairs professionals play multiple roles, translating developments in the business to non-market stakeholders and explaining their realities to the business. The best GRPA professionals create value on that intersection.
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Principles of engagement
GLOBAL NETWORK
We tap into a global network of partners, including government relations professionals, public affairs firms and diplomats.
SENIOR ENGAGEMENTS
We engage with the most senior leaders in your company and provide the detail and evidence you need to make decisions.
FIT FOR PURPOSE SOLUTIONS
To embed the approaches we design, you get off-the-shelf solutions where possible and bespoke solutions where needed.
CLOSE CONTACT
The conversations you have often occured face to face. We can still build rapport and work alongside you on a virtual basis.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
We listen to what is said as much as to what isn’t. Our years of working in global teams taught us what to look for.
Contact us
Please reach out to us to start a strictly confidential conversation.