Episode 3, season 3 of the Persuaders Podcast - with Maria Teresa Scardigli, Managing Director, Kellen Europe. Maria has more than 20 years of experience in European Public Affairs, advocacy, and management of trade associations. From Brussels she heads Kellen on a European level and manages a team of about 40 professionals serving +30 trade associations.    In the episode I talk to Maria about a new trend influencing the world of Public Affairs: More companies join forces and establish their own interest or trade association.  This development can be seen as a reaction to the increasing complexity in the policy arena and the need for more professionalization to continually catch and retain the attention of policy makers. A trend we have also covered from a more academic POV in previous episodes e.g. recently with Wiebe Junk in episode 2 of season 3.  In this episode with Maria Teresa Scardigli we cover:   - Which factors have changed for the roughly 600 trade associations in Brussels   - Why policy makers have much higher expectations than previously    - Marias views on why many new trade or interest associations are born   - If some trade organizations have become too big to represent all their members    - How Public Affairs teams have changed - and how this is then reflected on the expectations on the trade/interest associations   All this in just 30 minutes!   And remember to check out www.thepublicaffairsengine.com for more insights from the world of Public Affairs.    Enjoy!