Marina Avau (1959) is a Doctor of Psychological Sciences, specialisation Labour and Organisation psychology. During the first 15 years of her career she held different management functions with Philips and ICI, concentrating on the field of Human Resources and Strategic Planning. The challenges she faced grew from a local focus (training, communication, general Personnel Management) over a European one (European HR Manager) and world wide responsibilities (Strategic Planning, Management Development, Organisation Development) to the level of taking up corporate responsibilities (potential assessment).

Marina is fascinated by the potential in human beings, a potential that shows through effective cooperation relationships characterised by respect for the uniqueness of every person, optimal leverage of diversity and clear recognition of responsibility in relation to each other and in relation to the targeted outcomes. Involvement and integrity are key values in her approach.

Since 1998, she has her own organisation advice office, Bridges for Choice, where she expands on the themes of guiding transitions for individuals, teams and organisations. This translates into advisory work and facilitation in projects focusing on organisation culture and change, organisation design, company strategy, performance management, talent management processes and systems. She prefers a real partnership with the client, where she functions as a sounding board, co-designs interventions and helps to implement them. She is also active as an executive coach and coach of management teams. Integrated interventions, building on a strong, scientific framework of work levels, supported by an appreciative and developmental approach, are at the heart of her interventions.

Marina has taught at the Entrepreneurial MBA programme of the Flanders Business School since 1988, (first Organisational Behaviour, later Personal Assessment and Leadership), and regularly figures as guest teacher at different universities or colleges. When time allows, she also provides services for the Business School of Nijenrode and for the Tata Management Training Centre (India).

Marina has the title of Fellow Practitioner Career Management (Institute of Career Certification International) , Fellow of the faculty (Catholic University Louvain, Psychology and Pegagogy) and Fellow of the Professional Development Programme (IOD).