AMENA
TEAM
Sydney
Sydney
Sebastian Gerlach

Founder & Managing Director

Sebastian Gerlach

Sebastian Gerlach is the Founder and Managing Director of AMENA and a highly experienced business consultant. He can build on more than 16 years’ experience identifying investment projects into Asia, Middle East and North America and he has a considerable network of major companies in Europe. Sebastian has consulted European companies in their market entry strategies into Asia and Middle East since more than 10 years. Sebastian has an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Management from ESMT Berlin He is fluent in German, English, French and learns Italian.

sebastiangerlach@amena-invest.de
+393270693680
http://linkedin.com/in/sebgerlach
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Nicola Michels

Managing Director

Nicola Michels

Nicola Michels is the Managing Director of AMENA Germany. She has been in Economic Development for 25 years, lived and worked on three continents: Africa, North America and Europe. With her background in Communication across international markets, Nicola is able to convert client expectations into live projects. Nicola holds a Masters degree in Communication Sciences and has studied in Germany and Scotland. She is fluent in German and English, and brushing up on her French.

nicolamichels@amena-invest.de
+4915164078604
http://linkedin.com/in/nicola-michels
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Louise Jenkins

Director Italy

Louise Jenkins

Louise is the Director of our Italian-based subsidiary AMENA Consulting Europe, she manages Italian projects as well as the Group’s finances and accounting. She is primarily involved in the Choose New Jersey project and with ITA – Italian Trade Agency. Louise has 20 years experience working in financial management for large corporations in the UK and France. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Sydney and an MBA from the Open University UK. Louise is fluent in multiple languages; English, German, French and Italian.

louisejenkins@amena-invest.de
+393668752609
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-jenkins-667219175/
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Rainer Ptok

Senior Consultant

Rainer Ptok

Rainer Ptok is Senior Consultant with regional focus on the Southern part of Germany. He can look back on 30 years of experience in the fields of lobbying, advising federal and regional associations in international trade as well as supporting investment promotion agencies. Rainer has also a track record in the automotive industry working in different functions for a Tier-1 supplier. Rainer is fully lawyered and also has certificates in Economics from Germany's State Distant Learning University in Hagen. He is fluent in English and French with decent knowledge of the Italian language.

rainerptok@amena-invest.de
+49175-8268963
http://linkedin.com/in/rainer-ptok-644083
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Jacqueline Beaufils

Consultant North America

Jacqueline Beaufils

Jacky has worked in international business for over 10 years. In her career Jacky has helped numerous SMEs in their international development and has also managed hundreds of international projects through her past work as COO and Head of Global Operations. She has a Bachelor’s in French Business and Translation with a minor in International Politics from Northern Illinois University and two Master’s in Management Entrepreneurship and SME Consulting & International Management / Business obtained in the Institut d’Administration des Entreprises in Grenoble, France She is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

jlvconsulting@outlook.com
+1 630 9438644
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacky-beaufils-b3627a5b/
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My Linh Lin

Project Manager

My Linh Lin

My Linh is primarily involved in the Choose New Jersey project and the Alberta project. Additionally, she provides support for projects and clients in Asia. She specializes in customer relationship management using various systems, including Pipedrive, D&B Hoovers, Hubspot, Zoho, and Salesforce. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business German and Tourism Management from Konstanz - University of Applied Sciences, has done her BA in German Language at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages. My Linh is fluent in multiple languages, including Mandarin, English, German, Taiwanese, and Cantonese. She is currently learning Vietnamese.

mylinh@amena-invest.de
+886932271265
http://linkedin.com/in/my-linh-lin-05905019a
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Ben Weller

Project Manager

Ben Weller

Ben is a Project Manager at AMENA. He is primarily involved in the Alberta project. Additionally, he provides support for lead generation and market visit projects in Germany and Benelux. Ben has a BA in Economics from the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR) and is fluent in English and German.

benweller@amena-invest.de
+4917624896082
http://linkedin.com/in/ben-weller-857408233/
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Handan Ailaiti

Project Manager

Handan Ailaiti

Handani Ailaiti is primarily involved in lead generation for the Nebraska project and assists on the AWEX project. She specializes in client relationship management using CRM systems, ensuring data accuracy and efficient utilization. Handani holds a Master's degree in International Management from Berlin, Germany. She also completed her Bachelor’s degree in German Studies at Beijing International Studies University. Handani is fluent in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Uighur, Kazakh, German, and English.

handanailaiti@amena-invest.de
+4915131301421
https://www.linkedin.com/in/handani-ailaiti/
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PORTFOLIO

Featured Projects

Trade Delegation to Malaysia: Industry 4.0, supply chain logistics

German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
•
2025
•
Asia Pacific

TVET Mission to Cambodia & Laos

German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
•
2025
•
Asia Pacific

TVET Mission to Vietnam, focus circular economy

German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
•
2025
•
Asia Pacific

Italy goes Wallonia-Belgium

The Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX)
•
2024
•
EMEA

Recycling Industry Mission to Canada

German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
•
2024
•
North America

Distribution Partner Search USA

Steinel Normalien AG
•
2023
•
North America

GIZ Capacity Building in the MENA Region

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
•
2022
•
EMEA

Alberta Can.

Invest Alberta
•
2022
•
North America

Market Analysis - Motor Oil for Indonesia

Rowe Mineralölwerk GmbH
•
2021
•
Asia Pacific

From the DACH region to Nebraska

Nebraska Department of Economic Development
•
2021
•
North America

FDI Attraction for Virginia in Benelux

Virginia Economic Development Partnership
•
2021
•
North America

Mississippi European Representation

Mississippi Development Agency
•
2021
•
North America

Choose New Jersey!

Choose NJ
•
2021
•
North America

Bella Italia

Italian Trade Agency
•
2020
•
EMEA

Bahrain European Representation

Bahrain EDB
•
2017
•
EMEA

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Investment & Trade Promotion
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