Gijs Bartels is, together with his sister Imke Schellekens-Bartels, in charge of Academy Bartels. Gijs is responsible for the department ‘Academy Events’. After finishing his studies Business Communication and Public Relations at the European University in Antwerp, Gijs started developing the Academy’s events branch. Gijs is married to Esther and is father of two sons: Stef and Jules.

Esther Tacken is the coordinator of the event office and responsible for the Global Dressage Forum. She also manages the secretariat of the International Dressage Trainer Club (IDTC). Previously Esther worked at the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS), at BCM and as an assistant for a veterinarian. Esther is the sister of former Dutch jumping Champion Emile Tacken and has two sons with her husband Gijs Bartels.

Anne Knoops is project manager of the events Animal Event, Horse Event and Dutch Pet Conference & Awards. In addition, she is responsible for program of these events. Anne has studied Touristic Management and Event Organization at Business School Notenboom. She had her traineeship at Academy Bartels and after a small detour, she was employed at Academy Bartels.

Steffie Walpot coordinates the stand sales of Horse Event and Animal Event. She is also responsible for coordinating the ticket systems at various events. She has a background in equestrianism and worked in a dressage stable at the beginning of her career. She combines her work at Academy Events with studying Facility Management. Steffie then followed the study Facility Management, in the direction of event and leisure management. At Academy Bartels she can combine her interest in organizing with her passion, animals.

Annet Broeckx is a hostess at Academy Bartels and the face at the register during events. She coordinates the popular training packages and makes sure the guests get everything they need. She also deals with the reservations for the Global Dressage Forum. She has worked at the Rabobank for 20 years before Annet joined the Academy team. Next to her part-time job at Academy Bartels she runs holiday park Vogelenzang. Annet has a daughter, Iris, who occasionally helps out during events.

Elke Hoogenboom is responsible for all marketing and communication activities at Academy Bartels. This applies to all projects of Academy Bartels Event Management, as well for projects of Academy Dressage and Academy Horse Sales. After getting her degrees in Global marketing and HBO Sports, Management and Business she worked for the company’s Libema and Modderkolk as a (online)marketeer. In her free time Elke is training young dressage horses and teaches riders as a certified instructor.

Nicole is responsible for the acquisition of the magazine De Hippische Ondernemer and the associated online media. Before Nicole started at Academy Bartels, she has worked for 25 years for the equestrian organisation office and publisher BCM. Since she was young, she has been involved in horse sport. She herself has been active in dressage, later she was a groom for her daughter who is a jumping rider.

Joep Bartels, husband of Tineke and father of Gijs and Imke, is the general advisor within Academy Bartels. As a rider Joep was active in the eventing sport. In addition he has studied psychology, has worked as a freelance journalist for newspapers such as the Telegraaf and NRC Handelsblad and he has written several books. Joep founded the equestrian management/publishing company BCM in 1975 and was the managing director until 1997. He was also a lecturer at HAS College and project manager of the Rabo Talent Plan.