The (Slightly Less) Terrible Comms Networkers Vol. 2
200 communications professionals, one historic arcade, and a second edition that delivered
It started with a LinkedIn post. In January 2026, Ana Oliveira wrote something simple: she wanted to meet more communications professionals in Brussels. Over 200 people turned up to the first edition in February. By the time registration opened for Vol. 2, the list filled just as fast. Same venue, same format, 200 sign-ups.
Galerie Bortier holds light differently at dusk. Warm, close, a bit theatrical for a place that sells antique books. On 30 April it was full of communications people from across the field: agency types, EU affairs leads, freelancers, brand managers. The evening had no programme. People just talked.
What happened
The conversations that sparked
From one post to two hundred people
Ana's LinkedIn post in January was modest: she wanted to meet more communications people. By April, she had co-organized two events with over 200 attendees each and officially joined the Social Capital team. The conversation kept circling back to it. What do you do with a community that forms faster than you can plan for it? Nobody had a clean answer.
Writing for humans when AI writes everything else
Most people in the room use AI tools. Most also admitted they can't always tell when something was AI-generated, including things they've written themselves. The conversation wasn't about whether to use the tools. It was about what happens to your voice when you stop exercising it.
EU bubble or Brussels bubble?
The old question, with a new angle. A Brussels-based EU affairs communicator and an FMCG brand manager realized mid-conversation that they'd spent months on opposite ends of the same consumer regulation without knowing it. Institutional and commercial comms people rarely end up in the same conversation. When they do, the problem turns out to be identical: nobody reads past the first paragraph.
Unexpected connections
An EU institution comms officer and a brand manager from an FMCG group realized mid-conversation that they'd been working on opposite ends of the same consumer regulation for months. One was drafting the public awareness campaign; the other was managing the brand response. They swapped numbers before the conversation was even finished.
The atmosphere
Galerie Bortier is Brussels' oldest covered shopping arcade: antique booksellers, a vaulted glass ceiling, open since 1847. Networking events don't usually end up there. This one worked. People moved between groups without anyone having to manage it. The venue holds about 200 and didn't feel crowded. The last guests left around 22:30.
Key insights
What we learned
Demand was never the problem
200 registrations, twice in a row. The community exists. It just needed a fixed point. Brussels communications professionals have plenty of formal events to go to. This isn't one of them.
Take away the structure and people talk
Remove the panels, the pitches and the name badges, and you find out what people actually want to discuss. It turns out: quite a lot. The less you programme, the longer people stay.
The best conversations had no obvious reason to happen
A policy officer, a brand manager, a freelance strategist. No shared clients, no overlapping brief. They talked for 45 minutes about why nobody reads long-form communications anymore. Cross-sector conversations tend to be the useful ones.
Personal branding works, reluctantly
An event born from one LinkedIn post is about as strong an argument as you can make for showing up online. Almost everyone in the room admitted they still find it uncomfortable. Almost everyone is doing it anyway.
The second time means something different
People who came back for Vol. 2 weren't looking for new contacts. They were following up on conversations they'd started in February. That changes what you talk about.
Quote that captured the night
“We were just... talking. I know, revolutionary.”
Member stories
What attendees said
Andrew Antenucci
Head of Communication Projects, Moylan Communications
“200 "terrible" communications professionals walked into a bar in Brussels last night. No agenda. No ice breakers. No business cards. No corporate personas. Everyone showed up as themselves, being completely human for a few hours. I didn't see a single business card exchanged. We were just... talking. I know, revolutionary.”View on LinkedIn
Irene Paolinelli
Digital Marketing & Communications Specialist | Strategist
“Social Capital did it again with the (Slightly Less) Terrible Comms Networkers Vol. 2 in Brussels ✨ Bringing together a great mix of professionals working in comms and marketing — so many inspiring minds in one room. The magic happened!”View on LinkedIn
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Photos
Moments captured
Photos by Romain Triollet, Alexandru Marin
Venue
Why Galerie Bortier works for this
19th-century iron-and-glass arcade, antique booksellers, vaulted ceiling. Historically elegant but not formal.
Address
Rue de la Madeleine 55, 1000 Brussels
Getting there
Gare Centrale
Capacity
250 people
Website
bortier.be/Don't miss out
Join us at the next one
Social Capital hosts events every month. Aperos, workshops, creative walks. Free for members.