Biography

Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen is the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the European Commission.

She took up this position in September 2023. Prior to that she was the Director-General in the Directorate-General for Communication, she has served as Deputy Secretary General and Chief Operating Officer. Between 2009 and 2014 she was Chief Spokeswoman of the European Commission; and Deputy Spokeswoman of the European Commission from 2004 until 2009 under former Commission President Barroso.

She began her career in political communication as Environment Spokeswoman in 1999 (Commissioner Margot Wallström), having previously held positions in the Commission’s departments for Industry (1995-97) and Information, Communication and Culture (1997-99). Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen was a Schuman Scholar at the European Parliament (1989-90).

She studied Business Administration and Modern Languages at the Copenhagen Business School and Political Science at the Institut d’études Politiques de Paris.

Biography

As Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu’s task is to guide the overall work on strengthening Europe’s human capital, from skills and education to culture and sport.

Roxana Mînzatu is leading the work on the Union of Skills, focusing on investment, adult and lifelong learning, vocational education and training, skill retention and recognition and enhancing skills intelligence.

Learn more about Vice-President Mînzatu

Biography

London-born, Brussels-based moderator with a degree in Modern Languages from Oxford University. An eclectic career path spans steel-trading in West Africa and production management of a travelling opera company; business development in the post-Soviet states for a leading language-learning company and delivering public-speaking and media training to Visa International, Rolls-Royce, Siemens – and other big brands – at a unique film, television, radio and theatre facility, as well as co-running an award-winning broadcast PR company producing packages for BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, ITV, Associated Press and Reuters.

Since 2011, Katrina moderates events in Brussels and beyond on diverse topics, from research and innovation, technology and the digital transformation, to agriculture, oceans and maritime affairs; from environment, climate change, biodiversity and forestry issues to energy, mobility and transport topics; from financial governance to health(care). Alongside, from 2007 (when she moved to Brussels) until 2017, she managed the development and roll-out of EU multimedia communications campaigns for big agencies in Brussels. She speaks French, rusty Russian and a smattering of German.

Biography

Britta Seeger was born on September 25, 1969, in Bonn, Germany. After obtaining the university entrance diploma, she joined the former Daimler-Benz AG in 1989 and obtained a degree in Business Administration at Baden- Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Stuttgart. Britta Seeger has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG – now Mercedes-Benz Group AG – since January 1, 2017.

She holds responsibility for the Human Relations Division; at the same time, she is the Company's Labour Director. Britta Seeger is also a member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG and member of the Board of Directors at Mercedes-Benz U.S International, Inc. She also holds a position as member of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG and Mercedes-AMG GmbH

Biography

Anders O. Bjarklev holds an MSc and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where he also earned the higher doctoral degree Doctor Technices (Dr.Techn.).

He has served as President of DTU since 2011. Since joining the university in 1985, he has held numerous academic and leadership positions, including Professor of Optical Waveguides (appointed in 1999), Head of the Department of Photonics Engineering (2004–2010), and Provost (2010–2011).

As President, Anders O. Bjarklev has been a strong advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship. Under his leadership, DTU has developed one of Europe’s most dynamic university innovation ecosystems. Collaboration with industry and business is central to this effort—as it is to DTU’s research and education—fulfilling the university’s mission to benefit society.

He is the author or co-author of two books, over 155 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and more than 200 papers in international conference proceedings. He has supervised over 35 PhD students and more than 60 MSc theses, and he has served as a reviewer for several international journals. In 1999, he co-founded the company Crystal Fibre Ltd.

Anders O. Bjarklev has received several awards and is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America. He holds a number of trusted positions, including board memberships at Lund University (Sweden), the University of the Faroe Islands, the Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship, and the Danish Technological Institute. In 2024, he was a member of the EU High-Level Group on the Evaluation of Horizon Europe.

Biography

Born and raised in Italy, Giulia Meschino has been working with EVTA since June 2013, where she leads the development and implementation of the network’s strategy. Over the past decade, she has built extensive expertise in European VET policies, driving initiatives that enhance excellence and quality in training provision.

She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs from the University of Bologna, as well as an Executive Master in Management of International Organisations from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. Before moving to Belgium, Giulia broadened her academic and professional horizons by studying and working in France, the United Kingdom, Malta, and Albania.

An active and passionate member of the European VET and lifelong learning community, Giulia is currently one of the Vice-Presidents of the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP). She has developed strong expertise in internationalisation and vocational excellence, contributing as an expert in several European working groups and consultations, and frequently serving as a speaker at EU and national-level events. Through these engagements, she continues to strengthen her professional profile and advance high-quality vocational education and training across Europe.

Biography

Biography

Mrs Morvan is the chief of staff of the office of the CEO Europe Middle East & Africa of Accenture, the largest IT and digital services professional services firm in Europe, and a member of the EMEA management committee.  As former CSR Officer of Accenture, she continues to sponsor Accenture Corporate citizenship activities in EMEA which are centered around ‘learning to earning’, enabling youth to have the skills required to have a job or be entrepreneur.

She is the chair of JA Europe, one of Europe’s largest youth-serving not profits, which delivers hands on immersive learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health. JA Europe’s programs touch 7.5M young people a year and mobilizes more than 80,000 teachers.

Mrs Morvan was also a visiting faculty at Sciences Po , Paris, teaching Strategic HR Management from 2014 to 2019.

Biography

Ben Butters has been CEO of the European association of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, since 2020. As such, he oversees Eurochambres’ day-to-day management and engagement with EU policy-makers on a range of topics that are of relevance for the European business environment.

Before joining Eurochambres, Ben acquired experience in both the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as working for a network of innovation centres. He also created and for several years ran his own business providing EU advocacy support to small and medium businesses. 

www.linkedin.com/in/ben-butters

Biography

The Association of primary schools in the Netherlands (PO-Raad) advocates for the interests of school in primary and special needs education, provides support and services to member organisations, negotiates collective labour agreements, promotes quality improvement in primary education and stimulates mutual learning and professional development The PO-Raad has approximately 800 members, which collectively provide primary education to 99% of all pupils in the Netherlands.

Dr. Sander Dankelman serves as Association Manager of the PO-Raad. In this role, he contributes to the organization's development and represents the interests of Dutch primary education at national and European levels. Sander Dankelman is an experienced association professional and expert in professional development and evidence-informed education.

Biography

She was born on May 10, 1975 in Warsaw. 

She is a graduate of the Tadeusz Reytan High School VI in Warsaw. She is an IT specialist by profession. Graduated from the Faculty of Management at the University of Warsaw and completed an MBA at the French Institute of Management. From 2004 to 2009 she served as director of marketing, and from 2009 to 2019 she was chancellor of the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology. 

President of the Inicjatywa Polska party, which has been co-founding the Civic Coalition since 2018. Member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland for the 9th and 10th terms, elected in the Gdynia-Słupsk constituency. In the ninth term of the Sejm, she worked, among other things, in the Education and Youth Committee and was vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Science and Higher Education. 

She is vice president of the Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka Foundation. She worked as a volunteer at the Women's Helpline established by the Federation for Women and Family Planning. Member of the Program Council of the Congress of Women. She twice chaired the Citizens' Committee for the “Save the Women” legislative initiative liberalizing the anti-abortion law. She was also a member of the Citizens' Committee “Yes to in vitro.” She is a co-founder of Campus – the Future of Poland, Europe's largest socio-political festival for young activists. 

In 2016, she was named to Foreign Policy's annual FP Top 100 Global Thinkers list, and in 2017 - together with the Save the Women committee - she received the Simone de Beauvoir International Award “For Women's Freedom.” In 2020, she was awarded the National Order of Merit, the fourth French decoration in the state's seniority hierarchy.

Biography

Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen is the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the European Commission.

She took up this position in September 2023. Prior to that she was the Director-General in the Directorate-General for Communication, she has served as Deputy Secretary General and Chief Operating Officer. Between 2009 and 2014 she was Chief Spokeswoman of the European Commission; and Deputy Spokeswoman of the European Commission from 2004 until 2009 under former Commission President Barroso.

She began her career in political communication as Environment Spokeswoman in 1999 (Commissioner Margot Wallström), having previously held positions in the Commission’s departments for Industry (1995-97) and Information, Communication and Culture (1997-99). Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen was a Schuman Scholar at the European Parliament (1989-90).

She studied Business Administration and Modern Languages at the Copenhagen Business School and Political Science at the Institut d’études Politiques de Paris.

Biography

Monika Oberle is Full Professor of Political Science and Civic Education at Goethe University Frankfurt.

From 2011 until March 2024, she held the Chair of Political Science/ Civic Education at the University of Göttingen. She studied political science in Marburg, London and Berlin, and completed her doctorate at Karlsruhe University of Education, focusing on students` political knowledge about the European Union. At the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, Italy, she also studied the Italian language and culture. For many years, she worked as a trainer in extra-curricular, non-partisan civic education (target groups: school students and young adults).

Monika Oberle, among other positions on boards and committees, is Chairwoman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb).

Her research group empirically investigates conditions, processes and effects of civic education at school and beyond. She has conducted several Jean Monnet projects, focusing on innovative, interactive teaching methods and teacher trainings on civic education about EU, accompanied by systematic empirical research.

Profile on Goethe University Frankfurt website

Biography

Joanna Christina Young is a teacher of English, German, and music, as well as the international projects coordinator at Hangö gymnasium, a small upper secondary school in the southernmost part of Finland. She has been teaching there since 2000. With a deep commitment to language education and intercultural collaboration, she has been instrumental in strengthening her school’s international profile through a range of Erasmus+ projects since 2011. In her teaching, Joanna focuses on inclusive and project-based learning, where the students play an important part in the learning process.

An alumna of Åbo Akademi, Joanna combines her linguistic expertise with a passion for creative and collaborative learning. Her work focuses on building bridges between cultures, promoting multilingualism, and inspiring students to engage actively in a global learning community.

In 2025, Hangö gymnasium received the EITA Language Label for the Erasmus+ project: Cultur.al Identity and Cooperation in Europe, with Joanna as the main coordinator. continues to champion innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking educational practices—helping both students and educators thrive in an interconnected Europe.

Biography

Louisa Slavkova is a political scientist and civic educator based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is a co-founder and managing partner of THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, a European think-and-do tank on civic education. 

Her team manages the largest European network on citizenship education, NECE. Louisa is founding director of Sofia Platform Foundation, which works on historical memory, civic education and democratisation in eastern Europe. 

She has worked with the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, the European Council on Foreign Relations and the Bulgarian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Environment. She regularly speaks and writes on democracy, civic education and the legacy of totalitarian regimes in Europe. 

Biography

My name is Konstantina Kappi. I am 17 years old and a senior at the General Lyceum of Nea Figalia, in the small village of Petralona in Ileia (Peloponese) with less than 90 residents. I am part of my school's Student Board and I volunteer with the village's Cultural non-profit organization. I am swamped with studying this year and I will be passing my university exams in June; I want to go to a Polytechnic school and I dream of being an astrophysicist since I was a little girl. 

I participated in the European Citizens Panel on the Budget earlier this year. I joined several discussions, volunteered to represent my group's remarks on stage and delivered the recommendations on behalf of the whole panel.

Biography

Anders Adlercreutz is the Minister of Education of Finland. Before this he served as Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, until July 2024. Adlercreutz is also responsible for Nordic cooperation in the current government. He is the Chair of the Swedish People’s Party of Finland since June 2024. 

Between 2019–2023 he was Chair of the Swedish Parliamentary Group and has been a Member of Parliament since 2015. 

Adlercreutz is an Architect by profession and worked in the field for 20 years before entering politics. He and his wife have five children and they live in Kirkkonummi.

Biography

I was born on 8 July 1981 in Split, and currently living in Srinjini, with my husband and our three children. I completed elementary school in my place of residence, after which I enrolled in the high school "Vladimir Nazor" in Split. I have received my education with a degree in Psychology, a degree in Preschool Education at the University in Zadar and a degree in Forensic Sciences at the University Study Centre for Forensic Sciences.

I worked as a professional associate - psychologist and psychology teacher in schools in the area of Split-Dalmatia County, as well as the principal of Elementary School "Srinjine".  

I have also participated in the work of the Croatian Association of Primary School Principals and the Croatian Association of Elementary Schools. In August 2024 I have been nominated as the State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth responsible for preschool, elementary and secondary education as well as adult education and quality assurance and information support for the education system.

Biography

Jelmer Evers is the director of ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee for Education), the federation of education and teacher unions. He was a history teacher for 17 years and vice-president of the AOb (Algemene Onderwijsbond, Dutch General Education Union). He has authored several books on education and the teaching profession, including "Flip the System: Changing Education from the Ground Up." Evers was nominated twice for the Global Teacher Prize, in 2015 and 2016.

For many years, Evers taught and learned at UniC, an innovative secondary school in Utrecht, the Netherlands, where students and teachers could truly shine and where the school operated on democratic principles and teacher leadership.

Evers is a firm advocate for teacher leadership. For too long, teachers have been on the sidelines, while others lacking classroom experience have dominated educational policy. Teaching has not been treated as a profession, which by definition is collectively organized, as opposed to being just a group of individuals. A profession has its own democratic organizations—teacher unions and associations—representative structures, and its own policies and points of view, which are developed through careful consideration and processes. A profession also has a fair amount of professional autonomy at all levels and a fundamental say in setting and implementing its own standards, classroom practices (pedagogy, curricula), teacher education, research, and professional development. This is the key to build an attractive teaching priofession.

His aim is to reform education and the profession around these principles.

Biography

Fergal McCarthy is the Principal of Kinsale Community School since 2013 having previously been the Director of a College of Further Education. Fergal is a member of the National Executive of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools as well as serving the National Executive Committee of the Teaching Council of Ireland. Fergal is also a member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation of Educational Employers (EFEE).

Fergal has served on the Education and Cultural Working Groups on Pathways for School Success and Learning for Sustainability.

Biography

Arja Krauchenberg holds an MA in romance languages from Vienna University with a special focus on multilingualism, diversity and interculturalism and has also trained as a certified tourist guide.

A mother of three, Arja has lived abroad for almost twenty years and has been actively involved in parents’ representation in the schools attended by her children in different countries. Upon return to her native Austria she started to engage in the regional parents’ association and was later elected member of the board of the European Parents’ Association (EPA) where she served as president 2018-19 and is currently engaged as project coordinator. In 2020 she also joined the executive committee of OIDEL (an INGO that promotes the right to education). A lifelong learner herself, she was a member of the Steering Committee of Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) 2019-2024. In May 2021 she also became a member of the executive board of EUFIC (European Food and Information Council).

Arja advocates for a holistic and learner-centred approach in education. Formal, informal and non-formal education should help each learner to develop his/her full and unique potential to be able to lead a fulfilled life. Formal settings should be motivating places where education professionals can be enablers of learning and provide guidance about all the possibilities of future careers.

Biography

Michael Teutsch is Acting Director in charge of Youth, Education and Erasmus+ in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. The directorate includes the units in charge of higher education, schools, youth and the coordination of the Erasmus+ programme. Michael is the Head of Unit of the Erasmus+ coordination unit, which is in charge of the implementation of the current 2021-27 Programme and the preparation of the future programme generation.

Biography

Doris Wagner serves as the Director General for General Education and Vocational Education and Training at the Federal Ministry of Education. 

Prior to her current position she was Head of the Educational Department of the Regional Educational Board of Lower Austria. During her career she held various positions in the private sector, as teacher at the Vocational School in St. Pölten, as school principal as well as school superintendent.

Biography

Michel Vandenbroeck is professor emeritus at Ghent University, Belgium. His work is focus on early childhood education and issues of quality and accessibility. He holds a PhD in education from Ghent University and an honorary doctorate from the universities of Uppsala and Jyväskyllä.

He served as an external consultant for the European Commission (including the European Child Guarantee and the revision of the Barcleona targets), for the OECD and other international organisations.

Biography

Full Professor of Linguistics at NOVA University Lisbon, he holds a PhD in Linguistics (1998) from Leiden University and was a visiting scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1996.

His research activity focuses on the domains of theoretical syntax, language acquisition, development and impairment, and educational linguistics.

João Costa was the Portuguese Minister of Education from 2022 to 2024. He joined the Portuguese Government in 2015, serving as Secretary of State for Education until he was appointed Minister of Education.

Chair of the Advisory Group of the OECD Global Forum on the Future of Education and Skills 2030, since 2024.

Chair of the OECD Education Policy Committee, since January 2024.

Chair of the Governing Board of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), from 2017 to 2022.

Member of the UNESCO Steering Committee for Sustainable Development Goal 4, from 2022 to 2024.

Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University Lisbon, until November 2015, and Chair of the Scientific Council for Social Sciences and the Humanities of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), until November 2015.

He was a member of the Scientific Council of the National Reading Plan, of the National Commission of the International Portuguese Language Institute, and of the Advisory Board of Camões Institute.

President of the Portuguese Linguistics Society (2006–2008).

Visiting professor at universities in Brazil, Macao, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy.

Biography

Panagiotis (also known as Pete) is member of the Pool of Experts of the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) and the Head of External Affairs (HEA) at the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU).

Their work as educator (NFE) and being an active member in education sector, they hold a deep commitment in ensuring young people's voices, as youth and as learners, are central in shaping all policies that affect their education, life and rights.

Biography

Leo Galvin is a 19 year old student from Dublin, Ireland studying Law and Criminology in Maynooth University. Graduating from the University of Galway in 2023, he earned an EFQ level 5 certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action. 

Leo is an experienced advocate for non-formal education, youth participation and Human Rights, working with youth work organisations, student unions and representative bodies since 2020. He has been working in the areas of Youth Information, and AI, he currently holds a position as the National Youth Council of Ireland’s delegate to the EU, European Youth Forum and Council of Europe. 

Furthermore, he is currently a member of the European Steering Group of the 12th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue and working towards the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. He also holds a position as a trustee on the board of Youth Work Ireland, the leading provider of youth work in Ireland.

Leo Galvin's full resume

Biography

Thomas works at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture where he is part of the school policy team, with a focus on basic skills and learning for sustainability.

In previous roles, Thomas worked at the Commission’s Reform and Investment Taskforce, supporting Member State authorities through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) on education reforms, including in the areas of curriculum reform, early childhood education and care, teacher policy and the digital transformation of education. He was also a coordinator of the Education and Training 2020 Working Group on Schools Policy and a programme manager for EU funding in the school sector. 

Biography

Urban Kodrič, born on 2 March 1977, graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Maribor in 2002. He began his professional career at the Municipality of Zreče and then worked for the Market Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia.

Prior to his appointment as State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, he headed its Higher Education Directorate, focusing on drafting new higher education legislation and reforming higher education to enable a green and resilient transition to Society 5.0.  He will continue to work on the comprehensive reform of higher education legislation, the modernisation of higher education study programmes and the introduction of lifelong learning in the higher education ecosystem.

Urban Kodrič previously worked as State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration, where he was responsible, among other things, for the reorganisation of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

On 10 January 2025, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia appointed Urban Kodrič State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

He is known for his calm demeanour, sound judgment, cooperative approach, and his desire to work for the greater good of the community.

Biography

Markku Markkula is Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and served as its President in 2015–2017. His professional focus is on knowledge creation, societal innovation, change management, lifelong learning, and the use of technology for societal progress. He served for a total of 15 years as Director of the Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli at Helsinki University of Technology (now part of Aalto University), leading continuing education and lifelong learning. He has been an adviser to the Presidents of Aalto University. 

From 1995 to 2003 he was a Member of the Parliament of Finland. He is an Honorary Member of TEK (Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland), a Finnish trade union for academic engineers, architects, computer scientists, STEM professionals, and students. He chaired TEK’s Board from 1993 to 2005.

He was President of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region from 2018 to 2025. A longstanding member of the Espoo City Council, he has held several leadership positions, including Chair of the City Council, Chair of the City Board, and Chair of the Urban Planning Board.

Mr. Markkula plays an active role in EU policy as a CoR rapporteur on innovation, digitalisation, research, industry, start-up policy, the SDGs, and climate. Most recently he has served as rapporteur on the EU Missions, the New European Innovation Agenda, and the Future of EU Climate Policy. He chairs the CoR Green Deal Going Local working group for 2025–2027.

Biography

Isabel Meza is the Programme Manager for STEM Passport for Inclusion at the National Centre for Inclusive Higher Education, Maynooth University. She oversees the expansion and implementation of STEM Passport for Inclusion; a national initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to high-quality STEM education across Ireland. She has also led the expansion of the programme to underserved areas and communities, including Youthreach and Women’s Collective Ireland, while fostering strategic partnerships with universities, industry stakeholders, and government bodies.

With extensive experience in education outreach, data analytics, and project management, Isabel has successfully led impactful programmes that promote 21st-century STEAM skills and support learners from diverse backgrounds. Her work is grounded in rigorous financial oversight, stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to evidence-based practice. Isabel holds a Bachelor of Engineering and postgraduate qualifications in teaching and inquiry-based learning from Trinity College Dublin and Marino Institute of Education. Outside work, she continues to contribute to the sector through advisory roles and volunteer work with organisations supporting migrants, refugees, and youth education. 

Biography

Dr. Pieter Moerman is founder of Wij zijn Katapult and director of Platform Talent voor Technologie (PTvT), the Dutch national platform that strengthens cooperation between education and industry in technology and innovation. 

PTVT is the national knowledge, expertise and network center in the field of technological education and the technological labor market. PTVT connects policy, practice and science with education, business and (regional) government and jointly works on a powerful and practical approach to interest more young people or STEM (including IT). 

Katapult connects over 450 public-private partnerships involving 35 000 companies, 149 000 students and 18 000 teachers and researchers, working together to bridge the gap between education and the labour market.

Biography

Stefanie Schlunk has served as Chair of Science on Stage Europe, the leading network for STEM teachers across more than 30 countries, since 2011. Together with her team, she promotes the continuous professional development of educators by fostering international exchange of innovative teaching practices.

She is responsible for initiating and coordinating cross-border activities such as Science on Stage festivals, teacher workshops, competitions, and collaborative international projects. Since 2003, Stefanie has also been the Managing Director of Science on Stage Germany, based in Berlin, where she oversees the development of multilingual teaching materials on current educational themes including AI, Sustainability and STEM, Quantum Computing and language skills through experiments. Under her leadership, numerous resources have been published and widely disseminated among teachers in Europe.

As the primary contact for partners and supporters, Stefanie manages communication with over 30 member countries and numerous volunteers involved in both networks. She represents Science on Stage in various EU initiatives, such as the EU STEM Coalition, where she serves as chair of the working group on primary and secondary education. Her dedication to STEM education has been recognized at the European Education Summit 2021, where she joined a high-level panel with EU policymakers, including the Commissioner for Education. In addition, she serves on the policymaker and stakeholder board of the European project “Path2Integrity” and was named “Math Maker” by the German Mathematical Association (DMV) in 2023.

Stefanie holds a degree in Political Science from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and the Freie Universität Berlin.

Biography

Ulrike Pisiotis is the Deputy Head of the Evidence-Based Policy and Evaluation Unit in the Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture, which focuses on strengthening the evidence base for education policies across the EU. Having joined the Commission in 2009, she has held various positions and gained extensive experience in research and education policies, including on basic skills, learning for sustainability, teachers and school leaders.

Ulrike Pisiotis has a PhD in German philology and has previously worked in research, publishing and teaching.

Biography

Konstantinos Vlasis was born in 1975 in Tripoli, Arcadia. He graduated from the Medical School of the University of Athens and specialized in Orthopedic Surgery at Laiko General Hospital. In 2004–2005, he attended the National School of Public Health, where he obtained a Master’s degree in the Organization and Management of Health Services.

In 2005, he was awarded a PhD by the Medical School of the University of Athens. Two years later, in 2007, he was elected Lecturer at the same School. He was subsequently promoted to Assistant Professor in 2012, Associate Professor in 2016, and Professor in 2020.

He speaks English and French fluently.

Konstantinos Vlasis was first elected Member of Parliament with the New Democracy Party representing Arcadia in the January and September 2015 elections, and was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

From December 2019 to September 2021, he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Diaspora Greeks. In March 2025, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.

During his parliamentary service, he has served as Alternate Secretary of the New Democracy Parliamentary Group and as a member of numerous parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, the Standing Committee on Educational Affairs, the Special Standing Committee on European Affairs, and the Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology.

He has also served as Head of the Greek Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

He is married to Dr. Chrysa Saldari, a biopathologist, and they have a daughter and a son.

Biography

Agnes Roman has been a senior policy coordinator on education policy issues at the European Trade Union Committee of Education (ETUCE) since 2010 while she has been advising also the European Trade Union confederation (ETUC) on lifelong learning and VET policy since 2012.
She is representing the European trade unions in several bodies and groups of the European Commission and agencies, eg. CEDEFOP Management Board, ACVT, DGVT, EQF, EQAVET.

Biography

Kacper Bogalecki is a Board Member of the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), representing the collective interests of school students across Europe. In this role, he helps shape OBESSU’s political direction, strategic development, and advocacy for inclusive, democratic, and learner-centred education. He previously served on OBESSU’s Monitoring Committee, overseeing governance and democratic processes within the organisation.

In Ireland, Kacper serves as a Director of SpunOut, the country’s leading youth information and advocacy organisation, where he supports initiatives promoting wellbeing, participation, and equality.

An alumnus of the Washington Ireland Program (Class of 2023), Kacper completed a legislative internship in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., focusing on healthcare and education policy. He returned to the program in 2024 as a Team Leader, mentoring emerging young leaders from across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

He currently serves as Co-President of the Association of Medical Students, Ireland (AMSI), representing thousands of medical students nationally and advocating for positive change in medical education and healthcare policy.

Kacper is a medical student at University College Cork (UCC) and a Quercus Active Citizenship Scholar, recognised for his commitment to youth empowerment, equity, and student representation. Within UCC, he represents nearly 6,000 students as the Executive Representative for the College of Medicine and Health in the Students’ Union, contributing to policy development and overall student experience. He serves as a member of the College Council and Academic Council.

Biography

Valentina Guerra is Director of SMEunited Social Affairs and Training departments since June 2023.

She is responsible for the daily management of the departments and oversees a variety of policy files including EU labour law, social protection, migration, occupational health and safety, equality and training policy.

She is also responsible for SMEunited participation in European social dialogue.

Biography

Currently I work as the CEO and Chief Principal in a Finnish Vocational Education and Training provider, South Savo Education Ltd. (Esedu), and I am active in regional Chamber as a member of the board. Our college includes both IVET and HVET and it is committed to steer the green transfer through upskilling and re-skilling of both current students and people already in the working life. Esedu is the core of the vitality in our region. Earlier I have worked also as CFO and CIO of Mikkeli city consortium.

I have worked as the Vice President (Policy, Research and Publications) of EfVET since 2020 and as board member of Finnish Association for the Development of Vocational Education and Training (Amke) for three years between 2017 – 2019.

I have long experience in the education area. Currently I am a member in EMPL VET Provider’s Expert group and EQF Advisory Group as a representative of VET4EU2 network of VET Associations. I am also a member of the Working Group of GreenTransfer under the European Commission.

Biography

Manuela Geleng works for the European Commission where she is currently the Director for Jobs and Skills in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. She is responsible for the Future of Work file, focusing on the new challenges in the world of work such as those related to platform work or remote work and the right to disconnect as well as Youth Employment, the implementation of the Skills Agenda and Vocational Education and Training policies.

Previously, Manuela Geleng has held several other managerial positions in the Commission. Prior to joining the European Commission, she worked in the private sector and for the United Nations Development Programme. She holds an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London and a Master in Public Administration and Management from the Solvay Business School (Brussels). She completed her postgraduate studies at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna.

Biography

A political scientist and a university professor at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw, he is also an expert at the Institute Strategies 2050 think tank. He has lectured in France, Ukraine, and China, among other countries.

His research interests include the foreign policies of Poland, Ukraine, and Russia, post-colonial studies, the politics of memory, and national and ethnic minorities and immigration.

He is currently the head of the research project, 'Wars of Russia: causes, determinants, course and consequences of military combat operations of the Russian Federation in the post-Cold War period,' which is funded by the Polish National Science Centre.

Biography

Evelyn Korn has been Deputy President and Vice President for University Culture and Quality at Marburg University since 2022. In this role she also acts as Chair of the Board of the European University for Peace, Justice, and Inclusive Societies (https://EUPeace.eu). From 2016 to 2022 she was Vice President for Education in Marburg. From 2020 to 2025 she served as Founding Scientific Director of the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre). Since 2004 she has held the Chair in Economics, in particular Microeconomics, at Marburg University.

She studied Mathematics at the TU Dortmund where she also received her doctorate in Economics. She spent her Assistant Professor years in Business Administration at Tuebingen University. Later on she earned qualifications as a systemic organisational developer and as a trainer for mindfulness in organisations.

Evelyn Korn’s research deals with the enhancement of cooperative behaviour in various contexts – from the polity of ancient societies, the governance of companies, the compatibility of the worlds of family and work to the intercultural cooperation in science.

She is passionate about the topic of cooperation, not only in research but also in its application. In addition to her engagement for the Internationalization and Digitization of Higher Education she is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board on Family Issues of the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Earlier in her academic career, she began developing innovative didactic concepts which see the seminar room as “Knowledge Commons” and for which she was awarded the Ars Legendi Prize for teaching excellence in higher education of the Founders’ Association (Stifterverband) and the German Rectors’ Conference.

Biography

Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović was Rector of the University of Belgrade for the term 2018-2021 and President of the Conference of Serbian Universities (CONUS) in the same period. She was President of the Danube Rectors’ Conference (2019-2020) and is currently Honorary President. I. Popović heads the Working Group on Higher Education and Mobilities of the European Strategy for the Danube Region Priority Area 7 “Knowledge Society”. She was President of the UNIADRION Association of Universities of the Adriatic-Ionian Region (2019 - 2020).

She is currently a member of the Board of the European University Association and EUA Vice-President and Treasurer. She was the sustainability champion for the Board and monitored the creation of the EUA Green Deal Roadmap for Universities. She presided over the Task & Finish group on statutory review that prepared the revised statutes that were adopted by the EUA General Assembly in 2023. She heads the EUA Task Force on the post-war recovery of the Ukraine university sector and the Task & Finish group on Academic Careers. I. Popović is also a member of the EUA Institutional Evaluation Programme Steering Committee.

Ivanka Popović studied at the University of Maryland, USA, and the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade (FTM). She obtained all of her degrees in chemical engineering (BSc, MSc and PhD) at the FTM. She became a member of the FTM staff in 1983, rose through the academic ranks to the position of full professor and served as the first woman Dean of the Faculty for two terms from 2006 to 2012. Her research interests are polymer science and engineering and sustainable development. In the period 1985 - 1994 she intermittently worked as a guest researcher at the Hahn-Meitner Institute in Berlin and was a guest scientist at the University of Göttingen, Germany, in 2000. She was Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Belgrade (2012-2015) and Vice-Rector for International and Inter-University Cooperation (2015-2018). During her term as rector, the University of Belgrade became a member of the European University Alliance “Circle U.”

She was the first female President of the Serbian Chemical Society (2009 – 2013) and was President of the Association of Italian and Serbian Scientists and Scholars (2012-2020). She was a member of the Executive Board of the European Chemical Society (2013-2017). I. Popović is a member of the Steering Board of the TEMPUS Foundation Serbia.

Ivanka Popović was awarded the “Ordine della Stella d'Italia” medal of the Republic of Italy in 2017, the “Ordre des Palmes académiques” (Officier) medal of the Republic of France in 2019, the “Contribution of the Year to Europe” Award of the European Movement in Serbia in 2019 and the Hemofarm Foundation Excellence Award in 2020.

Biography

Lana is the President of the European Students’ Union (ESU) for the 2025/26 mandate. She has been actively involved in the student movement for over five years, beginning as president of the student council at the University of Rijeka. As a member of the Croatian Students’ Council, she engaged in national and European-level advocacy on a wide range of student issues. Prior to becoming president, Lana served as Vice-President of ESU during the 2024/25 term and was a member of its Executive Committee since October 2023. In these roles, she worked extensively on topics related to enhancing the Quality of Education and the development of the European Education Area. As president, Lana focuses on advancing the European Education Area and strengthening the Organizational Development and Capacity Building. She is committed to fostering a more inclusive, innovative, and student-driven higher education landscape across Europe.

Biography

Cezar Mihai Hâj holds a PhD in Political Science from the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) in Bucharest, focusing on equity in higher education. 

His experience as policy expert includes coordinating a number of studies on internationalization, equity, university management and data collection for the Romanian authorities, the World Bank and the European Commission. He published several articles in Springer and Central European University publications and co-authored a “Study on the impact of admission systems on higher education outcomes” commissioned by the DG-EAC of the European Commission. 

He is a member of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG) and co-chair of the Fundamental Values Working Group. In the previous mandates he coordinated and contributed to the process of defining the common understanding of the fundamental values within the EHEA, as well as to the development of a framework for their monitoring at the national level. He was also part of the 2024 Editorial Board for the Bologna Process Researches’ Conference. Previously, he was an adviser to the Minister of Education for two consecutive mandates.

Biography

Susanne Conze is Head of Unit for Higher education in the Directorate General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of the European Commission. The unit is the lead service for the development of the European Education Area's higher education dimension as well as devising and managing the higher education strand of the flagship Erasmus+ Programme via the National Agencies and the Executive Agency EACEA.

During her career, both in the Commission and before, Susanne worked in different areas of education and social inclusion policies as well as in the management of European education programmes. She studied history, sociology and political science and holds a PhD in history.

Biography

Dan Perciun took on the role of Minister in July 2023. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Deputy and Head of the Parliament Commission for Social Protection, Health, and Family. During this time, Mr. Perciun handled a range of tasks, from crafting laws to overseeing programs and conducting evaluations. He actively supported the reform of the social benefits and pensions system in the country.

Since 2014, he's been deeply involved in various activities, such as evaluating the National Strategy in Agriculture 2020 and implementing child-centered education in Moldova. In his stint as Head of the E-transformation Department at the Ministry of Education (2014-2015), he worked on digital competence standards and educational projects in Information Technologies.

As the Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun is pushing for reforms to improve education quality and reduce gaps between rural and urban areas. One of his main goals is to establish a network of regional model schools, making education more accessible for vulnerable children.
His priorities also include promoting inclusive education, maintaining integrity, improving teacher's training, and modernizing higher education through digitalization and internationalization. He also places a strong emphasis on modernizing technical and vocational education, enhancing its quality through dual education, and reducing labor market skills gaps. 

Dan Perciun's dedication to these goals reflects his commitment to making positive changes in education.

Biography

Mr Matthew Vella was born in 1989. He studied at the University of Malta where he was awarded a Bachelor of Honours in Social Work, followed by a Master's qualification in Family Studies. His areas of specialisation include social planning and auditing, community development and services, regulations, and policy development.

Mr Vella began his career within the Public Service as a social worker in Children Services. He later served as Director of Corporate Services in the Ministry for Economy, Investment, and Small Businesses from 2015. In 2018, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Social Care Standards Authority, where he oversaw significant initiatives and reforms. 

Other contributions within the Public Service include the establishment of the Social Regulatory Standards for Social Welfare Services and the Strategic Vision 2020-2027: Striving for Excellence: Driving Social Innovation through Regulation. 

In December 2020, Mr Vella was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Senior Citizens and Active Ageing and the Ministry for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing. In December 2021, the latter was redesignated as the Ministry for Inclusion, Social Wellbeing, and Voluntary Organisations. In January 2022, Mr Vella was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Education and Sports, and in April 2022, he assumed the role of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, and Research and Innovation.

As part of his tenure in the education sector, Mr Vella has played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the National Education Strategy, underscoring his commitment to fostering a forward-looking and inclusive education system. Mr Vella has supported the incorporation of Strategic Foresight in shaping sustainable educational policies and facilitated the establishment of a dedicated directorate within the ministry to promote long-term planning and innovation. Additionally, he has overseen efforts to modernise educational facilities through the Edu Infrastructure Programme, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the sector.

Biography

Stefan brings extensive experience at the intersection of strategy and technology, notably innovation management, establishing open innovation ecosystems and maximizing the impact of R&D and investment. This builds on a 25-year career in business, venture finance and consulting, focused on helping business leverage science and technology for commercial success.

He was previously Vice President of the Board of MassChallenge Switzerland, which he co-founded, Global Head of Innovation Partnerships for the Nestlé Group, Head of Group Strategy and Business Development at Theo Müller Group and Director at L.E.K. Consulting. As an entrepreneur, he was founder and managing director of Plantopia and advisor and board member for a number of other start-ups. Stefan currently serves as a Global Head of Plant-Based for the Emmi Group. Born in Sofia, Stefan holds a degree in economics from the University of Oxford.

Biography

Elisa Gambardella is President of the Lifelong Learning Platform since 2023, and she is the Director of SOLIDAR Foundation, focusing on Education & Lifelong Learning and Democratic Participation.

She joined the SOLIDAR network in 2018 and since then, she had the opportunity to represent the organisation in the Board of Civil Society Europe (2022-2023), and the Conference on the Future of Europe (2021-2022), along with participation in the LLLP. Before moving to Brussels, she worked for the Cabinet of the Italian Minister of Labour, where she specialised in active labour market policies for youth employment (2013-2016).

Overall, she has 10+ years’ experience in public authorities, think tanks and EU CSOs, alongside participation in political and civic activism initiatives and movements. She holds a master’s degree in European studies from Roma Tre University.

Biography

Dr Riikka Heikinheimo is a leading voice in shaping European and Finnish policies on skills, education, and research & innovation. She focuses on addressing the critical challenge of equipping companies with the right skill sets amid disruptive transformations such as the green and digital transitions. Traditional education systems often lag behind these rapid changes, and Riikka works to influence legislation and practices to bridge this gap.
With extensive experience in research and innovation strategy, funding, and management, Riikka combines practical insight with policy expertise. Her work spans national and European levels, aiming to create productive education systems and robust RD&I processes that meet future skill demands.

Riikka has served as an executive director in national public funding organizations and has chaired or participated in numerous boards and advisory committees developing strategies for education, research, and innovation. She continues to contribute internationally and holds several board positions as chair or member.

LinkedIn profile

Biography

Luca Perego is the Head of Unit “Innovation and EIT” in the Directorate General for education, youth, sport and culture of the European Commission. The unit drives innovation into education including cooperation between education, business and research. The unit ensure the overall coordination of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) in line with its Strategic Innovation Agenda. He is an electronic engineer with 25 years of experience in private and public sector management.

He joined the European Commission in 2010 after having held the Information Technology department of an Italian insurance group. He set-up and launched the new Eur-Lex at the Publications Office of the European Union and then he worked as Assistant to the Director General for education, youth, sport and culture from 2015 to 2019.

Born in Verona, Italy, he is trilingual Italian, French and English.

Biography

Katalin MOLNÁR (1982) is the deputy permanent representative (Coreper I Ambassador) of Hungary to the European Union since November 2022, responsible for key sectoral EU policies such as transport, telecommunication, agriculture, environment, employment, social affairs, energy, competition, education, youth and culture.

She has been a Hungarian civil servant since 2010. First, as a legal adviser at the Ministry of Justice in Hungary at the EU law department, representing Hungary before the Court of Justice of the EU, later as a head of cabinet of the Deputy State Secretary responsible for EU affairs. From 2015 to 2020 she worked as a legal adviser, head of legal and justice team at the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU.

Katalin Molnár has also served as an EU civil servant at the European Commission, including as an antitrust case handler at DG Competition between 2013 and 2014 and as deputy head of cabinet of the Commissioner responsible for agriculture (2020-21) as well as international policy officer dealing with Latin-American countries in DG Agriculture (2021-22).  

She is a Hungarian qualified lawyer (University of Debrecen), with studies also at different European universities (Antwerp, Luxembourg, Bruges) and obtained her bar exam in 2013. She has strong experience in substantive and procedural EU law and public international law. She also worked one year at the College of Europe, in Bruges and gained experience at a law firm and at the General Court (then Court of First Instance) as an intern.

Biography

Brigitte van den Berg is a Member of the European Parliament representing the Dutch party D66 as part of the Renew Europe group. With a strong background in local politics as a former alderman in Beverwijk (a city close to Amsterdam), she brings hands-on experience in governance to her work in the EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs), ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy), and CULT (Culture and Education) committees. Passionate about vocational training, Erasmus+, and the green transition of the European industry,  she works to advance policies that promote a more dynamic and resilient European Union".

Biography

Jelena Muhina has been a dedicated professional at the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia for nearly 20 years, specializing in adult education policy planning. Throughout her career, she has played an active role in implementing EU and OECD cooperation projects, including the Latvian National Skills Strategy.

Currently, Jelena coordinates the implementation of skills-related initiatives under the Recovery and Resilience Fund, with a particular focus on Individual Learning Accounts and Skills Funds as key elements of development.

Biography

Milva Carbonaro, GISIG Coordinator (CEO) since May 2023, previously Director and Project Manager. Studies in Business and Economics, Graduated in Humanities and Master Degree in Open Distance Learning. Senior expert in promotion, management and coordination of EU project, in particular pilot training and mobility projects, including support to quality assurance processes for VET activities. 

Coordinator of the Large-scale Skills Partnership on Space Data, Service and Applications “SPACE4GEO” in the “Aerospace and Defence” ecosystem under the EC initiative “Pact for Skills”. 

Coordinator of the ERASMUS+ Sector Skills Alliances “EO4GEO” on space geo-information and “SpaceSUITE” on space downstream.
 

Biography

Hannes Raffaseder is CEO/President of the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences and co-founder and President of E³UDRES², the Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions. In May 2025 he was re-elected President of EURASHE, the European Association for the Applied Sciences in Higher Education. He was founding director of the Institute for Creative\Media/Technologies and director of a master's program in digital media technology.

As an experienced manager in higher education, Hannes promotes an opportunity-driven and impact-oriented culture. He has successfully co-implemented concepts for engaged and entrepreneurial universities as platforms for collaborative innovation with multidirectional multi-stakeholder approaches. Joint results and experiences have been published in several articles and scientific papers. In recent years, he has been frequently invited as a keynote speaker and panelist at various high-level conferences and workshops.

As a professor of media technology, Hannes has many years of teaching experience, led several research and innovation projects, and published academic papers in the contexts of audio design, media music, and sound interaction.

In addition to his academic work, Hannes is an internationally active, award-winning composer and media artist whose music has been performed in renowned concert halls and art festivals.

Biography

Ann leads the European Commission team working on the Union of Skills in the department for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

She has worked for the EU institutions for over 25 years on a range of EU policies and funding programmes.

Previous areas of work included social & inclusive entrepreneurship, social economy, the Erasmus+ programme, education for innovation, the cultural and creative sectors, European social dialogue and industrial relations.

Biography

Andrei Alexandru is a mathematician, graduate as a valedictorian with the general degree of 10.00 of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University from Iași, senior scientific researcher in the Romanian Academy and Professor at the” Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava. He published more than 50 Web of Science indexed research papers and two author monographs at Springer - Nature in logic, foundations of mathematics and set theory.

Starting from January 2022 he has acted secretary of state for research and, currently, President of the National Authority for Research of Romania.

Biography

Felicitas Rield works at the European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU’s long-term financing institution headquartered in Luxemburg.

Felicitas is the Director of the Innovation and Competitiveness Department within EIB’s Projects Directorate that is responsible for the due diligences of investments in R&D- intensive sectors, including the engineering, automotive, chemical, pharmaceutical and telecoms industries, education, health and digital infrastructures.

Before her appointment, she was Head of the Life Science and Health Division, which she joined in 2007 as Life Science Specialist. She was responsible for the life sciences, pharmaceutical and health sectors. Before joining the bank, Felicitas worked at the European Investment Fund as an Investment Manager with a particular focus on technology transfer. Her main tasks involved, among others, the analysis of technology transfer, the development of financial instruments targeting this particular area and the implementation of these funding structures.

Prior to that, she worked as a strategy consultant for L.E.K. Consulting in Munich and Los Angeles. There, she focused on Private Equity / M&A and Life Sciences. Her work included business planning, market research, development of market entry strategies as well as financial and commercial due diligences. She earned a Master of Science from the Philipps University of Marburg with a major in human genetics and molecular biology and was a visiting researcher at Stanford University in Palo Alto.

Biography

Beatrix Busse is vice-rector for teaching and studies and professor of diachronic English linguistics at the University of Cologne, as well as the chief development officer of the European University for Well-Being. She is the inaugural board chair of FOREU4ALL, and serves as vice-chair of the executive board of the Coimbra Group.

Beatrix Busse studied English and History at the universities of Osnabrück and Keele (GB). She received her doctorate in English linguistics from the University of Münster in 2004, and obtained her Habilitation at the University of Bern (CH) in 2010. In 2011, she was appointed to a full professorship for English linguistics at Heidelberg University. There she was Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching for six years before moving to Cologne.

Her scholarly interests include corpus- and transfer linguistics, stylistics, and language (discursive place-making) in urban spaces, especially in Brooklyn, New York.

Biography

Ines Lopez Arteaga is Dean of Education, Chair of the TU/e Education Board at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), and member of the management board of the EuroTeQ European University Alliance. She is Full Professor in Acoustics and Noise Control at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and in Engineering Acoustics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

Ines has extensive experience in leadership and governance roles in research and education within universities. She is responsible for the educational vision and strategy, and quality of education at TU/e. She leads university-wide initiatives such as the revision of the bachelor and master programs, digital transformation in education, educational innovation programs, and (inter)national collaborations. She recently joined the management board of the EuroTeQ and she is also responsible for establishing educational collaborations within the EWUU Alliance, a national alliance with Wageningen University, Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht.

As a full professor, Ines leads a research group focused on the fundamental and applied aspects of acoustics and noise control, with applications ranging from sustainable mobility to built environments. She has coordinated and participated in several European-funded projects, including Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ initiatives, fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. She has a strong track record in valorization, collaborating with industry partners and public stakeholders to translate research outcomes into real-world solutions. Her leadership is marked by a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, mentoring of early-career researchers, and driving innovation at the intersection of engineering and societal challenges.

Inés López Arteaga's research profile

Biography

Director of the Erasmus+ National Agency Higher Education within the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) since 2020 and Vice-President of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) since 2025.

Stephan Geifeshas been working for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) since 1999. Before his actual position he has been Head of Division Transnational Education and Cooperation Programmes, including among others, the German binational universities abroad. 

Prior to this position he was Director of the DAAD Paris Office, Secretary General of the Franco-German University (FGU) and Scientific Coordinator at the German Historical Institute of Paris.

Stephan Geifes studied History, Sociology and Roman Languages at the University of Bielefeld, the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris (EHESS) and at the Institute d’Études politques (IEP) in Paris. After earning a master’s  degree in history, he continued his studies at the École nationale d’administration (ENA). 

In 2012 he finished his PhD in History at the University of Bochum. He has published on European and international higher education exchange.

Biography

Mattias Björnmalm, PhD, is an experienced scientist and policy professional. He serves as Secretary General of CESAER – the strong and united voice of universities of science & technology. His other engagements include as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Bionics Institute, as an invited member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network and in the Marie Curie Alumni Association. Previously, he led the project qBionano at Imperial College London and was an editor in science & policy for the journal Angle.

In addition to his advocacy and policy experience, Mattias has an extensive scientific background in engineering, nanoscience & biomedicine, with dozens of publications in peer-reviewed journals.

In 2017, he was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship from the European Union; during this process he was selected as one of Europe’s thirty most ‘highly promising researchers’ out of the 8,916 funding proposals submitted.

In 2019, he was awarded an Imperial College London President’s Award: ‘recognised for outstanding achievements in policy engagement’.

Mattias is originally from Stockholm (Sweden) and following some years in Melbourne (Australia) and London (United Kingdom), he is currently based in Leuven (Belgium).

Biography

Stefan Zotti, currently Deputy Head of Unit “Higher education” in the European Commission (DG EAC), holds a PhD in Catholic Theology as well as a master in European Studies and has a longstanding professional experience in the national and European public administration, inter alia as adviser to the Austrian Minister for Science and Research, and cabinet member of Commissioner Johannes Hahn (Regional Policy, 2010-2013). 

Before rejoining the Commission 2020 as team leader in DG EAC, he was Director of the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD-GmbH).

Biography

Biography

As Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu’s task is to guide the overall work on strengthening Europe’s human capital, from skills and education to culture and sport.

Roxana Mînzatu is leading the work on the Union of Skills, focusing on investment, adult and lifelong learning, vocational education and training, skill retention and recognition and enhancing skills intelligence.

Learn more about Vice-President Mînzatu

Biography

As Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen is tasked with combatting the increasingly complex security threats facing the EU, whilst at the same time strengthening our external borders and our internal security. This goes hand in hand with her responsibility to ensure our freedoms, justice and democracy are strengthened too.

Henna Virkkunen is also responsible for the Digital and Frontier Technologies portfolio. This entails leading Europe’s efforts in shaping a competitive, resilient and inclusive digital future and maintaining or attaining leadership in strategic digital technologies.

Learn more about Vice-President Virkkunen

Biography

Nela Riehl has been a member of the European Parliament since June 2024, when she got elected as one out of three German Volt representatives. They are part of the new five-strong Volt delegation in the EP. Together, they have joined the group of the Greens/EFA.

Nela Riehl has been elected Chair of the Committee for Culture and Education. As a former secondary teacher, her work focuses on improving access to public education, raising civic-, basic-, and digital skills, and tackling disinformation across Europe and beyond, with a special interest in using education for global equity and international cooperation. She is also member of the Committee for Employment  and Social Rights as well as the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  

Nela Riehl is married and has two children. The family lives in Brussels.