Speakers
Intervenants du congrès LEADER
Christian Prip
at the Local Action Group on the Danish island, BornholmChristian Prip is the Chair of the Local Action Group on the Danish island, Bornholm, situated in the Baltic Sea with 40.000 inhabitants. Christian is the representative of Denmark in the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) . In his professional life, Christian is a senior researcher in environmental policy, governance and law at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway . Présentation complète ...
Bertrand Trepo
at LAG Pays VitryatBertrand Trepo. Agronomist, he is the president of the LAG Pays Vitryat, Treasurer of LEADER France, and organic winemaker in Champagne. He completes his wine activity with wine tourism with a group cottage in a town of 180 inhabitants. Présentation complète ...
Carlo Salot
at Escartons and Valli Valdesi LAGCarlo Salot is territorial animator at the Escartons and Valli Valdesi LAG. He has a master in Local Development and is passionate about mountain life and social environmental responsibility at community level. He is engaged in local development since his teens, working to find innovative and sustainable practices to live and work in marginalized inner areas and participating actively in the community life of mountain valleys of Piemonte region. Carlo works in the field of local development and participatory decision making to identify innovative and sustainable approaches to live and work in rural areas. With the EVV LAG Carlo oversees communication and territorial animation, focusing on supporting settlement, entrepreneurship, and access to services in the LAG Area.Présentation complète ...
Maria Pianezzola
at Piedmontese LAGsMaria Pianezzola Freelance agronomist, I have been involved in rural and urban development, agricultural, environmental and landscape design for 40 years, for the protection and enhancement of ecosystems, and sustainable tourism. Since 1997 I have been Director of the Piedmontese LAGs, for 18 years of the Valli Gesso Vermenagna Pesio LAG and for 6 years of the Tradizione delle Terre Occitane LAG, participating in the Surveillance Committee of the PSR 2014-2022 representing Asso Piemonte Leader. I have gained experience in the conception and development of participatory planning within various European Union funding instruments (Interreg ALCOTRA, Alpine Space, MED, Central Europe, Erasmus, LIFE, HORIZON. Présentation complète ...
Piotr Styczeń
at 5th European Rural ParliamentPiotr Styczeń, Youth coordinator at the 5th European Rural Parliament; Member of Youth City Council in Starachowice, Poland; Changemaker for the „Stand for More in 24” campaign” Présentation complète ...
Edina Ocsko
at E40 Europe, an international consultancy in rural, regional and socio-economic development / Coordinator of the Smart Village NetworkEdina Ocsko is the Director of E40 Europe, an international consultancy in rural, regional and socio-economic development, with a strong focus on rural networking and bottom-up stakeholder engagement in rural policymaking. She has been the coordinator of the 1st and 2nd Preparatory Actions on Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century, two projects supported by DG AGRI to improve the implementation of Smart Villages across Europe through the CAP (including LEADER) and beyond. She is also Coordinator of the Smart Village Network. Présentation complète ...
Louise Weir
at FLIARALouise Weir is a Professional Spatial Planner and Associate Researcher in the Rural Studies Centre in University of Galway, Ireland. Louise is currently the Principal Project Manager of FLIARA, a HORIZON EU Project.Présentation complète ...
Tuomas Kuhmonen
at Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku University, Finland.Professor Tuomas Kuhmonen has a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Economics and an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics. Working in research for 30 years, Tuomas is currently the Director of the Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku University, Finland. Présentation complète ...
Maura Farrell
at EU Horizon Europe FLIARA (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas)Associate Professor Maura Farrell is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at University of Galway. Maura is currently lead coordinator of the EU Horizon Europe FLIARA (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) project.Présentation complète ...
Adrien Licha
at ALDAAdrien Licha is Coordinator of the Secretariat at ALDA, the European Association for Local Democracy. Fully convinced that sustainable development has to be reached at the local level, he has been a local government advocate since 2012, both in his professional and private life. In previous positions he had the chance to work along many local governments from the Middle East and Western Asia, as well as with European national associations involved in decentralized cooperation. Involved in many ways in the international municipal movement, he is happy to contribute to help local democracy saving democracy. Présentation complète ...
Carolina Gutiérrez Ansótegui
at Dynamization of Rural Areas (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) Carolina Gutiérrez Ansótegui, Deputy Director for the Dynamization of Rural Areas (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) Carolina is an agricultural engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Master in Oenology and Viticulture and Master in Rural Development. Before becoming a civil servant, she worked for 8 years in the wine sector in Europe, Chile and New Zealand. Currently, within the Rural Development Direction, she focuses on designing measures for promoting young farmers setting up and to encourage entrepreneurship of women in rural areas. In addition, she coordinates the National Rural Development Program, the use of financial instruments via UE funds (EAFRD) and the support for the Local Action Groups in Spain Présentation complète ...
Alexia Rouby
at coordinator Alexia Rouby, Policy coordinator at European Commission’s DG Agriculture and rural development Alexia is an agro-economist with around 20 years of experience, first in national network coordination on animal health, then in European network coordination on rural policy analysis and project management, and since 2014 in European Commission’s department for agriculture and rural development (DG AGRI). Within the Rural areas and networks unit, she coordinates the team implementing European Commission’s long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas adopted in June 2021, including EU’s Rural action plan and the Rural Pact. Before that, until October 2021, she was responsible for programming research and innovation on rural and social dynamics, social innovation, participatory and territorial approaches in DG AGRI’s Research and innovation unit. Présentation complète ...
Steve Dolan
at Galway Rural DevelopmentSteve Dolan is the CEO of Galway Rural Development who manage a range of European and national programmes in the west of Ireland. He has extensive experience of working in the community sector in the areas of rural development, smart villages, charities governance, strategic planning, organisational development, communications, and project management. Steve is a member of the advisory board of FLIARA.Présentation complète ...
Maria Gafo Gómez-Zamalloa
at he unit “Social sustainability” in the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European CommissionMaria Gafo Gómez-Zamalloa. She is deputy head of the unit “Social sustainability” in the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission that follows social issues in our rural areas, such as generational renewal, depopulation, equality, immigration or human rights. Her Unit is responsible for local development and the LEADER programme. Maria has a long experience in the European Commission where she has worked on energy, environment, forestry and agricultural policies. Before joining the European Commission, she was consultant and also participated in several development projects in Mexico, Ecuador and Paraguay. She holds a PhD in Forestry policy from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Présentation complète ...
Quentin Legouy
at Pays de la Vallée du Cher et du Romorantinais / member of the European Commission of the Association of Mayors of France / member of the European Committee of the RegionsQuentin Legouy. Elected local representative in charge of European affairs at the Controis-en-Sologne (Loir-et-Cher), Quentin Legouy is Vice-President of the Pays de la Vallée du Cher et du Romorantinais. As a member of the European Commission of the Association of Mayors of France, he is a member of the European Committee of the Regions as a young elected official. He was a visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Affairs in Washington, DC, last autumn, and is now an expert at Leader France and a doctoral student at the University on the Leader program. Présentation complète ...
François Galabrun
Since 2010, initially within the management authority and later as an LAG Manager, François Galabrun has actively followed the LEADER program and the individuals involved in its implementation. This involvement notably included numerous missions abroad and observation within various programming committees.Présentation complète ...
Luís Chaves
at Portuguese Federation of Local Development Associations (Minha Terra)Luís Chaves (1969) Degree on Agronomical Engineering (Tropical and subtropical agriculture) from the University of Lisbon. Since 1993 until 2001, I was a rural development expert in a Portuguese NGO, collaborating in the design, follow-up and carrying out of several development projects and short missions in southern countries and local development and networking projects in Portuguese rural areas. Since 2002 I am the national coordinator of the Portuguese Federation of Local Development Associations (Minha Terra), also acting as LEADER Local Action Groups Network, where amongst other tasks I am responsible for monitoring the definition and implementation of local development policies in rural areas, in particular Community-led Local Development. Présentation complète ...
Irène Tolleret
at European ParliamentIrène Tolleret has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. She is full member of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) and substitute member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). She has also been appointed co-chair of the EP Intergroup on Wine, Spirits and Quality Foodstuffs and is one of the founding member of the European Food Forum. Irène Tolleret is also winegrower in her native region - Pic Saint Loup (Hérault) - and has a long professional experience in the sector of wine. Before being elected as a Member of the European Parliament, she served as Mayor of Fontanès and Member of the Hérault Department Council. During her mandate as a mayor, she has constituted and chaired the Local Action Group of Grand Pic Saint Loup, contributing to the implementation of the LEADER programme in the area. Her long term engagement in the promotion of rural development has been rewarded with the appointment as 1st Vice-President of the LEADER France Association.Présentation complète ...
Simona Rulcová
at the Integrated Tools implemetation Unit at the Managing Authority of the Integrated regional Simona Rulcová, Head of the Integrated Tools implemetation Unit at the Managing Authority of the Integrated regional programme with 13 years of experience in programme financed from the EU funds and with 7 years of experience in programme financed from European Regional Deveoplment Fund at the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic. Simona manages the setting up of measures and cooperation of the single integrated instruments that are implemented in the Czech Republic, including Local Action Groups. She is also involved in spreading good practice of CLLD implementation both at national and international level.Présentation complète ...
Vincent Rousval
at Erasmus+Vincent Rousval, Agricultural engineer by training, I work in the higher education department for of the french erasmus+ agency in Bordeaux. I have previously carried out a number of missions for the French Ministry of Agriculture, including teaching economics and local development in an agricultural high school, leading university training courses on energy/climate issues, and working as a national referent for international cooperation projects. Présentation complète ...
Florin Preda
at Local Action Group (LAG) in RădăuțiFlorin Preda, I am a dynamic and accomplished professional currently serving as a manager in an urban Local Action Group (LAG) in Rădăuți, where me and my team are implementing the DLRC mechanism to foster local development. In addition to this pivotal role, I am the owner of the largest consultancy agency in Suceava County, renowned for successfully managing and implementing funds exceeding €25 million annually for a diverse clientele both public and private. My expertise in fund management and local development is further underscored by my previous experience as a manager in a rural LAG from 2012 to 2017. During this tenure, me and my team implemented the LEADER mechanism across 12 different cities, and many more private companies demonstrating a consistent track record of facilitating growth and development in both urban and rural settings. Présentation complète ...
Olavi Petron
at Rural Development Policy and Analyses Department of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture of EstoniaHead of Rural Development Policy and Analyses Department of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture of Estonia. Experience in the ministry for more than 25 years in different positions dealing with rural development, agriculture and EU affairs. Présentation complète ...
Renáta KUČEROVÁ
at CLLD and ITI Projects UnitRenáta KUČEROVÁ, Head of the CLLD and ITI Projects Unit at the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme Employment+, with 20 years of experience in programmes financed from the European Social Fund and related agenda at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. Renáta has been managing design of CLLD actions and cooperation with Local Action Groups since the very start of CLLD multifund in the OP Employment in 2015. She is also active on the European level promoting the successful case of Czech LEADER/CLLD multifund and its ESF operations.Présentation complète ...
Hanane ALLALI
at Ministry of Agriculture and Food SovereigntyHanane ALLALI, “Leader and Local Development Strategies” Mission Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty since 2008 - Specialist in the LEADER approach and LAG cooperation. Chargé de mission “Education for sustainable development and local governance” at the Fédération des Parcs Naturels Régionaux de France (6yrs). Certified Professor of Geography and Regional Planning (12 years). D.E.S.S in Public Management and Regional Planning (I.A.E de Caen). Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Geography and Regional Planning (Institute of Geography and Regional Planning of the University of Nantes). Présentation complète ...
Monika Smetanová
at local action group Krajina srdce / The Polánka associationMonika Smetanová, While studying tourism, she helped to run the Bernard Bolzano Gallery of Modern Art in Těchobuz and also started working in the field of regional development in the rural region of Tabor, where she comes from. For the nineteenth year she has been managing the local action group Krajina srdce, which implements a local development strategy thanks to European subsidies. She has also tried the project process in all its phases, from planning and preparation to actual implementation and billing. In total, she has realised about 25 non-profit projects ranging from youth exchanges, the establishment of a regional brand, mapping the stories of heritage sites, to projects with an artistic accent. Occasionally she lectures on this topic at the Higher School at the Higher Vocational School in Tábor. She has founded other organisations that are different from each other and reach into different fields. The Polánka association, which focuses on the maintenance of cross-country trails and the organisation of sporting events, the Mirabelka association, which is dedicated to fruit processing and the establishment and maintenance of orchards, and the Toulava destination company, which aims to develop tourism in the region with its heart in Tábor. For Tourism Authority of South Bohemia, she has prepared the Tourism Development Concept for 2021-2030. Présentation complète ...
Francesco MANTINO
at Council for Research in Agricultural and agricultural Economics-Centre for Policies and Bio-economy (CREA-PB, the former INEA)Francesco MANTINO is a senior researcher at the Council for Research in Agricultural and agricultural Economics-Centre for Policies and Bio-economy (CREA-PB, the former INEA). He has long-standing research expertise in the broad field of CAP and regional development: structural changes, CAP policy analysis, rural development strategies at local level, development of lagging regions and peripheral/mountain areas, impact evaluation of CAP and Cohesion instruments and measures, analysis of fruits and vegetables CMO, etc. He has carried out research projects and evaluation studies funded by several international organisations including the European Commission (funded by 7th ERFP, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, ESPON programmes, DG-Agri evaluation unit), OCDE, FAO and IFAD. At international level, he actively participated to several project missions in European Union countries and also extra EU (Armenia, Israel, and Latin American countries). He led the INEA’s work on the reform of the EU Rural Development Policy and its implementation in Italy during four programming periods (1994-99, 2000-2006, 2007-2013 and finally 2014-20). He has been responsible for the Italian Networks for Leader II and Leader+. He took part in several European groups and think-tank focusing on the reform of CAP and its governance implications and needs for simplification. He has been working as a consultant for a broad range of Italian institutions: the Ministries for Agricultural and Forestry Policies, Budget and Economic Planning, Department of Tourism, and finally many Regional Authorities. He was editor of the journal Bio-Based and Applied Economics and is currently member of the Steering Committee of Eurochoices Journal. He is also a referee of several specialised journals in economic and social sciences (Bio-based and Applied Economics; Agriculture; Land; Sustainability, etc.) He is the author of many scientific publications, including 6 books as an editor. Présentation complète ...
Isabel Carvalhais
at European ParliamentIsabel Carvalhais is a Portuguese Member of the European Parliament. With a degree in International Relations from the University of Minho, and a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Coimbra, she received her PhD in Sociology from the University of Warwick, in the United Kingdom, in 2004. She began her academic career as a Trainee Assistant at the University of Minho, through a public competition in 1997, and since 2018 she has been an Associate Professor at that same institution, at the School of Economics and Management, linked to the Department of International Relations and Public Administration. Since September 2019 and until 2024, she has been on leave from service in order to fully fulfill her duties as MEP in the European Parliament. Présentation complète ...
Mihail Dumitru
at Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)Mihail Dumitru is the European Commission’s Deputy Director-General at the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) in charge of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Direct Support, Rural Development and Sustainability since February 2014. He is responsible for the implementation of all CAP Direct Support, including Voluntary Coupled Support, and for the 118 Rural Development Programmes throughout the EU. In addition, he leads on environmental matters, including climate change issues. Dumitru joined DG AGRI in 2007 and held several positions. He served as Director of the Directorate of Rural Development Programmes I in DG AGRI from 2011 to 2014 including several responsibilities: coordinator of the training programme for the staff in the rural development directorates, contact point for the Task Force Greece and Green Ambassador for Romania. From 2009 to 2010, he has been Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania. Dumitru has a PhD from the National Institute for Economic Research in Bucharest and holds a Master’s Degree of Science from the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies in Chania, Greece. Présentation complète ...
Eleftherios (Terry) Stavropoulos
at Research Center of the EUEleftherios (Terry) Stavropoulos is an EU regional policy expert . He is currently working at the Joint Research Center of the EU on territorial and urban development. He is contributing to the Rural Tool Kit the Start Up Villages and other projects that the JRC has that are relevant for LAGs and rural areas. Before JRC, Terry was for 6 years in DG REGIO and was part of the team that prepared the LTVRA. In DG REGIO he worked on issues such as Territorial Impact Assessments, rural, insular, mountainous and sparsely populated areas, localisation of SDGs etc His experience in Cohesion Policy dates from 2000 when he started working in designing the Regional Operational Programme for South Aegean and the Leader for the Cyclades islands. He became then advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece and the PM during the negotiations for the MFF and later as Councillor at the Greek Permanent Representation to the EU he has negotiated Cohesion Policy regulations and the approval of the Greek programmes for 2007-2014. As Special Secretary of Greece for competiveness and entrepreneurship 2007-2009 he and his team launched many innovative actions that were acknowledged by the Commission as best practises. He has hold various other important positions among which: Vice President of the investment board of EIF for Jeremie GR, Secretary General of the national association of SMEs of Greece, president of Structural Actions Measures working group of the Council during the Greek Presidency...Présentation complète ...
Hartmut Berndt
at ELARDDr. Hartmut Berndt, Head of the Sustainable Regional Development Department at Göttingen District Council, LAG Manager LEADER Göttinger Land, Chairman of the German LEADER Association (BAG LAG e.V.), Vice President of the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD), Member of the German Federal Government's Expert Council for Rural Development (SRLE).Présentation complète ...
Serhii Zamidra
at All-Ukrainian Association of CommunitiesSerhii Zamidra is currently the First Deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities. His career includes roles as Coordinator of the State Agrarian Registry and as an Adviser to the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine (2021-2022). He is also celebrated as a multiple Local Government Best Practices Competition winner. His priorities focus on civic engagement, smart villages, and youth development. Previously, Serhii served as the Mayor of Nemishaieve Town from 2015 to 2020 and played a pivotal role in developing a national Telegram chatbot for evacuation and humanitarian support (@Evacuation2022_bot).Présentation complète ...
Isilda Maria Prazeres dos Santos Varges Gomes
at Portuguese Association of Socialist Mayors / she chairs the commission “Natural Resources”Isilda Maria Prazeres dos Santos Varges Gomes is a Portuguese politician. She was the Civilian Governor of the Faro District between 2007 and 2011 and Member of the Portuguese Parliament. She was elected Mayor of Portimão in 29 September 2013 and re-elected since then. President of the Portuguese Association of Socialist Mayors, she is also Member of the European Committee of the Regions since 2020. In this institution, she chairs the commission “Natural Resources” since 2022. In Portimão, a port city in the Algarve Region of southern Portugal, known for its sandy beaches, her priorities have always been the development of sustainable tourism, notably focusing around water management. Portimão is also usually presented as a leading example on civil protection. Présentation complète ...
Stefan Niedermoser
at Austrian LEADER Forum (network of 83 LAGs in Austria) / ELARD Vice-Chairman MemberStefan Niedermoser, several university degrees in economics, business management and politics Director of a LAG since 2006 Managing Director of a regional development agency since 2007 Founder and Chairman of the Austrian LEADER Forum (network of 83 LAGs in Austria) ELARD Vice-Chairman Member of several national and international steering and working groups linked to regional development Chairman of the association “Support for rural entrepreneurs in the Kitzbühel district region”. Présentation complète ...
Vanessa Halhead
at SRAVanessa Halhead has worked with rural community development for over 35 years, at all levels including in her own rural community in the Scottish Highlands, regionally, nationally and internationally. She was part of the team that established the European Rural Community Alliance ERCA and the first European Rural Parliament. She has co-ordinated both ERCA and the ERP since the start, so has a wide understanding of rural development across Europe. She helped to establish and manage the very first rural community movement in Scotland – Highlands and Islands Forum. She worked with the Scottish Government to establish Scottish Rural Action and the first Scottish Rural Parliament, and was a Director and latterly, Acting Chair or SRA until her appointment as Honorary President. At local level she lives in one of the most dynamic small communities in the Scottish Highlands – Cromarty, a community of about 800 people, which has 42 local organisations undertaking amazing projects Présentation complète ...
Gerry Murray
at Mayo County CouncilSince first elected to Mayo County Council, Cllr Gerry Murray has delivered numerous Social and economic projects for the people and the communities that he represents. These include new libraries, art centres, playgrounds, sports facilities, the roll out of major sanitation and water schemes, the regeneration of local authority housing estates, the taking in charge of group water schemes by MCC and the ongoing maintenance of local and region roads. He successfully campaigned for all local authorities in the west to become stakeholders in Ireland West Airport and is a passionate believer in the concept of balanced regional development. He continues to campaign for critical infrastructural projects such as roads, rail and broadband, so rural Ireland will be able to attract significant foreign direct investment and much more importantly, will be able to grow indigenous industry and enterprise. This current infrastructural deficit in rural Ireland is the main obstacle impeding employment and investment in the county. With significant matching funding available at EU level, there is no excuse for central government not to make the necessary fiscal commitments that are needed. Présentation complète ...
Marjeta Jerič
at Department for Structural Policy and Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and FoodMarjeta Jerič is an Undersecretary at the Department for Structural Policy and Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. She is responsible for the measure LEADER 2014-2020 and the LEADER intervention 2023-2027, she is responsible for the preparation of regulations for local development strategies 2023-2027 and the joint LEADER/CLLD regulation for the multi-fund approach 2023-2027. She is also responsible for specific objectives 8 of the Strategic Plan of Slovenia 2023-2027 and works in the field of the Long-term rural vision EU.Présentation complète ...
Iwona Lisztwan
at DG AGRIIwona Lisztwan, has been coordinating the LEADER measure in DG AGRI since early 2021. Iwona has a linguistic background coupled with a PhD in regional aspects of rural development. Iwona has an extensive experience in rural development starting from pre-accession SAPARD programme in Poland, then moving to the Commission to coordinate Polish rural development and working on Turkey’s pre-accession IPARD and setting up LEADER there. Iwona is interested in the processes of change, communication and understanding the increasing complexity of today’s world.Présentation complète ...
Wolfgang Berger
at LEADER-forum Austria and LAG-manager in Austria/StyriaWolfgang Berger is board member of the LEADER-forum Austria and LAG-manager in Austria/Styria. The professional positions range from graphic design and cultural marketing to sociology and regional development. In his scientific work he dealt with innovation as a social process and in his practice-oriented LEADER work he consequently focuses on promoting social innovations in the areas of participatory building culture, career orientation and experience of democracy in rural areas. Photo credit : Sabine Grün GrazPrésentation complète ...
Patricia Varzari
at The National LEADER Network of MoldovaPatricia Varzari, since 2019 is a member of the National LEADER Network of Moldova, and her professional background includes significant roles in both the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Paying Agency. She has extensive experience in collaborative partnership-building, programme management, and fostering social impact through innovative approaches, showcasing her commitment to empowering local communities and promotion of local development.Présentation complète ...
Marina Albu
at National LEADER Network from Moldova (NLN)Marina Albu, since 2016 involved in promoting CLLD/LEADER approach and rural and urban development programms in Republic of Moldova. Since 2018 has been the president of National LEADER Network from Moldova (NLN). As NLN President essentially contributed for creation of National LEADER Program financed form state budget and legislation for LAGs functioning.Présentation complète ...
Eduard Trepat
at Rural Initiatives Association of CataloniaEduard Trepat is a geographer and coordinator of the Rural Initiatives Association of Catalonia, the Catalan network of Leader Groups. For more than 15 years he has been working projects on rural development related, among others, to demography, depopulation, heritage or rural education. He has coordinated the Atlas of the Rural World and is a promoter of the Rural Agenda of Catalonia (Catalan Rural Pact).Présentation complète ...
Barbara Stumpf
at LEADER-region in Austria/StyriaBarbara Stumpf works as a project manager in a LEADER-region in Austria/Styria. Her main areas of work are transnational cooperation projects, sustainable tourism innovation and health tourism. Her educational path is a master's degree at the University of Applied Sciences for Health Management in Tourism in Austria and additionally a master semester at the University Linköping in Sweden. The professional career led from managing the local tourism association in Hartberg to various regional development offices with EU-funded projects (LEADER, Interreg, Erasmus+).Présentation complète ...
David Armellini
at the National Agency for Territorial CohesionDavid Armellini is head of rural projects at the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion, and in particular in charge of France’s ruralities plan and how it fits between different ministries. I was previously Coordinator of the French rural network in connection with the Leader, PEI/AKIS territories, regional rural networks with a particular interest due to my professional experience in the issues of cross-referencing European funds available to local development actors.Présentation complète ...
Enrique Nieto
at Rural Pact Support OfficeEnrique Nieto is a Spanish rural economist currently working as Deputy Team Leader of the Rural Pact Support Office in charge of animating and implementing networking activities for the Rural Pact and contribute to the European Commission’s long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas. Enrique holds more than 10 years of experience as Senior policy expert of AEIDL - The European Association for Innovation in Local Development.Présentation complète ...
Urszula BUDZICH-TABOR
at LDnetUrszula BUDZICH-TABOR, expert in local and rural development with 30 years of experience in programme and project management, capacity building, networking, analysis and evaluation at national and EU levels. She was working in the European network of fisheries areas (FARNET), the Contact Point of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD), and since December 2022 as Senior Policy Analyst of the Rural Pact Support Office. She is also the President of LDnet, a network bringing together people and knowledge in local development.Présentation complète ...
Valdis Kudiņš
at European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAPValdis Kudiņš, Evaluation Manager of the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP Valdis Kudiņš has 23 years of experience in LEADER starting from creating one of the first Local Action Groups in Latvia; developing and implementing capacity building activities for LAG board members in Latvia; establishing ‘Latvian Rural Forum’ - national network of LAGs and rural communities; supporting Ministry of Agriculture in designing LEADER implementation in Latvia 2006 – 2013; implementing several projects that facilitated development of LEADER in Romania and Moldova. Since 2018, Valdis has permanently joined European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP and has worked on capacity building support for evaluation stakeholders in Member States as well as coordinating development of guidance that support evaluation of Rural Development Programmes and CAP Strategic Plans. He is currently coordinating the thematic working group preparing guidance for the assessment of the added value of LEADER. Présentation complète ...
Marili Parissaki
at European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAPMarili Parissaki, Good Practice Manager of the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP Marili Parissaki has over 25 years of experience in evaluations of EU programmes. She has been a member of the Evaluation Helpdesk of the CAP in consecutive programming periods, where she has worked on providing support to Member States and the Commission on the design, implementation and communication of evaluations of rural development programmes and recently of CAP Strategic Plans. LEADER has been an integral part of the rural development policy and Marili has worked on studies, identification of good practices and evaluations in relation to LEADER. She is currently involved in a thematic working group preparing guidance for the assessment of the added value of LEADER. She is also responsible for the good practice workshop on assessing the LEADER added value that took place a couple of weeks ago in Luxemburg, with the participation of over 90 evaluation stakeholders from all Member States. Présentation complète ...
Annie Linsemark
at ELARD Annie Linsemark is a professional in communications and rural development, with a special focus on youth engagement in rural areas. Her commitment to rural development, with a particular focus on youth, reached new heights when she assumed the role of project coordinator for ELARD in the project RURBEST22—a European initiative dedicated to empowering and connecting rural youth across countries. Her involvement in RURBEST22 led her to apply and be part of the project Gen Z Agency. In this project, along with 24 others from Nordic countries, she formulates recommendations for Nordic ministers, the Nordic Council of Ministers, and various authorities. These recommendations aim to provide insights for strengthening conditions and promoting opportunities for young people in Nordic rural areas. The report was launched in November 2023. Currently, she is working with the communication efforts at CLLD Halland, Sweden and she actively engages in multiple European projects coordinated by the ELARD Knowledge Hub.Présentation complète ...
Ana Manrique
at LAG Valles PasiegosAna Manrique is LAG Manager for the LAG Valles Pasiegos. When she finished her university studies in Business Administration, the first results of what was then known as the LEADER Community Initiative in Spain and Europe were known. Twenty-five years later, she is proud to have contributed to its management within different regional development networks in Spain and in this last stage as manager director of the LAG Valles Pasiegos. Présentation complète ...
Irene Martín
at Spanish Network for Rural Development (REDR)Irene Martín is responsible for projects of the Spanish Network for Rural Development (REDR). He has worked mainly in the area of youth and how to promote the retention of talent in rural areas through entrepreneurship or economic diversification. He also has experience in issues related to sustainability and 2030 Agenda and its connection with Local Action Groups and the LEADER methodology.Présentation complète ...
Radim Sršeň
at European Committee of the Regions / 1st Vice-chair of the NAT CommissionDeputy Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic / Mayor of the Municipality of Dolní Studénky/ chairman of the LAG Šumperský venkov/ university teacher / chair of the EU Rural Pact Coordination GroupMember of the European Committee of the Regions, 1st Vice-chair of the NAT Commission, Deputy Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic, Mayor of the Municipality of Dolní Studénky, chairman of the LAG Šumperský venkov, university teacher and chair of the EU Rural Pact Coordination Group. However, first of all, proud rural citizen. His life motto is an African proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, come together..." Présentation complète ...
Conor Judge
at Nuffield College, University of OxfordConor is a DPhil candidate in Sociology at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, who is interested in applying quantitative methods to the study of rural development and regional inequality. Specifically, he is concerned with the application of a critical approach to rural development schemes in order to understand what they achieve and how they can best be evaluated. Prior to postgraduate studies, Conor interned at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in macroeconomics before working as a Community Development Officer on the LEADER program at one of Ireland’s leading Local Action Group’s, IRD Duhallow. Conor is also currently involved as an expert advisor/policy analyst for the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) on the Cowork4Youth project and as a consultant working with a number of LAG’s at local level in Ireland. Présentation complète ...
Lidija Pavić-Rogošić
at ODRAZ-Sustainable Community Development in CroatiaLidija Pavić-Rogošić, Founder and Director of ODRAZ-Sustainable Community Development in Croatia, brings over two decades of expertise to the realm of sustainable development. Trained as an architect and with a post-graduate course in the Practice of Social Change from London Metropolitan University, Lidija has been a pivotal figure at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning and in international organizations like REC and USAID/AED. Since 2013, she has been a distinguished member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), representing the Diversity Europe Group. Currently focusing on sustainable development goals and rural areas within the NAT section, Lidija's dynamic leadership extends beyond national borders, making significant contributions to European discussions on crucial socio-economic issues.Présentation complète ...
Nicoletta Merlo
at Youth Policies for CISLNicoletta Merlo is the National Head of Youth Policies for CISL, a prominent Italian trade union confederation, and a member of the bureau of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Youth Committee. Since October 2020, she has been an engaged member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), where she actively works on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), food sustainability, environmental protection, the circular economy, the UN SDGs, and climate change within the NAT Section. Additionally, as the Vice-President of the newly created EESC Youth Group, Nicoletta coordinates youth-centric initiatives and serves as the Rapporteur for the EESC Opinion on the role of youth in rural development., and actively advocating for the generational perspective in the Committee's discussions and initiatives.Présentation complète ...
Josep Puxeu Rocamora
at NAT SectionJosep Puxeu Rocamora is the Director-general of the Soft Drinks Association (ANFABRA). Since 2015, he has been a member at the European Economic and Social Committee. In addition to his role at ANFABRA, Josep has held positions in various companies within the agri-food sector. His extensive public sector contributions include serving as the Secretary of State for Rural and Marine Environment and Secretary General for Agriculture and Food at the Spanish Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs. Further, he held the position of Director General of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, and served as an Adviser to the Cabinet of the Minister. Josep's multifaceted experience positions him as a key figure in the European discourse on the food and beverage industry.Présentation complète ...
Rita Triinu Peussa
at Local leader action group at Raplamaa PartnershipRita Triinu Peussa has been managing the local leader action group at Raplamaa Partnership since 2020, but her involvement goes way back to when it was first created. Before this role, she has worked in two different municipalities in Rapla County, focusing on culture, sports, education, youth work and public relations. This experience has given her a deep understanding of her region, including the various organizations and companies here. By living in the countryside, she truly understands the importance of supporting rural life. From July 2023, she is also the president of the Estonian LEADER Union.Présentation complète ...
Janusz Wojciechowski
at European CommissionJanusz Wojciechowski is the current European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. Born on January 4, 1954, in Rawa Mazowiecka, Poland, Janusz Wojciechowski has had a distinguished career in Polish politics. Commissioner Wojciechowski’s responsibilities include supporting negotiations on the future of the CAP, developing a long-term vision for rural areas and developing an action plan for organic farming.Présentation complète ...
Wouter Peeters
at LEADER managing authority in Flanders, BelgiumWouter Peeters has been working for the LEADER managing authority in Flanders, Belgium since 2018. In that capacity he was involved in the implementation of the previous CAP period and the design of CAP 2023-2027. He is particularly interested in the way LEADER contributes to sustainable and regional development.Présentation complète ...
Peter SCHMIDT
at NAT Section, European Economic and Social CommitteeMr. Peter Schmidt's first occupation was cheesemaker. Later on he was a regional officer of the NGG trade union (Food and Catering Union, affiliated to the DGB) for 27 years, in charge of dairy industries and bakeries. Since 2014 he has been a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)'s Group II (Workers). From 2015 to March 2018, he was the president of the EESC's Permanent Study Group on Sustainable Food Systems. From April 2018 to September 2020, he was the president of the EESC's Sustainable Development Observatory. Since October 2020, Peter is the President of the NAT Section of the EESC, responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. Peter has been the rapporteur of several EESC's opinions related to sustainable food systems, in particular the most recent one on food speculation. He has also been the rapporteur of the EESC opinion on The sustainable economy we need.Présentation complète ...
Maria José Murciano
at Spanish Network for Rural DevelopmentManager of spanish network of Rural development and ELARD Council Member. Development and implementation of rural development policies from an integrated, sustainable and inclusive approach. Support and improvement of local development processes and establishment of dialogues between different governmental levels in a variety of countries. Institutional representation of REDR with Spanish, European and international public bodies and local institutions and partners.Présentation complète ...
Marion ECKARDT
at European Leader Association for Rural DevelopmentBorn and raised in Sweden, she left the country at the age of 20 for a life in international waters. In 2002, she graduated in geography, agriculture, geoinformatics and environmental management from Humboldt University in Berlin and began an international career in participatory rural development. In 2009, she moved back to the Swedish countryside with her family and worked as a LAG manager in the Halland CLLD in south-west Sweden. In 2013, she co-founded Sweden's national LEADER network and was chair of ELARD 2020-22. She founded the ELARD knowledge centre, which she now manages alongside her role as vice-president of ELARD and CLLD Halland.Présentation complète ...
Petar Gjorgievski
at The Rural Development Network of the Republic of North MacedoniaPetar Gjorgievski is the president of The Rural Development Network of the Republic of North Macedonia. His experience of near 20 years is in the area of agriculture and rural development with an up-to-date knowledge of National and EU rural development policy programmes. He is an expert in community development, utilizing participative tools for local community actions and cooperation between communities at local, regional, national and international level. In the past 10 years Petar works on transferring experience to help others understand the complexity of rural development challenges driven by a large number of factors, and which requires multi-disciplinary and team-work response. Currently he is focused on, rural CSO capacity building, networking and EU LEADER approach as a model for local economic development and enhancement of the capacity of rural civil society organizations in sustainable development.Présentation complète ...
Sandra Macura
at The Fruska Gora-Danube LAG, member of the Board of Directors of the LAG network in SerbiaManager at LAG Fruska Gora-Danube, Board Member of Network of LAGs of Serbia. More than eight years experience with Local Rural Development through the founding and managing of LAG Fruska Gora-Danube and since two years ago The Network of LAGs of Serbia.Présentation complète ...
Antonella Valmorbida
at ALDASecretary General of ALDA since 1999, has a senior experience in promoting local democracy, empowerment and participation of civil society, and good governance in Europe, in the Balkans, in Eastern Europe, and in the Mediterranean area.Présentation complète ...
Márta Márczis
at AIEDLMárta Márczis has been the president of AIEDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development, www.aeidl.eu ) since 2011. Since 2001, she has been working with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) on inclusive urban/rural development programmes. As a leading expert, she piloted the LEADER approach in Serbia, contributed to the creation of the North-Macedonian Rural Network, led the experimental implementation of the LEADER/CLLD approach in the Republic of Moldova (2016-2018) and now in Armenia (2019-).Présentation complète ...
Dr. Konstantinos Zapounidis
at LAG LeaderDr. Konstantinos Zapounidis holds a PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Greece in the fields of project and human resources management. He is a BSc-MSc graduate of Civil Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Greece (300 ECTS) and an MSc graduate from Heriot-Watt University-U.K. in the field of Project (Construction) Management. He is a certified Project Manager from International Project Management Association. Since 2002 he is working in the field of coordination and management of European cooperation programmes and projects along with research projects in the sector of applied technologies. He is a LAG Leader Programme Management member since 2002. He has coordinated several projects in different cooperation frameworks (CLLD/Leader, Interreg MED, ERASMUS+, EAFRD, HORIZON 2020, Community Initiative LEADER, Black-Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme, Interreg BalkanMED, Interreg III C, Intelligent Energy Europe, FP6, Altener, etc.) whilst he served to several of them as Communication Manager. Currently, he is a senior project and communication Head of Unit for Pieriki Local Development Agency for several progammes and projects. Moreover, he is a consultant supporting several organizations and institutions in co-financed projects (of almost 100M€). He is an evaluator of number of investment plans and quality manager according to ISO 9001. He has been a member of scientific committees and is an active reviewer of scientific papers for scientific magazines and conferences. He is an invited lecturer in undergraduate and postgraduate courses of Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Greece and Civil Engineering Department, Polytechnic Faculty, University of Thessaly-Greece and invited lecturer of postgraduate courses of the School of Economics and Business Administration. International Hellenic University covering fields of public procurement, technical legislation, supply chain risk management, human resources management, project and construction management. He has more than the thirty scientific papers in scientific conferences and magazines. Currently, he is a Post Doctoral Researcher of Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Greece.Présentation complète ...
Michaël Spada
at Charente islands ans estuariesMichaël Spada, LAG Manager, Charente islands ans estuariesPrésentation complète ...
Stefan Kah
at Field of territorial development and as a researcher at the European Policies Research Centre in GlasgowStefan Kah works as a consultant in the field of territorial development and as a researcher at the European Policies Research Centre in Glasgow. His main areas of work are EU-funded territorial instruments, such as CLLD/LEADER and Integrated Territorial Investments.Présentation complète ...
Triin Kallas
at Estonian LEADER UnionTriin Kallas graduated as a philosopher and sociologist and worked at Tallinn University for 18 years, holding and combining positions of research, teaching as well as administration. After moving away from the capital city in 2015, she became an entrepreneur in rural tourism. Her interest in community action and rural development resulted in taking a permanent managment position in the Estonian LEADER Union, which represents local action groups in policy making, strategic planning and implementation of EU programmes. She is the national expert of the Rural Pact, and has been involved in evaluation and cooperation projects in both national and international networks.Présentation complète ...
Alistair Prior
at the CAP Implementation Contact Point, part of the EU CAP Network /board member of Scottish Rural Action and Chair of Angus Rural Partnership.Alistair Prior is a policy analyst with the CAP Implementation Contact Point, part of the EU CAP Network. He brings over 20 years experience in Government leading on policy across the agri-rural arena, including oversight of the Scottish LEADER programme; establishing the Scottish Rural Network, the Rural Innovation Support Service and driving the establishment of the Scottish Rural Parliament. Alistair is currently a board member of Scottish Rural Action and Chair of Angus Rural Partnership.Présentation complète ...
Peter Toth
at the CAP Implementation Contact Point, part of the EU CAP NetworkPeter Toth is a networker with the CAP Implementation Contact Point, part of the EU CAP Network. His work experience includes working in awareness-raising and community mobilisation campaigns with an environmental NGO, work for the Managing Authority in Hungary helping to develop and implement the LEADER, village development, and rural tourism measures for the 2007-2013 programming period. Since 2011, Peter has been working with ENRD and more recently with the EU CAP Network in EU networking, focusing on LEADER and CLLD. His main fields of interest include community-led local development and environmental issues.Présentation complète ...
Thibaut GUIGNARD
at Leader France - President Elard - Mayor of Ploeuc L'HermitagePrésentation complète ...