PANELISTS’ SHORT BIOS
Dr. Bledar Kurti is a university lecturer, a published writer, political analyst and columnist.
He has served for many years in public office as the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Albania, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Advisor to the Minister of Environment, and advisor to mayors and members of parliament in Albania. Dr. Kurti has been lecturing for over sixteen years in Albanian University, University of New York Tirana, and Alexander Moisiu University of Durres.
He has published nine books in Albanian and English, and is the author of over a thousand political, historic and cultural articles and commentaries on the Albanian national and international newspapers, and dozens of academic articles and presentations on national and international academic journals and conferences.
He has received his education and qualifications in England, France, Italy and the United States of America.
Vasily Zagretdinov is a keen researcher of European affairs. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the Lomonosov MSU; formerly he studied the EU Culture and Conflicts at LSE European Institute alumnus. His primary scientific focus lies on the culture of European politics and the rule of ideology in the EU. For him, as someone who has chosen the study of the European Union and the European idea as the essence of his professional life, this conference is of the utmost importance. As an outsider to the political Europe, he feels part of the European idea, and he sees his intellectual mission as contributing to the development of this idea.
Alice Pisapia is researcher of European Union Law at the University of Insubria and professor of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. She studied this subject during her visiting at the University Paris I, Sorbonne, Pantheon, where she was involved in a research group. After specializing at the ULB of Bruxelles and her LLM in EU law at the College of Europe in Bruges, she became lawyer and the practiced both in Bruxelles and Milan.
Dr Wolfgang PAPE is currently a free writer, lecturer and lawyer living in the capital of Europe after Fellowships in Seoul and Taipei as well as his recent engagement for the Bandung Non-Alignment Movement. During his service in the European Commission over 30 years, including altogether ten years of postings as an EU diplomat in Tokyo, he was in Bruxelles in charge of the ‘Asia Strategy’ and contributed to the ‘White Paper on Governance’ with the Think Tank of the late EC President Jacques Delors, following a Fellowship at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC.
He studied law and economics at the universities of Marburg (D) and Genève (CH), researched during two years at Osaka Gaidai (J) and Kyoto University (J) as well as subsequently at Harvard (USA) for his Dr iuris in Freiburg (D) in 1981. Before joining the EU as a lawyer, he served as an Advisor at the Japanese Embassy in Bonn.
His lectures and publications in English, German, Japanese and French are ranging from worldwide cultural diversity to trade issues and inclusive global governance, for which he coined the term “Omnilateralism 全边主义 ”, inspiring the title of his latest book (ISBN 978-1-6655-8213-1).
Professor Paolo Davide Farah is also a Full Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration (with tenure) at West Virginia University, John D. Rockefeller IV School of Policy and Politics, having joined the faculty in 2014. He is Coordinator of the Eberly College Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative on Global Challenges and Local Responses Initiatives and Director of the Energy Justice and Just Transition Lab. Professor Paolo Davide Farah is Founder, President and Director of gLAWcal – Global Law Initiatives for Sustainable Development (www.glawcal.org.uk) Professor Paolo Davide Farah is a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is an “Internationally Renowned Professor/Distinguished Professor of Law” (Full Professor level) at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), Law School, Beijing, China.
Oleksiy Kandyuk is a European integration researcher with over 20 years of ability as an academic, political expert and policy adviser. He began his academic career at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University but also lectured at the University of Lodz and Wisconsin International University.
Prof. Kandyuk is Walter Benjamin Professor at the University of Konstanz. He was a Research Fellow at HIAS - Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study, and a visiting researcher at L’Universite Libre de Bruxelles, University of Padova and Gran Sasso Science Institute. He also was a Special Fellow to the SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence at Frei University, Berlin, and a non-residential Fellow at the University of Indiana.
He is a president of the Institute for Social Research ‘Chronos’ mainly engaged in the research and development of projects in the field of public policy, national security, and social transformations and provides scientific, expert, and research assistance to state and local governments, international organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions; facilitated cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Prof. Kandyuk is the author of more than 50 scientific works in the field of European Studies and international and domestic policy of Ukraine.
For more than 10 years, he has been actively contributing as an observer and columnist as well as a political expert to local and national mass media.
Massimo Pendenza, Ph.D. in Sociology (Napoli, 1998), is full Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for European Studies (CES) at the University of Salerno (Italy). He is the author of several articles and volumes. Among his publications: Governare la società. Durkheim e la critica della società neoliberale (Castelvecchi, 2024), Classical Sociology: Émile Durkheim: Sociology as an Open Science (Brill, Leiden and Boston, 2022, with G. Paoletti) and Classical Sociology Beyond Methodological Nationalism (Brill, Leiden and Boston, 2014).
Internationally known for her commitment on topics such as energy savings, migration policies, human rights and democratic assistance, as well as issues related to youth and gender equality in the European Union.
In 2010, Foreign Policy included her among the Top 100 Global Thinkers and, according to EURACTIV (independent pan-European media network), Monica is among the 40 most influential figures on energy policy issues in the European Union.
Born in Veracruz and graduate of Political Science from Università degli Studi di Firenze , Monica Frassoni began her journey into politics in 1983, and, in 1987, was elected Secretary General of the European organisation of Young European Federalists.
After moving to Brussels, she devoted herself to environmental issues as part of the Green Group (Greens/EFA in the European Parliament) in the European Parliament until 1999, when she was elected as a member of the European Parliament within the Belgian French-speaking Greens Ecolo – the first Italian to ever do so.
She is the co-founder of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), working for the decarbonisation of the EU economy, and is on the Board of Directors of Friends of Europe , a think tank dedicated to promoting inclusion and sustainability in Europe.
In 2011, Monica joined the board of the European Centre for Electoral Support, and, two years later, became president of the board.
Dr Maria Varaki is a lecturer in international law at the War Studies Department, King's College London. Before moving to London, she was a senior research fellow with the Erik Castren Institute of International Law and Human Rights in Helsinki, working on an Aristotelian theory of ethics for global governance. Immediate before, she was an Assistant Professor in International Law at Kadir Has University, Faculty of Law in Istanbul. Before joining Kadir Has University, she was a post-doctoral fellow at the Law Faculty of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a visiting fellow at the iCourts Centre of the University of Copenhagen.
She holds a PhD in International Criminal Law from the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway, Ireland and two LLM degrees in International and Comparative Law, one from Tulane University, School of Law and one from New York University, School of Law. Additionally, she has worked for the OHCHR in Geneva, the UNHCR in New York and the Legal Advisory section of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Since November 2017, she is a member of the ILA Committee on human rights in times of emergency.
Polina Zavershinskaia is a doctoral researcher at the Institute for Political Science, Leipzig University, a fellow of the Far-Right Analysis Network (FRAN) and a research investigator of Mapping the Far-Right Truth Industry (MAFTI) international research group. In her research, she examines how right-wing nationalists manipulate national memory to sacralize violence in Russian and German societies. Together with her co-author Beatriz Buarque, she has recently contributed to the volume Populism and Far-Right: Trends in Europe edited by Valerio Alfonso Bruno. She was also recently published in the American Journal of Cultural Sociology.
Francesco Spera, is a PhD candidate in European Law and External Relations of the EU. Francesco has previously worked for European institutions in Bruxelles and Italian national public bodies in the field of EU cohesion fund, EU budget, regional decision making involvement. Francesco hold a LLM in EU Law at Maastricht University and 2 honorary Masters in Academic research and History. His main fields of research are EU external relations law, defense law, Energy law and migration. Visiting Researcher at the Centre for Europe, and Institute Guest researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International law
Mar Introini is a Writer, Speaker, Facilitator, International Speaker, Goodwill Ambassador, Doctor Honoris Causa, Political Analyst and Founder of the Blog thesustainabiliyreader.com that focuses on reshaping the global system mainly through a new political approach taking citizen engagement as one of the main drivers to change, along with a Zero leadership concept, reforms from global and regional institutions – particular on the European Union- and the implementation of the Global Goals.
With a legal background as a Public Attorney and Legal Advisor, Mar holds a vast experience living in different cities, and cultures, Mar has developed a strong sense of multiculturalism based on the need to make of integration, and new legal approaches a turning point for future societies. Holistic approaches that transform cultural and religious diversity into a common goal. Joining expertises and goodwill through advocacy, and networking are the leading principles. Learning how to become a changemaker individually, and in society from a very special focus on innovative strategic thinking ,and bold partnerships.
The fact that Mar has been appointed as Global Chair G100 Global Networking, a group of 100 women -from all backgrounds and culture- reinforces and complements her commitment towards change from individual action. The group aims to empower through connections in a virtual and innovative platform all over the world, opening spaces for dialogue and exchange. A truly innovative approach towards better societies and engaged citizens.
Blog thesustainabilityreader.com
Twitter @MarIntroini
Linkedln https://www.linkedin.com/in/marintroini/
Global Networking www.g100.in
Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcAAV_iyBgffsxqGzgbaETA
Matteo Fulgenzi holds a PhD in "Innovation and management of public resources" with specialization in "Government and international relations" and is a research fellow in EU law at the University of Salento. Graduated with honors in Law and International Management, for years he held the role of Export manager in the organization chart of prestigious Italian companies.
FACILITATORS
Valérie M. Saintot, LL.M, PhD, is a lawyer with experience in both private and public sector. She is a life-long learner and holds four postgraduates in law, psychology, and management research. She started her career at the ECJ in Luxembourg in 1994. Until April 2022, she was Head of Legislation Division, DG-Legal Services at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. Valérie currently focuses on researching and teaching. She attributes multiple benefits to visualization in particular the ability to rapidly disseminate high quality knowledge and insights. The visualization of data, information and knowledge needsto follow transparent and accountable methodologiesto meet ethicalstandards and avoid deceptive effects on audiences. She is author of pieces promoting science communication to make knowledge accessible and support democracy and citizens in the exercise of their rights.
Marco Liuzzi has taken the position of Chief, Digital Delivery Division of the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) in December 2022, moving on from his previous position of Chief, Operations Division of UNICC which he held since 2018. He is a member of the Executive Committee of UNICC since 2018. As Chief, Digital Delivery Division, provides strategic leadership and oversight to UNICC in driving and delivering digital solutions to the UN system, providing proactive advice to the UNICC Director and to the UNICC Management Committee in the digital and technology space. Marco has been working in the UN system in various capacities since 1996. He feels privileged to be to able work for UNICC, and has always clear in his mind that UNICC’s work is nothing less than the support and enablement, through technology, of the United Nations system and, ultimately, its values, which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world.
Erik Månsson, MBA, MA in applied coaching, is lecturer in project management and business administration at Karlstad Business School, Karlstad University, Sweden. His work covers leadership, personal and team development, sustainability, and societal transformation. He started his career in the banking sector, worked as EU civil servant, built his own coaching and consulting business. He has audited large scale projects across the globe and bring a multicultural openness and an international dimension to all his projects.
Graduated in Law discussing a thesis focused on analyzing the regulatory and judicial processes that lead to the realization of a triple dimension of an actual human right to the environment at the international level (i. e. emphasizing the role of individuals taken into an individual perspective or into a collective one or as part of a given community), she is currently Phd student, at first year, in International law at the University of Salento. Her research, included into the programme on ‘Rights and Sustainability’, aims at studying the REDD+ (Reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) tool, designed to fight climate change, with respect to the pursuit of another international environmental protection objective, namely the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. In particular, her purpose is to verify the role that human rights and, more specifically, biocultural rights and RES (Rights for ecosystem services) can play as legal instruments that could be functional in integrating REDD+ with the protection of biological diversity. She is ISUFI (Advanced University Institute of Interdisciplinary Training) Alumna, in Law-Economy area.
Silvia Solidoro holds a Research Fellowship at the Law Faculty of the University of Salento, where she has served as Teaching Assistant in public and private international law, while also contributing to research activities in the field of EU law, starting from 2007. Silvia obtained a PhD in Law of Economics and Markets from the Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (ISUFI), the research center of excellence of the University of Salento, in 2011 (graduated with full marks, first class honors degree). From 2009 until 2016, she consulted on corporate and antitrust matters with the Investment Climate Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, in Washington, DC, USA, conducting research and analytical work to promote legal, economy-wide and sector-specific reforms aimed at fostering private sector development with a geographic focus on Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. Prior to joining the EUI, she also acted as Independent Expert for a consulting firm based in Rome, developing an assessment of the most relevant human rights compliance procedures pertaining to multilateral development banks. After that, she acted as Research Assistant (May 2016 - May 2021) and then Research Fellow (May 2021 - September 2022) at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS) of the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. Silvia earned her law degree (magna cum laude) in 2006; she was admitted to practice law in Italy in 2009.
Andrea Rubino studies social animation at the Santa Chiara dei Salesiani oratory in Palermo, where he volunteers from 2003 to 2007 with children with various difficulties.
In 2005, as a volunteer for the Italian Leukemia Association of Palermo, he held the course for volunteers on "grief processing" and the clown therapy operator course. Viviamo In Positivi Palermo. In 2007 he graduated in Philosophy of Knowledge and Communication at the University of Palermo with a thesis in Psychology.
Since 2008 he has trained as a trainer of sailing therapy operators at the Mercantile Academy of Genoa.
He works as a sailing therapy operator for Handarpermare Onlus and becomes president of Marine Life Conservation. In 2009, creator and president of the Ipazia association aimed at avoiding violence and helping the weakest, he trained as a helpline and psychological support operator. Since 2010 he has been the creator and manager of the international humanitarian missions of Clowntherapy Mikhailovka in Moldova, Terabithia in Albania, Il Ponte in Bolivia and at the Moscow orphanage in Russia.
In 2014 he was recognized as a clown doctor by qualifications by the Italian Red Cross and became a clown therapy trainer for the Sprofondo Imperia Onlus Group and head of clown therapy at Anffas Imperia.
From 2009 to 2023 he trained as a Trainer for the Erasmus Plus projects of the European Commission, becoming Facilitator and Trainer in over 30 projects in various European countries, Armenia and Morocco. In 2015 he became manager and clown therapy teacher of the EU Commission project Path to Empathy in Tenerife.
In 2015 he trained as a travel leader for disabled children for Go Sprout of New York, carrying out the role in various American countries, becoming manager and instructor of the Imperia basketball, sailing, darts, bowling and gentle gymnastics teams for disabled people.
In 2016 he held the position of Clown Therapy teacher for the Red Cross in Trentino Alto Adige.
Since 2011 he has been a teacher at the International School of Clown and Clown Therapy of Naukleros Onlus.
In 2023 he received the Goodness Award from the Lettera d'Amore Foundation with the motivation that with clown therapy and other initiatives he is close to the children of the orphanage and those who are sick: "for his talent, his goodness, which he spreads around around him, especially among children, so that life can smile at them.”
Member of the Academic Team of the House of the European History, an initiative of the European Parliament. Between 2009 and 2011, he was Visiting Professor at SPEA-Indiana University. Former Member of the European Parliament, he served in the Foreign Affairs and Internal Market Committees, as well as in several parliamentary delegations for relations with foreign countries (including Canada, Japan, and the South Caucasus countries). He also was Member of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. A graduate of SAIS-Bologna and Pompeu Fabra University, he has worked at the European Institute for the Mediterranean in Barcelona and taught European Politics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He started his career as an archaeologist and director of several archeological excavations.
Stefania Attolini is a lecturer in public, European and international law and Director of the University Diploma on Climate Law and Sustainable Development at the Université Catholique de Lyon (UCLy).
She holds a PhD degree in European Union law with a research thesis on the right of access to the Internet within the European Union in the light of the European Code of Electronic Communications.
From September to November 2023, she was Ingénieure de recherche of public law at the University of Rennes1, as part of the HEALTH-E project on the governance of health data in the European Union.
Since April 2023 he has been an associate member of the CERCRID (Centre de Recherche Critique sur le Droit) of the Université Jean Monnet de Sainte-Étienne (France)
Previously, she worked at the University of Salento, as a lecturer (Course in Digital Information Law and Institutional Law of the European Union) and as a post-doc researcher (PRIN 2020 research fellow - REACT project on «impact of the covid crisis on the legal system of the European Union and its consequences on Union finances» from March to August 2023; PON project AIM1843103-1. - "AIM: Attraction and international mobility" concerning the digital rights of vulnerable people in smart cities; Project «New technologies as tools for democracy and participation in the European Union»).
In 2022 she was a visiting researcher at the IODE (Institut de l'Ouest: Droit et Europe), University of Rennes1.
She is the author of a monograph entitled "Access to the Net in a democratic society. The right of access to the Internet of the European citizen" (2020) and of numerous publications on international and European Union law, in Italian, French and English.
Her main research interests are European digital law, the twin transition (ecological and digital) and European economic and fiscal governance.
She participates in several projects funded by the European Union, including the Jean Monnet Chair «EUWORLDLAB- European supranational Democracy: a lab for the world» (2023-2026); And the Jean Monnet Module «Protection and promotion of women in the European legal order: from gender equality to active participation in the Democratic life of the European union» (2021-2024).
She holds an advanced master’s degree in European Union Law (Master complémentaire en droit européen) from the Institute of European Studies of the ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles).
In 2014 she worked as a trainee (Blue Book) at the External Consumer Relations Unit of DG SANCO (Health and Consumers) of the European Commission.
She has been a qualified lawyer since 2012, having practiced tax law for about a decade.
In 2009 she obtained his Master in business Law at the University of Bari (Italy).
