EUTOPIA Week Speakers

PhD in Sociology and former Head of School of Global Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gothenburg.

Sylva has earned the title Excellent Teacher and is, since 2013, the deputy dean for education at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Frisk is currently involved in research on leadership for teaching and learning in higher education.

Currently leads on inclusive engagement and the digital transformation of education. Gwen has extensive international experience and is a member of the Education Executive at Warwick, which is responsible for oversight of the strategic development and operational management of learning and teaching at Warwick.

Roles at ESSEC include: Developed a student tutoring program to help reduce social and territorial inequalities in HE access; manages the "Equal Opportunity" Center, supporting and preparing 80,000 students throughout France from working-class backgrounds, disadvantaged neighborhoods or are disabled for HE; #Together initiative executive director - "Diversity & Inclusion" action plan to change how societies view differences.

Works at the Department of Education and Student Policies at VUB. Linde is trained in intercultural communication, didactics and educational innovation. She coordinates a strategic project on Community Engaged Research and Learning (UNIVER.CITY) and is part of the EUTOPIA curriculum team, providing support for the development of the cross-campus Learning and Knowledge Communities.

Medical student at the University of Gothenburg and currently serving as the president of the University of Gothenburg Student Unions, as well as the vice-president of the EUTOPIA Student Council.

Student in Public Administration at GU, studying towards a bachelor's degree. Former vice chair of the University of Gothenburg Student Unions (GUS) and currently a board member in the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS).

Responsible for issues regarding education, and co-lead of the «Education» work package in the EUTOPIA alliance.

Lead of the “Education” work package in the EUTOPIA alliance.

Associate professor at the Department of Political Science and Centre for European Research at The University of Gothenburg.

Lead of the EUTOPIA Learning Unit “Europe in the World"

Professor of Digital Governance and Participation at Vesalius College and the Institute for European Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), working with EUTOPIA Learning Unit “Europe in the World“.

Students in the EUTOPIA Learning Unit “Europe in the World“. 

Academic director for Education and Internationalisation at UoW and holder of a National Teaching Fellowship.

Lead of EUTOPIA Learning Unit “Multilingualism and Diversity” 

Working with EUTOPIA Learning Unit “Multilingualism and Diversity".

Student in the EUTOPIA Learning Unit “Multilingualism and Diversity"

Current position at WRI includes leading the development of partnerships with European academic and research institutions. Prior to WRI, he was the Director of Institutional Development and Senior Research Fellow at the Environment for Development (EfD) in Sweden, promoting the development of policy research centers in the global south.

Diploma from University of Oxford, LLM from Harvard University. He has also worked at the firm’s offices in London and Madrid. He specialises in financial transactions, debt restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, financial regulation and corporate matters. He also lectures on corporate law at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and ESADE Law School.

Formerly a mathematics undergraduate at Warwick, Luke now oversees the Students’ Union’s activities, representing and advocating for the student body at the University. This includes representing students’ interests in the University’s international projects, such as EUTOPIA. Luke is also one of the Vice Chairs of the EUTOPIA Student Council.

Doctoral student and a young researcher and at the Centre of International Relations and Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. While studying International Relations, her research focuses on changes within the fields of human rights and migration.

EUTOPIA PhD student representative and member of the management board of the H2020 EUTOPIA TRAIN consortium project. Researches Fairness Notions of Machine Learning Systems. Previously represented the Erasmus generation towards European Institutions as a member of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). She was part of the VUB team for the EUTOPIA project application.

I’m Myriam, a tax law student at the VUB in Brussels, and Career Ambassador. I have a natural curiosity and like to commit some of my free time to engage, and support others in creating and making exciting projects come to life.

I’m Gladys, student at CYU and also EUTOPIA Career Ambassador. Afterwards, I see myself managing Creative Europe projects since I’m interested in culture as well as energy and transports. I’m also an EU Careers ambassador, which means I introduce career opportunities in the EU to students.

I’m currently in my fourth year of Human Resources Management studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences. As a EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador, my main goal is to help students in terms of their careers by sharing information about different career opportunities and events, giving advice, and encouraging social networking.

I am a third-year student of Sociology- Human Resource Management at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Currently, I am a EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador. I like to network with others, to learn and be curious about development, education and career opportunities.

I'm in my final year of studying Human Resources at the Faculty of Social Sciences. I'm currently a EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador. In the future I aim to work on more international projects.

I am a last-year Double Bachelor's degree student in Law and Business Management and Administration at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. I am currently a EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador and EPSO Careers Ambassador. I am particularly interested in international legal affairs.

I am a final year BA French and History student at the University of Warwick. I am the Lead Career Ambassador at Warwick for the EUTOPIA project.

You can find me on LinkedIn - Ashmeena Rickaby 

I am a final-year student in the Master's Program European Studies (M.Sc.) at the University of Gothenburg, where I am also the EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador. 

Leonardo is an Italian/Argentinian freelance videographer and photographer who worked for 8 years in Asia with several NGOs fighting poverty, violence against women, and helping homeless pets find a home.

Ike Picone teaches in the international Master on Journalism and Media In Europe. He heads the research unit on Journalism, Trust and Participation at the research institute in Media, Innovation and Technology. He is also a member of the Flemish Council for Journalism.

Mar Jiménez is an Economist and Journalist. Former General Coordinator of Eutopia at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, she is currently the Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Barcelona. She has a broad experience as an economic and political commentator in the Spanish media. She has also led different government cabinets at the regional and local level.

Jenny Wiik is an associate professor in media and communication studies affiliated with Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg, Sweden. Her research interest is professional journalism and its challenges, and she is currently working on the research project 'The automation of Journalism' funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.

Seán Hand is professor of French and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Europe) at the University of Warwick. Affiliated to the Academia Europaea and the Royal Society of Arts, his associated bodies beyond Europe include Zhejiang University, Monash University, National University of Singapore and the South African National Research Foundation. B.A. (M.A. Oxon), D.Phil. Oxford. MBA, D.Litt. Warwick.

Eva Wiberg, professor of Italian, is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg and, since November 2020, also president of the EUTOPIA alliance. Brought up in Italy, Professor Wiberg has an international background and is a member of several international networks including LERU and the global network Universitas 21.

Bernd Huber is Professor for Public Finance, and has been President of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München since 2002. He serves on various national and international advisory boards, and is a member of the Strategic Committees of Sorbonne Université and Venice International University. LMU is a member of the European University Alliance EUGLOH.

Professor Wim de Villiers has been Rector and Vice-Chancellor of South Africa’s Stellenbosch University since 2015. He is also vice-chair of Universities South Africa, a board member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and a founding member of the African Research Universities’ Alliance. He holds a DPhil in Immunology from Oxford University.

Ms Debiais-Sainton is the Head of Unit, Higher Education, Directorate General for Education. Before that, she served as the deputy Head of unit for higher education. Vanessa Debiais-Sainton has over 14 years of experience working for the European Commission.

Ms Apostolia Karamali is the Head of Unit, R&I actors and research careers, Director General for Research and Innovation. Before this position, Ms Karamali was the deputy head of unit for space policy and research. She has 16 years of experience working for the European Commission.

VUB EUTOPIA Co-Representative for the Commission on Sustainability. As the President of United Nations Youth Association Flanders-Belgium, he raises awareness of the importance of SDGs at the national and international levels.

In addition to management and strategic steering of the Knowledge Transfer Office, Urša assists researchers in negotiating and concluding R&D contracts with the business sector. Involved in the intellectual property commercialisation process, using legal expertise to negotiate and draft license and R&D contracts.

Assistant Professor computer science at CY Tech/ CY Cergy Paris University; researcher at SATIE - CNRS Laboratory. Also, Partnership and Valorization coordinator of CY Tech- CY Transfer, plus co-leader of Cybersecurity and Smart Systems engineering program and head of IoT M.Sc program. Mainly focuses on Distributed Artificial intelligence, Cybersecurity and simulation of intelligent transportation systems.

Since 2015, responsible for the UPF corporate fundraising unit, developing and fostering partnerships and links with business, government, alumni and the community, as well as optimizing the effectiveness and efficiency of external relations activities.

Together with the directors, she manages all Centre activities and new recruitments, and works to build translational environments and strong links between the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Astra Zeneca for the currently 22 research groups that are part of the Centre.

Director of VUB TechTransfer; together with VUB Foundation (philanthropic fundraising) and Crosstalks (interdisciplinary networking platform), VUB TechTransfer is the operational unit that supports the Vicerectorate Innovation & Industry Relations at VUB. VUB TechTransfer’s mission is to valorise scientific research results to make an innovative contribution to society; they strive towards connecting the university’s research-expertise with industry-society.

David worked closely with WMG founder and Chairman, Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, including as Director of External and International Relations. Was involved in designing and implementing WMG's research, education and knowledge transfer strategy.

Has been responsible for developing WMG initiatives, including The National Automotive Innovation Centre. Currently works with the Vice-Chancellor on the University’s strategic research infrastructure developments.

In addition, Waldo Galle is associate researcher for the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). His studies include the socio-technical transition to a circular construction economy.

Eva Wiberg, professor of Italian, is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg and, since November 2020, also president of the EUTOPIA alliance. Brought up in Italy, Professor Wiberg has an international background and is a member of several international networks including LERU and the global network Universitas 21.

Is a Swedish politician who served as European Commissioner for Trade from 2014 to 2019. She previously served as European Commissioner for Home Affairs from 2010 to 2014 and Minister for European Union Affairs from 2006 to 2010. She is PhD In political science from University of Gothenburg and is the current holder of Assar Gabrielsson Visiting Professorship.