Speakers/experts

CONFERENCE MODERATOR 

Ambassador Hatem Atallah (Tunisia)

Coming from a rich diplomatic background that encompassed over 35 years, Ambassador Atallah was the Tunisian Ambassador in several countries including the US, the UK, South Africa and Ethiopia, He was also the Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the Organization of American States, the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), UN-Habitat, and the International Maritime Organization. He was appointed the Diplomatic Advisor to the Head of the Tunisian Government until February 2015. Ambassador Atallah participated in numerous summits, ministerial meetings and high level conferences of the African Union, the United Nations and the Union for the Mediterranean.

From March 2015 to December 2017 he served as Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean Region. Ambassador Atallah serves as Vice Président of the Euro-Med University (EMUNI) in Slovenia and member of the Senate. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Gorée Institute in Sénégal and is a founding member of « AVASP » (Institute for Strategic Analysis and Prospective Studies – Tunis).

MAIN SPEAKERS

 Piret Hartman, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture

…..

Helena Braun, Head of Political Team of the European Commission Representation in Estonia

……

Elva Rakel Jónsdóttir, Managing Director of Festa – Center for Sustainability Experience (Iceland)

Elva Rakel Jónsdóttir is the CEO for Festa Center for Sustainability, an organisation of 200 of the largest companies in Iceland focusing solely on promoting the path to sustainability. Festa puts an emphasis on helping to future proof companies and organisations, building bridges and knowledge sharing, facilitating change and ESG capacity building among its members. Elva Rakel Jónsdóttir was previously the Director of the Department of Climate and Circular Economy at the Environment Agency of Iceland. For thirteen years she was also of CEO for the Icelandic division of the Nordic Ecolabel; The Swan. Elva Rakel has a BA in anthropology and an MSc from Lumes, Lund University in international environmental and sustainability science. Elva Rakel is also a board member of Green Scouts Iceland and The Association of Environmental Scientists of Iceland.

Janne Rajala, president of “Green Habito” European Civil Society Network

….

EXPERTS

 Anneli Ohvril, Green Tiger Foundation

…..

Madis Tilga, Advisor on Green transition for Estonian Ministry of Climate

I have been working with sustainable transition for over 13 yrs, mainly with international co-operation projects on bioeconomy, circular economy and energy. Then dived into start-up life with an ambition to change how we loop nutrients in the food system. And now working in the Ministry of Climate as green transition adviser. My main role is to facilitate nation-wide green reform, so that it becomes better understood, shall be more visible and better co-ordinated. Practically it entails taking stock and update respective policy papers and development plans, co-ordinate partner and civil servant networks, design indicator and data sets for green transition and run task force on green business transition and ministerial commission.

Ivan Sergejev, Just transition process coordinator, Estonian Ministry of Finance

……

Frederic Roussel, Co-founder and Development, Partnerships, Innovation & Prospective Director of ACTED (France) 

Kaidi Tamm, Sustainable Development Programme Senior Expert, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn (Estonia)

….

Michael G. Kavuklis, Coordinator in Chief of the Europe, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development Forum of Rhodes

..

Ásta Kristín Sigurjónsdóttir, CEO of Iceland Tourism Cluster

Liisa Kokkarinen, Head of Sustainable Development of Visit Finland 

…

Imbi Lepik-Martinson,  Sustainability Manager of Visit Estonia 

….

Antoine Gambin, coordinator of  Vision for the Med Association (Malta/Italy)

….

Annis Boufrikha, Head of Anna Lindh Foundation Tunisian Network / We love Sousse (Tunisia)

Anis Boufrikha from Tunisia, Sousse with a degree in international economics and then a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and another in creative entrepreneurship. He joined the African Development Bank in 2007 as a research assistant In charge of the bank’s database in NGOs in 2014, it launches its own development box through which it manages several projects and provides training related to socio-cultural development and governance as well as several other expertise related to project management and To associative governance In 2011 he created the association we love Sousse, once launched it multiplies the encounter and develops the idea of We love associations network which was officially created in February 2012 with the assistance of 10 Associations we love in 6 different countries In 2012 he was elected head of Tunisian network of Anna Lindh Foundation and he is currently coordinating several associations throughout Tunisia.

Mahmoud Ezzat, Director of Center for Strategic Studies, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt)

….

Ingrid Nielsen, renewable energy expert, Estonian Fund for Nature

….

Iva Ridjan Skov, Associate Professor, Sustainable Energy Planning Research Group of Aalborg University (Denmark)

…

Masha Lukyanchuk, Head of Business Development, European Region, World Energy Council (Belgium)

Masha oversees the European membership community of the World Energy Council, fostering energy collaborations within the region. With over 20 years of experience in business development and strategy across industries, including a decade in the energy sector, she specializes in energy transition scenarios and their impact on performance and long-term strategy. She holds a degree in Economics, an MBA with a marketing focus, as well as a business coaching certification. Passionate about sustainable and equatable energy solutions, Masha is committed to driving innovation and resilience in the energy industry, with a particular emphasis on the human-centric aspects of energy.

Malek Atallah, Wattnow Business Representative and sustainability policy Expert (France) 

….

Maksis Apinis, Energy transformation expert of “Green Liberty” Society” (Latvia) 

….

Kaire Kuldpere is the Head of Environment and Sustainability of the Energy Group Utilitas (Estonia)

….

Stefanos Vallianatos , Co-Founder of Fotoessa, Head of Greek Network of Anna Lindh Foundation (Greece)

..

Åsa Ström Hildestrand, representative of Nordregio (Sweden)

Åsa Ström Hildestrand has a Master in political science and development cooperation from Uppsala University. She has 20+ years of work experience from positions in several Swedish ministries, international NGOs, and Nordic collaboration. Areas of expertise include sustainable development governance, communications, regional policy, labour market integration of immigrants, women’s economic empowerment, project management, and international cooperation. Åsa manages several projects related to sustainable development, including Nordic cooperation for Agenda 2030 at the local level and Nordic Programme for Sustainable Living.

Morten Hagevik Head of Culture and Sports, Porsgrunn Municipality (Norway)

….

Mayri Tiido, Founder and CEO of Lowmerism (Estonia)

….

Laura Maria Rajala, coordinator of Femina RY (Finland)

…

Yassine Isbouia, expert in Youth and Civil Society issues in FOMEJE (Morocco)

….

 Ph.D Mette Brogden, The University of Arizona (USA)

….

Auður H. Ingólfsdóttir, Director of Climate and Circular Economy Department, Department for Climate and Circular Economy, The Environment Agency of Iceland

…..

Gunnhildur Magnusdottir, associate professor of Malmö University (Sweden)

…..

Professor Michael Søgaard Jørgensen, Aalborg University (Denmark)

….

Elis Vollmer, head of the Centre of Renewable Energy of the Estonian University of Life Sciences

….

YOUTH PANEL

Hanah Lahe, Member of the Estonian Parliament

Environment and nature have been close to my heart all my life. I am convinced that systemic change that starts with policy has to take place to mitigate climate change. Endless economic growth, treating nature just as a resource, and living at the expense of younger generations cannot continue – every year we set a new record of pushing the planetary boundaries. I stand for an ambitious and internationally enforceable climate policy that will ensure a sustainable life for present and future generations.

Karoliina Vaakanainen, Co-Chair Co-Chair Nuorten Agenda 2030, Finnish National Youth Council (Finland)

….

Mathias Nikolai Berg, Leader of Grorud Venstre (Norway)

….

Alejandra Adventure, Compass Denmark (Denmark)

….

Stefan Orn Ingvarsson Olsen,  The National Youth Council of Iceland  (Iceland)

…

Daina Arfanova, representative of University of Cologne (Germany)

…

Rashid  Iddrisu, CEHDA (Spain)

….

WORKSHOPS 

Mirell Merirand, Trainer and founder of Tekstiiliringlus.

…

Mrs. Susanne Kallanvaara, Teacher at Burgårdens gymnasium, (Sweden)

She has graduated as upper secondary teacher at Göteborg University in Sweden in 1984 and has a vast experience of teaching all levels of Swedish for immigrants up to university level. Currently employed at Munkebäcksgymnasiet in Göteborg. Has been active in the Swedish Anna Lindh network from the very start and has taken part in more than ten international projects within the European Life-Long Learning programme. The previous project at Munkebäcksgymnasiet ”Different Faces of Europe” was awarded both a national and a European quality label in the etwinning portal. Another on-going Erasmus+ project at the same school is ”Fundamental Rights in European Education (F.R.E.E.) and leading role EuroMed project inluding 10 countries “Euromed: Education without borders”. She deals with open and innovative education, training and youth work embedded in the digital era.

Rudy Raes, Director of D’broej Centrum West, (Belgium)

Mr. Rudy Raes, from Ghent, Belgium, actual manager of D’Broej Centrum West, VZW, a multicultural youth organisation specialised in inclusive work with young people in precarious situation. Specialist in intercultural dialogue, inclusive and holistic approach of working with youngsters and learning through experience.
He is involved in experimental and sustainable youth work in West-Africa (Benin), based on continuing youth engagement. He is a multilingual and co-related with several organisations in Belgium representing different communities in Brussels.