Blog
Read about contributions by experts of several areas, and by alumni of our EU Academy.
“The stigma around brain disorders is a barrier and obscures the true societal impact of these conditions." - Dominika Suchonova, European Brain Council
Dominika Suchonova works as Communication and Advocacy Officer for the European Brain Council (EBC). EBC is a non-profit organisation that promotes brain health and research to improve the lives of the millions of Europeans living with brain conditions, either mental or neurological.
“We need a cross-sectoral strategy to ensure sustainable education, research and lifelong learning opportunities across Europe.” - Tove Keldsen, Association of Nordic Engineers
Tove Keldsen serves as the Communication Manager for the Association of Nordic Engineers (ANE). ANE advocates for the pivotal role of engineers in driving the transition to a sustainable society, promoting sustainable education and lifelong learning policies.
“The immense power of the fossil fuel lobby is a huge challenge. Our work to expose their influence is vital.”- Dominic Eagleton, Global Witness
Dominic is a Senior Campaigner for Global Witness, an international NGO dedicated to holding corporations and governments accountable for their destruction of the environment and their failure to protect human rights.
“Poverty issues should be mainstreamed into every single piece of legislation”- Solal Billon - ATD Fourth World
Solal Billon is advocacy officer for ATD Fourth World, an international movement that fights poverty and its root causes. ATD Fourth World has been working directly with people living in poverty on the ground, building trust and building solutions with them.
“Lawyers should be able to carry out their work without fear of reprisals” Tara Fiechter - Lawyers for Lawyers
Tara Fiechter works as a Programme Officer for Lawyers for Lawyers, an NGO working to promote the independence of the legal profession worldwide by supporting lawyers who are at risk because of their work
“We must act quickly to strengthen EU regulations, or we face serious consequences when it comes to harmful chemicals” - Iiris Lamminmaki - HEAL
Iiris Lamminmaki is the advocacy and campaigns officer for the Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL), an organisation working to ensure that present and future generations can enjoy a clean environment for long and healthy lives. Iiris advocates for a ban on harmful chemicals and reduced exposure to these chemicals across Europe.
“We must make sure decisions taken by the EU don’t have a negative impact on human rights beyond its borders!”- Paula Saucedo-Deutsche Menschenrechtskoordination Mexiko
Paula recently joined the German Human Rights Coordination Mexico, a network of organisations and initiatives working in Germany on the human rights situation in Mexico. As EU Advocacy Officer, Paula supports Mexican human rights organisations in their fight against human rights violations and impunity, and for more democracy and justice.
“The education system should enable children and young people to become agents of change” – Gabrielle Franck – QUEST
Gabrielle Franck is a Policy Officer for Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation (QUEST), a European network that brings together civil society organisations, schools, universities and public bodies advocating for change in education and lifelong learning.
“It is up to the individual to decide whether or not to have a family” – Johanna Tassot - ESHRE
Johanna Tassot works as a policy officer for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Her organisation promotes study and research in the field of reproduction. She advocates for better policies for people affected by infertility and for the medical professionals helping them.
“You cannot have a circular economy without the social element at its core” – Marie-Jeanne Gaertner – RREUSE
Marie-Jeanne Gaertner joined RREUSE almost 2 years ago. RREUSE is an international network of social enterprises working in the circular economy. She works on textiles policies and coordinates RREUSE’s participation in a Horizon Europe funded project that aims to increase circularity and sustainability in textiles and clothing in Europe: Circular & Sustainable Textiles & Clothing (CISUTAC).
“The EU must be wary of aquaculture's harmful impacts”– Yves Reichling – Feedback EU
Yves Reichling, is the project manager for the Our Fish, Notre Poisson programme at Feedback EU, a Netherlands-based environmental campaign group working for food that is good for the planet and its people.
“A transition with and for the people” − Maris Pedaja, Friends of the Earth Estonia
Maris Pedaja works on the energy transition and environmental campaigning for Friends of the Earth Estonia and the CEE Bankwatch Network in Estonia. She monitors the use of public finance for the energy transformation and advocates for a democratic shift to achieve a just and sustainable transition.
“We challenge actors in the digital age” − Sebastián Becker, European Digital Rights
Sebastián Becker Castellaro defends freedom of expression in the online sphere as a Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi). He focusses on platform regulation and policies counter disinformation and ‘surveillance advertising’, the systematic harvesting, marketing, and use of personal data in the online advertising industry.
“Now is the time for a fossil advertising ban” − Charlotte Braat, Reclame Fossielvrij
Charlotte Braat is a climate justice activist with the Extinction Rebellion. As a campaigner for Reclame Fossielvrij, she fights for a ban on advertising by the fossil fuel industry and for polluting transport and travel.
“We all need healthy ecosystems” − Tatiana Nuño, Seas At Risk
Tatiana Nuño joined Seas At Risk in February 2023, coming from Greenpeace Spain where she was in charge of climate and energy issues. She combines her passion for the ocean with her work in favor of the EU’s marine environment.
“Reducing mining practices is key” − Robin Roels, European Environmental Bureau
Robin Roels works in the field of resource justice and extractivism at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). He is the coordinator of the Critical Raw Materials Coalition.
“Keeping children’s rights high on the EU agenda”- Isabella Castrogiovanni, UNICEF
Isabella Castrogiovani has been with UNICEF for over 20 years. She has extensive programming and advocacy experience, notably in the sectors of children's rights and rule of law. She has led UNICEF's advocacy on children and armed conflict in the context of the Syrian war. Isabella participated in our 8th EU Academy in November 2022.
“Passion is key to advocacy”- Marion Lupin, European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ)
Before joining the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) to work on mandatory human rights due diligence and company law, Marion Lupin was an EU Affairs advisor for the Belgian Liberal Trade Union EU and national social policy. We interviewed Marion on the sidelines of the 8th EU Academy in Brussels in November 2022.
Jana and Mary: voices of youth for the climate in Europe
Jana Leggen and Mary Hallaert are both active in Generation Climate Europe, a coalition of youth-led networks on climate and environmental issues at the European level.
“I met passionate people and expanded my network” - Juliette Pagnon, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)
I have been especially sensitive to the training format that combines theory and practice. This combination allowed me to better understand and visualize the European decision-making process. I can now identify the key moments and people, and know when and how to intervene.