in alphabetical order

HELENA DROBNÁ is a Programme Specialist in the UNESCO Secretariat for the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In this role, she provides guidance to governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders across Eastern Europe on implementing the 2003 Convention. Helena conducts need assessments, designs projects, and training, with a particular focus on integrating living heritage into both, formal and non-formal education systems. Until last year, she also coordinated UNESCO’s first pilot initiative on living heritage in urban settings. Since 2022, Helena has been overseeing UNESCO’s interventions related to safeguarding living heritage in the context of the emergency in Ukraine. Prior to joining the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention in 2011, she managed UNESCO’s global programme on culture and health and developed the organization’s training and capacity-building initiatives in cultural management and policy development.

A graduate of the University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia, she further specialized in cultural management, policy development, and cultural diplomacy at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria. Her education was enriched by studies in art, film production, psychology, and social sciences in Germany, the UK, and the USA. Prior to joining UNESCO, she managed independent international art projects and worked with renowned organizations such as Warner Music, Falter Verlag, and KulturKontakt Austria. She also lectures on cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations.

JULIANA FORERO, with a PhD in Urban Planning and an M.A. in Social Anthropology, has dedicated her career to the crossroads of Cultural Heritage, Sustainability and Urban Development. Her expertise extends to protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage, emphasizing the social role of heritage through community involvement, acknowledgment of cultural diversity, and the formulation of public policies. Additionally, she has experience in the public, private, NGO, academic sectors, and in international organizations.

At present, she is working on intangible cultural heritage and sustainable development. Furthermore, she contributes to scholarly advancements concerning the evolving notion of heritage, historical urban landscapes, and the function of intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts. Her research encompasses both Western and Non-western viewpoints.

Currently, she holds a position as Programme Specialist in the Culture Sector at UNESCO.

NADEJDA ILIEVA works at the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO in Sofia since 2016, developing international networks, raising awareness initiatives, facilitating trainings, seminars and workshops that help promotion of the living heritage in the region. She realizes in collaboration with the Member state countries national and international photo exhibitions, museum expositions, visual materials and documentaries and events in celebration of the living heritage. She created projects as “Living treasures”, a documentaries series dedicated to the ICH in collaboration with the Bulgarian National TV and the international platform “Filming ICH” in cooperation with the Balkan Documentary Centre, promoting the work of documentary filmmakers in the thematic field of the intangible cultural heritage. 
Nadejda Ilieva has a MA from Central St. Martin’s College of Art, London 1999 and a BA in film and theatre, New Bulgarian University, later she specialized cultural management and cultural diplomacy, working as producer, journalist, film director, artist, scenographer, a producer in the Bulgarian National Radio and executive in the NGO sector, dealing with international cultural projects, festivals, educational and research projects.

ARTUR JÓŹWIK is the Director of the Culture Department of the Capital City of Warsaw (since 2019), in 2019-2020 Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Warsaw for the Cultural Development Program, member of the Council of the Museum of Literature, the Council of the Center for Social Archiving, and the Warsaw Public Benefit Council. Initiator of activities for the documentation of Warsaw’s intangible heritage, involved in the work of municipal monument complexes, historical anniversaries and cultural education. In the years 2006-2019, director and member of the Management Board of the KARTA Center Foundation. At the KARTA Center Foundation, he supervised and conducted research, archival publishing and exhibition projects. In 2013-16, he sat on the Council of Non-Governmental Organizations at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, also as vice-chairman. Jóźwik worked at the Youth Center H. Jordan in Krakow, the Krakow 2000 Festival Office and the Foundation for the Development of Civil Society. In the years 2006-2010, lecturer at the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University in 2017-2019 was a guest lecturer at the Department of Management at the Kozminski University. He graduated in political science from the Pedagogical University of Krakow, where in 2005 he obtained his doctorate in political science

KATARZYNA KUZKO-ZWIERZ holds a degree in ethnology. She is the Head of the Warsaw Praga Museum, a branch of the Museum of Warsaw. Co-creator of the Oral History Archive at the Warsaw Praga Museum. Author of articles based on memories and testimonies of history witnesses, including: Under Construction, or How the “Praga MDM” Was Created; Memories of Jewish Neighbors. From the Oral History Archive of the Warsaw Praga Museum, as well as chapters in monographs devoted to Warsaw writers – Leopold Tyrmand (The Phenomen of Warsaw “clothes”, in: Brick body, hot breath, 2015) and Miron Białoszewski (Layers of time, layers of the city. Białoszewski’s flying to Grochów, in: Pulse under the plaster, 2013).

JULIA KRZESICKA holds PhD in Humanities from the University of Warsaw (2023), as well as BA in International Relations and BA and MA in Applied Sociology and Social Anthropology (all within University of Warsaw). Since 2024 she is UNESCO Chair on ICH in Public and Global Governance Assistant. Earlier she had opportunity to assist prof. Hanna Schreiber in a couple of ICH-related projects, eg. she has been a member of a team responsible for creating a research report on ICH of Warsaw.

MAGDALENA LANDRY (Poland) is the Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, in Venice, Italy. Previously, she had held the post of Chief of the Executive Office of the Priority Africa and External Relations Sector, in conjunction with that of Chief, Coordination and Field Support Office, in the same Sector, at UNESCO HQs in Paris. Magdalena Landry has a Master of Science in organizational and business psychology from the University of Liverpool, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as a bachelor’s degree in international business administration from the American University of Paris, France. Magdalena Landry joined UNESCO in 1990 and occupied several management and coordination posts. From 2001 she took on successive responsibilities in support of UNESCO’s field coordination. In 2014, she was appointed Senior Field Coordination Officer in the Bureau of Strategic Planning, then within the Division of Field Support and Coordination.

SUZANNE OGGE studied social anthropology and fine arts (University of Melbourne), followed a post-graduate certificate in Museum Studies from Deakin University (Melbourne) and a Masters in Ethnology at L’Ecole des hautes etudes en sciences sociales in Paris. She worked for several years with indigenous communities in support of claims to traditional land ownership in Australia before joining UNESCO’s Culture Sector in Paris as a heritage consultant in 1999, where she was responsible for over a decade for operational projects in the fields of living and built heritage heritage, and museums. Since relocating to Singapore in 2009, Suzanne has worked as Head of International and Heritage projects at the architectural firm, studioMilou, while continuing her work as a heritage consultant and Accredited Facilitator for UNECSO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia Pacific and Europe. She has served a recent term on the Advisory Board member of the UNESCO Category 2 Centres for capacity-building in the Asia-Pacific Region (2018-2022), and her current honorary roles include advising the ASEAN Cultural Expert Panel for Cultural Heritage.

MATTEO ROSATI is expert on international cooperation for the protection and promotion of culture. After experiences with other bilateral and multilateral development agencies, he joined UNESCO in 2005. He is currently assigned as Programme Specialist and Officer-in-Charge of the Culture Unit at the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, where he works at the conceptualization, coordination and implementation of the Bureau’s programme in the field of Culture, with special geographical focus on South-East Europe. His expertise spans cultural heritage protection and management, cultural cooperation, intangible cultural eritage, the diversity of cultural expressions, and the role of culture for sustainable development. Matteo Rosati holds a master degree with honours in communication sciences and international relations. He is member of several scientific and advisory boards, and guest lecturer in six master programmes on cultural heritage management. His previous work experiences include assignments with UNDESA, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the World Bank

HANNA SCHREIBER (Ph.D., hab.) is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw. She holds MA degrees in law, political science and history of art. She researches the role of culture and cultural heritage in international law and international relations. Co-author of expertise on the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention in Poland for the National Heritage Institute and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (2011, 2012); member and vice-chair of the National Council for Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as chair of the Working Group on Legal Affairs and Safeguarding Strategies of this Council (2013-2018). Co-author and coordinator of the nomination of the Nativity scene (szopka) tradition in Kraków to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2018). Member of the Scientific Council and representative of the Association of Folk Artists, an NGO accredited to UNESCO. Member of the Global Network of UNESCO Facilitators for the 2003 Convention. Chairperson of the Warsaw Intangible Cultural Heritage Team appointed by the President of the City of Warsaw (from 2020). Member of the Krakow Intangible Cultural Heritage Team appointed by the President of Krakow (from 2023). Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Public and Global Governance (from 2024). More: hannaschreiber.com, ichgovernance.com.

MIRENA STANEVA, is an expert with more than 15 years of experience in the field of cultural policy and cultural management. She holds a PHD in cultural heritage management, as well as a master degree in archeology from Sofia University. She participated in internships in cultural policies and cultural management at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia and the Observatory of Cultural Policies in Grenoble, France. Dr. Staneva has held key positions in the field of cultural policy, managing projects and programs in the field of culture. Some of them are: chief expert /2007-2012/ and executive director /2021-2022/ at the National Fund “Culture”, head of the bureau “Creative Europe – Bulgaria” /2018/. In 2012, she joined the team of the Regional Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO, where she is responsible for the development of programs and projects, networking with cultural institutions, universities and NGOs, and from August 2022 she became Executive Director of Bulgarian Music Association.

Dr. Staneva is part-time assistant prof. at SU “Kl. Ohridski”, National Academy of Music and National Academy of Theater and Film Arts.

MATEUSZ ZAJĄC is a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences of the University of Warsaw in the discipline of political science and public administration. His PhD project is realised under the supervision of Prof. Hanna Schreiber. His main research interests include cultural diversity governance, cultural security, cultural conflicts, and intercultural dialogue. He holds MA degree in religious studies and BA degree in security studies. Since 2024, he is an Assistant to the UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Public and Global Governance.

ESMERALDA AGOLLI serves as the adviser on intangible cultural heritage to the Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation in Albania. She holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage at Tirana University. Dr. Agolli earned her postgraduate degree from the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her academic research primarily explores the social networks and cultural transmissions of late prehistoric communities in the Western Balkans. In recent years, Dr. Agolli has shifted her research interest toward intangible cultural heritage. She has led a long-term fieldwork campaign around the country, concentrating on the documentation of traditional mortuary practices and rituals. This initiative not only explores questions related to cultural identity but also underscores the importance of preserving and promoting essential aspects of Albanian society. Additionally, Dr. Agolli has contributed to research concept and the development of narratives for the ethnographic museums of Kruja and Kavaja in Albania, a project funded by the European Union through the EU4CULTURE program.

GEROND SHEHU, representative from the Directorate of Cultural Heritage in the Municipality of Tirana. Born in Tirana, Albania, on November 12, 1975. He started working for the Municipality of Tirana in 2011 and worked for 10 years as an Environmental Expert in the Directorate of Environment. From September 2021 onwards, he has been appointed as the Head of the Culture Heritage and Museums
Sector in the General Directorate of City Promotion. Tirana is a city with a rich cultural heritage, which has been shaped by a long history and a unique position which includes a mixture of influences from different cultures and his work during these years in this sector has been focused on the Cultural Heritage of the country’s capital (material and immaterial) where the following can be mentioned:
– the creation and establishment of Museum Houses, the Ethnographic Museum of Tirana, Art Galleries, Creative Agencies as part of Museology. -The development of handicraft activities and artisan fairs with a special focus on the promotion and preservation of different traditional artistic crafts, objects of cultural heritage, etc.
– development of activities based on harmony and tolerance of the religious heritage.
– Also, our Sector of Culture Heritage and Museums in the Tirana Municipality, has carried out an educational program with secondary school students, focused on the intangible heritage of Tirana and its surroundings.

MARIE-THERES BAUER works at the Austrian Commission for UNESCO in the fields of “Intangible Cultural Heritage” and “Diversity of Cultural Expressions”. Her work focuses on the objectives of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage including the co-supervision of the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and raising awareness about the safeguarding, transmission and promotion ICH in Austria. On an international level her work focuses on the preparation and support of nominations for the international lists of the Convention as well as the implementation of bilateral and multilateral projects to promote ICH.

LENE BENZ is an urban designer and cultural sociologist. She works at the intersection of urbanism, art and activism in Vienna, Hamburg and Berlin. Since 2018, she has curated the discourse and event program at the Architekturzentrum Wien, which is dedicated to international and local architecture and urban planning topics, including the annual open-air film festival Architektur.Film.Sommer, most recently on the topic of Decolonizing Architecture and Over tourism. She curated numerous panel discussions or symposia such as “Common Household: Living, eating and caring in the city“ in 2023. From 2018-2022 she programmed a lecture series as part of the international building exhibition in Vienna with speakers like Dorte Mandrup, Kazuyo Sejima, NL Architects, Lacaton&Vassal, Flores & Prats. In addition, she works as a moderator, university lecturer and author, having co-edited the book Space Anatomy (Jovis, 2022). From 2020-2022, Lene Benz has researched collective building and housing practices in the project WohnWissen Übersetzen a cooperation between University Vienna, Urban Design at Hafen City University Hamburg. She is a member of the performance collective Sirenen, which amplifies voices and moods in sound compositions and choreographies in public spaces.

SILVA NALBANTYAN-HACHERYAN has been working at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria since 2001. She is currently the Director of the Directorate for International Cooperation, European Programmes and Regional Activities.

For many years she has been a lecturer in various specialties at the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. She holds a PhD in Theory of Education and a PhD in Folklore Studies.

Silva Nalbantyan-Hacheryan is the compiler and translator of four books of Armenian folktales (2023, 2006, 2005 and 2003), two of which are bilingual. She is the author of the short story collections ‘Peeling Apples’ (2023) and ‘Debris’ (2015), the monographs ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage – Policies and Practices for its Preservation’ (2019), ‘Cultural Institutions and Intercultural Education’ (2009), ‘Educational Opportunities of Cultural Institutions for the Integration of Ethnic Communities in the Republic of Bulgaria’ (2008), a number of studies, articles and essays published in scientific and popular publications in our country and abroad. She is a screenwriter of documentaries in the field of preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

GENCHO GENCHEV, Mayor of Svishtov and member of the National Consultative Council on Intangible Cultural Heritage, has a Master’s degree in “Cultural Tourism” from the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius” and in 2021 obtained a PhD in Ethnology at the Center for Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology to the same university. In addition he graduated in “Business Administration” and “Economic Management”. He is currently in his third term in office as mayor of Svishtov Municipality, elected for the first time in 2015. Beside his academic knowledge in the sphere of ICH in his focus are the community centers as civic cultural and educational structures. In addition in 2011 he established the annual International Folklore Festival “Folklore Izvor” which continues to enjoy significant interest and success today. By order of the Minister of Culture he became a member of the Public Advisory Council to the Minister of Culture in 2012 and also represents the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria in the National Council for ICH for the current term in office. Mr. Genchev has been awarded on numerous occasions for his contribution to the development of culture, preservation and promotion of ICH. 

BOŽANA ĐUZELOVIĆ is an accomplished ethnologist and anthropologist born in Trebinje. She graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade in 2005 with a degree in ethnology and anthropology, having written her thesis on “Traditional costumes of Serbian women in Velika Hoča today – Kosovo and Metohija” under the supervision of Vesna Vućinić, PhD. Božana began her professional career in 2005 as a curator ethnologist and anthropologist at the Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje. She was promoted to high curator in 2012. In 2017, she became a member representing the Republic of Srpska in the General Assembly of the Regional Center for Intangible Heritage of Southeastern Europe, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her work focuses on the research and promotion of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Eastern Herzegovina. She has published several works, including: “Specific features and characteristics of the village Uvjeća,” presentation, Tribunia no. 12, Museum of Herzegovina, Trebinje, 2009; “The tradition of presenting gifts for newborns (babine) in the area of Eastern Herzegovina,” Duhovnost srpska, Teslić, 2006; “Presentation of clasps from the Museum of Herzegovina, Trebinje,” Bulletin of the Association of Museum Workers of Republic of Srpska, no. 5, Banja Luka, 2007.

CHRISTIANA PAPADOPOULOU, primary head school teacher in profession, has worked in school education since 1991, has a degree on MA in Museums and Galleries in Education, University of London.

Creator and implementor of Educational programs in Museums and Art Galleries in Lefkosia for the Ministry of Education and the organisation Cultural Workshop of Ayion Omoloyiton (Politistiko Ergastiri).

Mrs Papadopoulou is responsible for the cultural activities of the Cultural Centre. Has represented the Cultural Centre in various conferences with presentations in relation to ICHIM its safeguarding and transition.
Mrs Papadopoulou has been teaching and presenting traditional dancing in Cyprus and Internationally.

Co-established the Cultural Workshop in Ayious Omoloyites in Lefkosia, (1999) which is implicated in youth activities locally, Nationally and Internationally.

THEKLA PAPANTONIOU works as an Officer at the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO. She holds a BA in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies from the University of Cyprus and an MPhil in European Literature and Culture from the University of Cambridge. Since 2008, she has worked at the Permanent Delegation and the National Commission for UNESCO, to support Cyprus’ contribution to the international organisation and bring the benefits of UNESCO to Cyprus. Her expertise includes inventorying and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, mapping of cultural policies and practices, capacity building programmes and multi-stakeholder partnerships, as well as design and coordination of educational programmes for cultural heritage, sustainable development and global citizenship.

PANAYIOTIS THEODOROU, primary school teacher in profession, has worked in school education since 1991 has been involved in research activities concerning traditional Dance and Music in some areas of Cyprus.

Mrs Theodorou also has a role as an International Trainer focused on Personal development and Volunteer management in Cultural environments. Was involved in the development of Multimedia software of Cultural content for Educational purposes. Representing Politistiko Ergastiri in the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Botswana Dec 2023, 18.COM

Mr. Theodorou has been teaching and presenting traditional dancing in Cyprus and Internationally. Co – Established the Cultural Workshop in Ayious Omoloyites in Lefkosia, (1999) which is implicated in youth activities locally, Nationally and Internationally

HELENA BAZINI is social anthropologist working at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage – Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Intercultural Affairs. Her experience:
a) Planning community – based approaches to safeguarding living heritage;
b) Collaboration with the communities for the needs of registering ICH elements in the National Inventory of ICH of Greece;
c) Preparation of nomination files for the Lists of the Convention;
d) Planning of folk museums;
e) Adult learning (Trainer in Summer Schools organized by the Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage regarding the implementation of the ICH Convention;
f) Training teachers for designing educational programs about cultural heritage;
g) Designing and implementing educational programs addressed to schoolchildren about cultural heritage in rural and urban spaces.

• Member of the working group for the implementation of the pilot project “Teaching and learning with living heritage” in Greek ASPnet schools.
• Member of the Global Network of Facilitators for the implementation of the ICH Convention.
• Secretary of the National Committee for implementing in Greece the ICH Convention.

IANNIS N. DRINIS studied History and Folklore at the University of Ioannina (Greece) and Social Anthropology (Master of Arts) at the University of Kent at Canterbury (UK). In 2013 he obtained his PhD in Folklore from the University of Ioannina. As a PhD student he was awarded a Greek State honοrary studentship. Ioannis has conducted ethnographic research in Peloponnesos, Southern Greece (Demetsana, Nestani etc.) and he has co-produced along with visual anthropologist Silas Michalakas several ethnographic films. He has been working as a folklorist in the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports since 2006 and as a head of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Intercultural Relations since 2014. He is member of the teaching staff of the Hellenic Open University (MA in Folk Culture and Modern Cultural Heritage).

MINAS I. PASCHOPOULOS is Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina and Deputy Mayor of Culture, Cultural Institutions and Events, Municipality of Ioannina. Since 1/9/2018 until 31/12/2022 he had been elected Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs, Academic Affairs and Student Welfare at the University of Ioannina with a four-year tenure. Among the many responsibilities of the position, Prof. Paschopoulos was responsible for social policy and health care, and coordinated international programmes (Erasmus+). Since 1/9/2017 he has  also held the position of Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, at the University General Hospital of Ioannina and had been a full member of the Committee for the Reform of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialty (Central Health Council) (2017-2021). He also served as Head of the Faculty of Medicine, at the School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina from 5/12/2014 until 31/8/2018.

ELENA SINIBALDI is cultural anthropologist with Ph.D. She works at General Secretariat- Ministry of Culture- Italy. Post-graduate Specialization Diploma and PhD in Anthropology (“La Sapienza” University, Rome, theses on international UNESCO policies – particularly applied to intangible cultural heritage, creative expressions and participatory governance systems between institutions and communities), after a degree in Literature (“La Sapienza” University, Rome, experimental thesis on history of religions carried out at University of Oslo, Norway).

Officer (Funzionario Demoetnoantropologo) at the Italian Ministry of Culture (Service II – UNESCO Office of the General Secretariat). National Focal/Contact Point for 2003 UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and the 2005 UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Expert member of the Italian Delegation in Intergovernmental Committees and Assemblies and international experts groups. Representative for the Inter-ministerial Committee for Human Rights (CIDU-MAECI). Coordinator of the III and IV National Periodic Report (2020 and 2024) for the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention and the II National Periodic Report (2021) for the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention. Referent for the UNESCO Memory of the World program. Institutional technical-scientific coordinator for patrimonialization processes, inventorying and nominations of elements inscribed in the UNESCO ICH- Representative List (national and multinational files: Truffle hunting and extraction in Italy, Art of Falconry; Feast of Celestinian Forgiveness; Alpinism; Musical art of hunting horn players; Art of the glass bead,Tocatì as a safeguarding program for the traditional sports and games; The practice of the Opera Singing in Italy).

Promoter and coordinator (since 2021) of the first regional network of Focal Points of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on a European basis (ENFP), and member of its steering committee. Systematically active in international technical relations and negotiations. Invited Lecturer at: “A. Philippide” Institute of Romanian Philology (Iaşi, România); St Petersburg University (Saint Petersburg, Russia); Sharjah Institute For Cultural Heritage (Sharjah, UAE); Free University of Languages and Communication – IULM (Milan, Italy); Tor Vergata University and Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Rome, Italy); Consorzio per la Ricerca e l’Educazione Permanente – COREP (Turin, Italy). Recipient of the 2021 “Rosetta Prize” (granted by Venice Committee Safeguard of Glass Beads, Venice, Italy) for professional/institutional activities at national and international level in the cultural field.

Since the 2024 she is member of the Advisory Board for the 2025 UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies (Regional Expert- Western Europe and North America).

MARTA UGOLINI holds a degree in Economics and a PhD in Business Administration. Since 2001, she has been a Full Professor of Business Management at the University of Verona, where she has held various academic positions (Rector’s Delegate, Chair of the Educational Board, Vice-Dean of the Faculty).

Her main research interests focus on marketing (branding), the hospitality industry, strategic planning of tourist destinations, service quality, servitization, and service logic. She has published over 100 scientific works, including at least 40 journal papers, mostly international, 24 book chapters, 35 conference papers, 2 monographs, and 2 edited volumes.

Since July 18, 2022, she has been serving as City Councillor for the Municipality of Verona under Mayor Damiano Tommasi, with responsibilities for culture, tourism, and relations with UNESCO. In
this role, she is responsible for managing Verona as a cultural tourism destination, overseeing the Civic Museums of Verona, the Veronese Summer Theatre Festival, the Camploy Theatre, supporting cultural events within the municipality, fostering cultural associations, liaising with key artistic and cultural organizations in the area, and maintaining relations with the stakeholder of the tourism ecosistem. She manages Verona’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage site and oversees
the good practice of safeguarding traditional games and sports under Tocatì (registered in the UNESCO list in 2022).

ALEXANDER FARRUGIA is the Director of Culture within the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government. He has been in the Public Service since 2015 and served as advisor to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Education and then, for four years, as Director of Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability, where he oversaw the online transition of Lifelong Learning courses and was lead-writer of the national strategies for Early Leavers from Education and Training (ELET) and for Adult Learning. Farrugia is currently UNESCO site manager for Valletta as World Heritage Site, and representative of Malta in the Davos Alliance for European Baukultur. Earlier in his career, Farrugia spent 15 years in journalism, seven of which he was editor of Malta’s leading newspaper in Maltese. He is visiting lecturer at the University of Malta within the Department for Youth, Communities and Migration. Alexander Farrugia is also a historian, with papers published in journals in Malta and abroad, and a published author of a number of literary works. He won the National Book Prize in 2020 and in 2024 was finalist for the European Prize for Literature. 

MELANIE CIANTAR HARRINGTON is the co-ordinator of the ICH Unit in Malta within the Culture Directorate, and the Secretary for the National Board for ICH. She has studied Baroque Architecture and currently reading for a Master’s Degree in the area. Ms Ciantar Harrington has joined the ICH Unit soon after Malta ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention in 2017 and has assisted Culture Directorate to build a strategy towards ICH Management. The unit sustains capacity building by continuous staff training and community outreach, also using media and social media, meetings with communities to raise awareness and promote safeguarding. During the past years, the Unit has worked hard to get communities involved in the safeguarding of the different elements which characterize the Maltese community. Today, the National Inventory is made up of twelve elements. These elements are recognised after a thorough authentication by the National Board. Furthermore, Malta has so far proposed three elements for consideration on the Representative List of the ICH of Humanity, which have all been enlisted.

ANDREI PROHIN, graduate of the Moldova State University, PhD in History of the Romanians. Scientific secretary at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History (Chișinău, Republic of Moldova). Secretary of the National Commission for the Safeguarding of ICH of the Republic of Moldova. Member of the UNESCO global network of facilitators of the 2003 Convention. Main scientific interests: traditional culture, Romanian folklore, medieval culture, Byzantine legacy in the Romanian Lands, historical thought, Christian spirituality. Publishes scientific papers and reviews in academic journals from Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. He has translated into English several articles and books dedicated to ethnography and cultural heritage. For several years, he participated in the group of experts from the Republic of Moldova, in charge with the nomination files for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. He has participated in several annual meetings of experts in intangible cultural heritage from South-Eastern Europe. Lecturer at the Moldova State University and the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts, where he teaches courses on cultural heritage.

MIHAELA RASTRAȘANU, head of the Department Contemporary Arts, within the General Direction Culture and Cultural Heritage of the Chișinău mayoralty. I’m in charge with the organization of several folkloric festivals and other events that promote folk traditions.

JELENA VIDOVIĆ graduated on the topic of urban anthropology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, Department of Ethnology and Anthropology, in 2011. Employed at the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Property as an independent consultant since 2012.

Her field of work is tangible and intangible heritage. In the scope of professional activities, she participates in the preparation of conservation conditions, Studies of Cultural Heritage protection, preparation of studies on the determination of cultural value for tangible and intangible values. Jelena has also participated in the creation of the Nomination file for the Boka Navy.

MAJA USKOKOVIĆ, M.A., is an accomplished conservator-restorer and the current Director of the Maritime Museum of Montenegro in Kotor. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Faculty of Art and Restoration at the University of Dubrovnik, specializing in archival materials and conservation-restoration, with a particular focus on tracing paper.

Her professional journey began with a year-long internship at the Center for Conservation and Archaeology of Montenegro, followed by six years as a conservator-restorer at the Public Institution “Museums” in Kotor. In 2023, Maja assumed the role of director at the Maritime Museum, where she oversees cultural heritage preservation and promotes Montenegro’s rich maritime history.

Fluent in both Italian and English, Maja has contributed significantly to her field through publications and exhibitions. Notably, she organized and participated in the International Conference “Old and Rare Books, Documents and Artworks on Paper” in Montenegro in 2019. She has also exhibited her conservation-restoration work on prints by V. M. Coronelli from the 17th century. Additionally, she took part in the 9th International Conference on Conservation-Restoration Studies in Croatia in 2012.

MIROSLAV GAVROVSKI, master in economic sciences and financial management; tax officer in the Public Revenue Administration, Tetovo, Regional Directorate; bearer of the ICH element “Glasoechko, male two-part singing in Dolni Polog” inscribed at UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. 

He inherited male polyphonic singing from his immediate family, and at the age of 16 he became the leading voice in the male vocal ensemble TRIO GAVROVSKI Tetovo, better known as the “Brothers Gavrovski” trio, which, apart from Miroslav, also included the brothers Milorad and Vaso (Miroslav’s father and uncle). In 2023, he forms a new family vocal trio in order to continue the seven-decade promotion of Glasoechko singing, which includes his two sons Martin (15) and Marko Gavrovski (12).

Аpart from the numerous performances on domestic and international stages for traditional and other types of folk music, he has left lasting music records for the Macedonian national media and also released 7 sound carriers one of which is under the auspices of UNESCO.

IVONA OPETCHESKA TATARCHEVSKA, authorized Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Unit at the Directorate for Protection of Cultural Heritage within the Ministry of Culture in Republic of  N.Macedonia. Coordinator of the commissions for valorisation of 121 ICH elements for inscription on the cultural heritage National Inventory; Lecturer on national seminars for the ICH stake holders. Project co-leader of the “Mapping of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macedonia” (2011-2014), “Implementation of the Convention 2003 on national level” (2013-2016). Designated State Representative at the Annual SEE Expert’s meetings network on ICH in Arbanasi, Belgrade, Ramnicu Valcea, Limassol, Brach.

From 2011 to 2016 Designated Coordinator of the team of experts and co-author of four UNESCO’s nomination files:“Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs in Štip” on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2013); “Kopachkata, a social dance from the village of Dramche, Pijanec” on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2014); “Glasoechko, male two-part singing in Dolni Polog” on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Safeguarding (2025); multinational “Cultural Practices Associated to the 1st of March”, on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2017).

IOANA BASKERVILLE is a senior researcher in ethnology at The Romanian Academy – Iasi Branch and associate professor of cultural anthropology at the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi (Romania). She is the national focal point and leading expert for the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention in Romania, coordinated national inventory of living heritage projects, nomination files for the Representative List, working closely with the Ministry of Culture, the UNESCO Commission of the Parliament, the National Institute of Heritage, local cultural centres, NGOs, associations of craftspeople, museums. Her research explores the connection between traditional culture and contemporary lifestyles, anthropology of religiosity, anthropology of migration, heritage education, rural development, traditional ecological knowledge. She has extensive expertise in lecturing and contributing to international academic conferences, UNESCO meetings, multinational working groups, and she was an associate researcher at universities in the United Kingdom, U.S.A., Germany and Poland. She is a member of the Global Network of Facilitators.

ANDRA-OZANA DRAM has extensive experience on organizing community events as well as large-scale public ones (fairs, festivals, academic conferences, ethnographic exhibitions, educational workshops) in the field of documenting and promoting traditional culture in Romania. She is devoted to empowering local craftspeople, folk musicians, heritage groups and community representatives through providing communication platforms and programs to safeguard local living heritage in the rural areas of Iași county and beyond. She is currently the manager of the County Cultural Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture in Iași, Romania, an institution subordinated to the county council. In this capacity, she coordinates events and projects that bring the diversity of traditional music and crafts of various regions in Romania to the heart of the vibrant city of Iași, the cultural and historical capital of Romania. To properly fulfill the Centre’s mission, she created working partnerships with similar county-level institutions across Romania and the Republic of Moldova, with local administration, academic entities, museums, schools, NGOs.

DANIJELA FILIPOVIĆ is an ethnologist-anthropologist who works in the Centre for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia in Ethnographic Museum. She is the national focal point for the UNESCO 2003 Convention.

As a member of the National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Commission of the Republic of Serbia for UNESCO, she has been engaged in implementing the 2003 Convention and developing ICH policies, proposing and preparing nominations for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and managing various activities related to ICH. She focusses on cooperation with local communities, professional institutions, museums, non-governmental organizations, and other entities in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, and conducting awareness activities at the national and local levels.

TANJA IVANOVIĆ is an experienced project manager with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. She currently serves as a Counselor in the Local Economic Development Office of Vranje, where she oversees economic, cultural, and gender equality projects. With extensive experience collaborating with international organizations like UNESCO, USAID, and UN Agencies, she plays a key role in Vranje’s involvement in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Fluent in English, Tanja has a strong background in project management, youth entrepreneurship, and SME development, and has received recognition for her exceptional organizational skills and performance.

MATEJA DEMŠIČ with a B.A. in History and an M.Sc. in Historical Anthropology from the University of Ljubljana, has been the Head of the Department for Culture at the Municipality of Ljubljana since 2013. She has significantly contributed to the city’s vibrant cultural scene, playing a pivotal role in Ljubljana’s designation as a UNESCO World Book Capital and UNESCO City of Literature. Her leadership in cultural heritage preservation includes the renovation of landmarks like Plečnik House and the transformation of Cukrarna into Slovenia’s largest contemporary art gallery. A strong advocate for arts and education, Mateja is committed to fostering an open-minded and inclusive society.

TANJA ROŽENBERGAR, museum councillor for Craft and Trade Collection in Slovene Ethnographic Museum, has Ph.d. of ethnology and cultural anthropology, Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia, EU. 

She is professionally involved in cultural heritage more than 30 years and has worked in various fields of museum work: research work, museology, ICH, publishing, visual documentation, formation of national cultural strategies, management. She established museum’s department of urban ethnology, the children’s museum (co-creator)  and School of museology Celje.  She has worked as a secretary for the movable cultural heritage at the Slovenian Ministry of Culture and as a director at the Museum of Recent History Celje and Slovene Ethnographic Museum.  She is author of the book Urban Phenomena of Museum Prospects in an Ethnological and Cultural Anthropological Discourse (2019). Her current basic occupation is implementation of the new Slovenian Act on the Preservation and Development of Handicraft.

Tanja Roženbergar is a member of several professional associations and official representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the General Assembly of “Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the ICH in South-Eastern Europe under the Auspices of Unesco”  (2020-2022; 2023-2026).

AHMET ERMAN ARAL joined the Department of Turkish Folklore at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University in 2013 as a research assistant and works at the same department as an Associate Professor recently. He got his PhD degree from the same university in 2020 and the dissertation is titled “Intangible Cultural Heritage Education and Cultural Transmission: The Case of Turkey.”

Aral is the Chairholder of the “UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Formal and Informal Education” which was founded at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University in 2017; member of the “Institute for Intangible Cultural Heritage” which is an UNESCO accredited NGO; managing editor of the “Millî Folklor” (international journal of cultural studies indexed in A&HCI, Web of Sciences), editor of two books (one of which is on ICH). In addition, Aral published research articles on intangible cultural heritage in the journals such as International Journal of Heritage Studies and International of Intangible Heritage. He was a visiting scholar at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) from 2021 to 2022. Aral currently works in the Horizon Europe project “Tracks4Crafts” as the member of external advisory body (2023-2027). He attended most of the annual meetings of the South-East European Experts Network on Intangible Cultural Heritage and also the ICH Intergovernmental Committee Meetings as the representative of Turkish National Commission for UNESCO since 2015.

ÖZLEM KEVSEROĞLU serves as the Vice Chair of the Department of Architecture and the Chair of the Urban and Environmental Studies Department at AGU. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 2008, her master’s degree in Urban Design in 2011, and her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from ITU in 2022. During her tenure at AGU, she has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses and has presented numerous national and international papers. Her contributions include key terms such as cultural landscape, urban stratification, cultural continuity, rural morphology and socio-spatial dimensions. Dr. Kevseroğlu’s research emphasizes the importance of cultural landscapes and living heritage in urban contexts. Her international publications, such as “Understanding Intangible Aspects Of Cultural Landscape; Living Cultures Of Northeast Kayseri Valleys” and “Intangible Heritage as a Tool for the Evaluation of 19th Century Rural Sites in Kayseri,”. Dr. Kevseroğlu’s work offers significant perspectives on how living heritage can be preserved in urban environments and contribute to the creation of sustainable cities amidst the challenges of urbanization.

AHMET TAN, Culture and Tourism Expert at the Directorate General of Living Heritage and Cultural Activities, Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

He was born in 1976 in Kayseri. He graduated from Marmara University, Business Administration Department with a bachelor’s degree. He worked in several companies in the private sector. In 2007, he started to work as an Assistant Culture and Tourism Expert at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He worked as the officer for EU Youth in Action Programme at the Turkish National Agency on temporary assignment. He had master’s degrees in Public Administration and European Union (Economy – Finance) respectively. He is currently a student in the PhD programme in Administrative Sciences. For the last 5 years, he has been working at the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the field of living heritage. He took part as the coordinator of several nomination files on UNESCO ICH Lists.