Head of Energy Efficiency Office - Municipality of Guimarães
Paulo has an MSc in Environmental Technology and Management.
Responsible for managing the municipality’s energy use, improving efficiency, and leading projects that support climate transition. The role involves reducing consumption, promoting renewable energy, and aligning local actions with sustainability goals.
Director of Operations and Cofounder - PET
Ms Tanja Popovicki is environmental and energy expert with over 20 years of experience in managing and implementing development initiatives focused on energy, climate, and environmental issues in Serbia. She currently serves as the Director of Operations and Cofounder of the Platform for Energy Transition (PET), a local think-tank established to support, enhance, and increase Serbian citizens’ participation in the energy transition process. In her role at PET, she conducts policy analysis and research aimed to reveal and promote the energy-climate-environment nexus, specifically focusing on integrating social and gender aspects into local energy transitions and stimulating policy initiatives for communities.
As a dedicated advocate for women’s participation in energy and climate action, Tanja has profound expertise at the intersection of gender and the environment. As an International Gender Expert, she has conducted research to ensure gender perspectives are embedded in Just Transition Strategies towards low-carbon economies and has designed targeted gender training programs for vulnerable groups. Her extensive portfolio also includes preparing research and conducting analysis on the Gender Aspects of Energy Policy in Serbia.
Programme Coordination Manager - CINEA
Programme Coordination Manager, LIFE Energy and Climate Unit, European Commission, CINEA. Over 20 years of experience in EU project management, energy planning in cities and regions, innovative financing schemes for sustainable energy. MSc in Engineering Management, University of Bologna and second-level Master in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Iuav University of Venice
Mayor of Leuven & President of Energy Cities
Mohamed Ridouani is Mayor in the city of Leuven and was previously responsible as Deputy Mayor for Education, Sustainability, Economy and Urban Development.
Mohamed Ridouani is Leuven born. His parents migrated from Morocco to Leuven in the early 70’s. He graduated as a master in economics and completed a post graduate in international relations. He started his career as a business consultant at Deloitte. In 2007 Mohamed was elected to the city council for the Flemish Labour Party. He was immediately appointed as Deputy Mayor and therefore he left the business world to fully focus on his political duties. Together with the knowledge institutions and companies in Leuven, Ridouani aims to reinforce the sustainable and innovative character of the city.
He’s the inspirer of Leuven 2030, in which more than 300 companies, organizations and citizens are united to tum Leuven into a sustainable and CO2-neutral city by the year 2050.
Ridouani is also the founder of the education council which conjoins everyone in the educational field to attain the best tuition possible for every child in Leuven.
Ridouani also initiated Leuven MindGate, an economic platform with 400 members that will boost Leuven as the world’s hotspot for health, technology and creativity. Mohamed Ridouani was elected Mayor in October 2018. He stands for positive change and aims to tum Leuven into one of the most caring, green and prosperous cities in Europe, in cooperation with the citizens.
Vice-Mayor of Cascais
Luís Almeida Capão is, at 39 years old, the president of the Portuguese Cascais Ambiente – Cascais Municipality Environment Company, being responsible for the whole strategic definition and implementation in it’s several areas of activity: from operation of urban cleaning and waste collecting systems to climate change, to what adds management of the urban green areas, urban agriculture, management of the green infrastructure and Cascais biodiversity promotion. Cascais Ambiente is recognized for a consistent intervention in in the areas of innovation and operational optimization in the environment sector – that have granted important awards and recognition – and is a fearless defender of the importance of the recognition of the citizen as a co-creator of the territory which in fact in real in Cascais Municipality.
His curricular studies include a BSc Eng in Forestry (ISA-UTL), a MSc Eng in Information Systems Management (IMS-UNL) and an executive MBA at (AESE/IESE – Universidade de Navarra). In his academic carreer he has participation in the Universidade de São Paulo, Indian Institute of Management and IESE (NYC).
He is also an author, with articles in several scientific publications about Remote Detection and Environment.
Head of the Representation of Budapest to the EU
Benedek Jávor is a Hungarian environmentalist and green politician. Jávor was a green Member of the Hungarian Parliament (2010-2014), chair of its Sustainable Development Committee. Member of the European Parliament between 2014-2019 in the Greens/EFA group, first-vice chair of the Committee for Environment in the EP. Currently, he is the Head of the Representation of Budapest to the EU. Recently, he has focused on the next MFF, participation, multilevel governance, and city democracy issues.
Capacity Building Officer - European Urban Initiative
Anke works in the Capacity Building Unit at the European Urban Initiative (EUI). In her role, she designs and delivers peer-learning and capacity-building activities for European cities, supporting them in the effective implementation of their sustainable urban development strategies.
Anke has extensive professional experience in European funding programmes, strategies and EU project management. She has worked in different positions at both, local and European level, including as an EU funding strategist within a French urban authority, a project manager at Energy Cities, and a senior project officer for INTERREG North-West Europe on transnational cooperation.
Operations and Project Management Coordinator - Landscape Laboratory Guimarães
Susana Costa is the Operations and Project Management Coordinator at the Landscape Laboratory in Guimarães, supporting multidisciplinary projects in sustainability, innovation, and territorial development. She is also an Invited Assistant Professor in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Minho. Susana holds a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minho.
Sustainability Education Officer - Laboratório da Paisagem Guimarães
Guilherme Sequeira Braga holds a degree in Biology and a Master’s in Ecology, Environment and Territory from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. He has experience in Science Communication and Environmental Awareness, working with audiences of different age groups.
Municipal Director for Intervention in the Territory, Environment and Climate Action - Municipality of Guimarães
Municipal Director Joaquim Carvalho, MSc in Civil Enginering, ensures the coordination and direction of the Municipal Directorate, which is made up of the Department of Environment and Sustainability, which includes the Environment and Public Space Division, the Green Structure and Biodiversity Division, and the Mobility Division. Is directorate also includes the Contracts Division, the Studies and Projects Division, the Management and Conservation Division, the Energy Efficiency Office and the Fire Safety Office in Buildings.
Senior Project Manager - Ambiente Italia
Mechanical Engineer with a Ph. D in Energy, he carried out research activities until 2007. From 2005 to 2007, he was the Secretary General of Assolterm, the Italian Solar Thermal Industry Association. He has been working in Ambiente Italia, as Senior Project Manager, since January 2008, and as Social Media Manager for solarthermalworld.org since 2015. His main competencies are in the field of efficient district heating and cooling, solar energy and energy communities. He has been working in 27 EU-funded projects on energy, 5 of which as consortium coordinator. He also has an intense communication activity, having written more than 600 articles on the energy topic.
Biology expert - Biodiversity, Soil, Water Resources, and the Circular Economy - Laboratório da Paisagem
His interests focus on biodiversity conservation, wildlife ecology, and the ecological dynamics of urban and natural systems. With a background in environmental education and science communication, he currently integrates the Biodiversity Department at the Landscape Laboratory of Guimarães, where he develops environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation reaserch, while also contributing to international urban sustainability networks.
Senior Policy Advisor - City of Arnhem
Peter has been working on sustainable mobility for the city of Arnhem for some years (charging infrastructure) and is currently working on energy systems in neighbourhoods and grid congestion. Energy systems and Local Energy Communities are about using locally produced energy locally without putting more strain on the electricity grid. This work is part of the Arnhem strategy to become more independent of fossil fuels (off the natural gas).
Peter has been project manager for two consecutive Interreg NWE projects dealing with using locally produced energy: Clean Mobil Energy and ACCU.
Head of Energy Division - R2M Solution Spain
Iván Aranda combines a robust technical background in Chemistry and Materials Engineering with over 18 years of international experience spanning R&D, planning, and project management. Iván has a profound expertise and emphasis on energy communities; since 2019, he has actively promoted this model at the national level by coordinating different stakeholders and developing pilot projects. He currently coordinates or participates in over 10 projects related to the development of energy communities. Reflecting his leadership in the sector, Iván serves as the Head of Energy at R2M Solution Spain and the Managing Partner at Penta-C, an R2M spin-off. Furthermore, as part of his extensive innovation work, he is the coordinator of the LIFE-BECKON project.
Cimate leader
Noora Firaq is a climate leader and speaker committed to involving everyone in climate action to build a fairer world. She combines her lived experience of growing up in a climate-vulnerable country with professional expertise in climate governance, climate communications and community energy.
She currently serves on the boards of Westmill Wind Co-operative, REScoop MECISE and Counterpoints Arts. Previously, as Deputy CEO of Climate Outreach, she led teams to put citizen involvement at the heart of climate policymaking. She now consults and speaks on climate governance, citizen participation in energy sovereignty and organisational transformation. She brings an intersectional lens to the impacts of climate change and works to drive greater inclusivity in climate action.
Assistant Project Manager for RESPONSE – Dijon Métropole
RESPONSE is a European energy transition project aiming to create two positive-energy blocks in the Fontaine d’Ouche district. He leads the data-related components, including data analysis, processing, and monitoring of the deployed solutions.
Coordinator of Sustainability, Climate and Energy - City of Pamplona
Program Manager - IPES-Food
Nicole is a program manager at the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food). She manages research projects and activities, with a focus on climate and food systems governance.
Energy Sharing Expert - City of Mechelen
I worked 25 years in development aid, and the last 6 years as energy expert in the climate team of the city of Mechelen. In my free time I volunteer being board member of citizen energy movement Klimaan. Combining both brings me to my core commitment of addressing energy poverty. For instance, in Otterbeek I brought renewable energy to social housing neighbourhoods – 200 social houses got solar panels, an energy community was set up and recently plug&play batteries added. This action was awarded in 2025 with the best local energy project of EUSEW. I also founded a renovation cooperative to address owners of unused buildings to renovate them and make social houses out of them. We renovated 85 dwellings. Initiatives were undertaken to give vulnerable households a voice in the energy transition, etc.
Head of Strategic Planning Office - Gebalis
João Carvalhosa is currently Head of Strategic Planning Office at Gebalis, the biggest Portuguese social housing provider (with more than 22.000 units), where he works for 22 years. With a very large experience on housing policy, since 2004 he collaborates with Housing Europe, in many roles, such as Chair of Social Committee, Vice-Chair of Public Sector Committee and member of the Election Committee. He is also on the Board (Coordination Committee) of the European Network for Housing Research and is President of CECODHAS.P – Portuguese Coordination Committee for Social Housing since 2011.
Since 2002 is member elected of the Belém local authority, in Lisbon, acting now as Mayor.
Portuguese National Coordinator of the World Day of Neighbour’s and is co-founder of the European Federation of Local Solidarity, based in Paris.
Head of Advocacy - Reformaten
He is Head of Advocacy at Reformaten, a Swedish civil-society organisation advancing sustainable and healthy food systems through policy change, research collaboration and public engagement. He leads the organisation’s advocacy strategy and partnerships across academia, civil society and public institutions. He holds degrees in Gastronomic Sciences and Rural Development from the University of Gastronomic Sciences and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Mayor of Guimarães
Born in Guimarães on 6 October 1977, Ricardo Araújo is married and has two children.
He holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Minho, an Executive MBA from Porto Business School, and has completed international executive training in Leadership at IE Business School (Spain) and in Strategy and Innovation at Cornell University (United States).
As a manager, he was a member of the senior management team of the EFACEC Group, with responsibilities in Strategic Planning and Electric Mobility. He has held various positions at both national and international level, notably serving as President of Movijovem – Mobility and Youth Tourism; Member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth; Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sport of the CPLP – Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries; and Member of the Board of Directors of the OIJ – Ibero-American Youth Organisation.
Beyond being his birthplace, Guimarães has always benefited from his active civic and community involvement. Ricardo Araújo was President of the Student Association of Francisco de Holanda Secondary School (1994–1995); President of the Guimarães Municipal Youth Council (1996–1998); Delegate to the United Nations World Youth Forum (1998) and to the European Youth Forum; Member of the Board of ‘Tempos Cruzados’, the associative project of the European Capital of Culture – Guimarães 2012; Member of the Vitoriano Council (2012–2019); Member of the Executive Committee of the European City of Sport Guimarães 2013; and President of Círculo de Arte e Recreio, a Guimarães-based public utility institution (2000–2012).
His political engagement has remained consistent since his youth, during which he has held various positions of public responsibility. These include Deputy Civil Governor of Braga; Member of the Guimarães Municipal Assembly; Vice-President of the Braga District Social Democratic Party; President of the Guimarães Social Democratic Party; and Councillor at Guimarães City Council representing the Social Democratic Party since 2013.
Ricardo Araújo has served as a Member of Parliament in the 16th and 17th Legislatures since 26 March 2024.
He has been Mayor of Guimarães since 25 October 2025.
Funding Advisor - City of Mechelen
Nicole La Iacona is a funding advisor at the City of Mechelen with experience across a broad range of urban themes, from sustainability and climate action to social inclusion and participation. She brings partners and experts together to shape innovative projects and has contributed to the development of several European New Bauhaus initiatives. Within RE-HOME, she contributes to shaping shared housing approaches as part of the response to the housing crisis, engaging enthusiastically with the challenges and potential of cohousing as a sustainable and socially inclusive solution.
Vacancy regulation specialist - City of Utrecht
Jamal Belkasmi holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning. Since 2021, he has been working for the City of Utrecht in the fields of housing and urban planning. He is an expert in initiatives that optimize the existing housing stock, including vacancy regulations, purchase protection, occupancy requirements, housing subdivision, shared housing, and affordable housing.
Senior strategist - City of Utrecht
Kees Verschoor is senior strategist at the city of Utrecht for housing and urban planning. He has 30 years’ experience in the field, working both in the private and the public sector in The Netherlands and in Spain. The central question is his work is: “How can we improve quality of living by improving the built environment?”
Food Policy Advisor - City of Wageningen
Janneke Bruil is a Food Policy Advisor at the City of Wageningen, the Netherlands. Pioneering in this field, she co-created a 10 year Food Strategy and supported the establishment of a regional network of agroecological food producers. Wageningen was the first city in the Netherlands to remove all advettisement in public spaces in an effort to contribute to a healthy food environment.
Project manager - Cascais Ambiente
Bárbara Coelho is a Project Manager in the Climate Innovation Department at Cascais Ambiente, where she leads municipal climate initiatives and coordinates projects under Horizon Europe. An Environmental Engineer and Manager of (Re)Vestir Cascais, she advances circular economy strategies that translate climate ambition into practical, community-driven, and measurable impact at the local level.
Head of Local Zero Waste Implementation - Zero Waste Europe
Jack is the Head of Local Zero Waste Implementation at Zero Waste Europe (ZWE). He is responsible for coordinating all of the work done by ZWE and its 39 member organizations across the continent, supporting cities and businesses to design, implement and monitor effective zero waste solutions. This includes actively supporting just under 100 municipalities today across 20 countries and a population of over 15 million people. Jack has been engaged with Zero Waste Europe for over 6 years and has been behind the creation of the world’s first Zero Waste Cities Certification. During his time, the scope of the local work across Europe done by ZWE has tripled, and he has authored numerous publications cited by official sources such as the UN, EU and national governments. He also is the representative for Europe on the Zero Waste International Alliance Board, volunteers for the UK Green Party in his spare time and enjoys running as much as he can when not behind a laptop.
Senior project manager finance and sustainability - GNE Finance
Álvaro has over 15 years of experience in finance and sustainability, including a background in financial risk management at Big Four consulting firms. At GNE Finance, he works on developing bankable investment solutions and financial capacity building for social and affordable housing, district heating modernisation and other urban decarbonisation projects across Europe. He collaborates with public authorities, housing cooperatives and private actors to design financing structures that align public interests and mobilise private and concessional capital.
Policy expert on EU energy and climate legislation - Energy Cities
As part of the Energy Cities policy team, she closely monitors EU energy and climate legislation impacting cities. Her work focuses in particular on energy and climate governance and sufficiency-related policies, with a strong emphasis on the building and housing sectors. She also coordinates Energy Cities’ Mayors Voice initiative, supporting elected representatives from the network in making their perspectives heard more effectively in Brussels.
Mélanie holds a Master’s degree in European and International Careers from Sciences Po Lille.
Circular Economy Advisor - ReLondon
Rachel Singer is a Circular Economy Advisor at ReLondon and leads on the organisation’s textiles and electricals sector-based work. This includes delivery of material flow analyses and the London Textiles Action Plan. Prior to her role at ReLondon, Rachel contributed to a number of research projects related to cities, sustainability and the built environment.
Secretary General - Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+)
Françoise Bonnet is Secretary General of the Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+) since 2013. She has more than 30 years of experience in legislative affairs and in material resource management and policy. Over the course of her career, she has worked with public authorities including the Brussels Regional Administration, the United Nations, and the European Commission, as well as with private companies. She built extensive knowledge of local administrative systems, capacity building, and material resource governance, with particular expertise in the role of public authorities and the use of legal and economic instruments like Extended Producer Responsibility, including issues related to public–private partnerships.
Head of Division INVEST Santo Tirso - Municipality of Santo Tirso, Portugal
Vera Araújo has extensive experience in areas such as:
She has been responsible for the management of the IMoD incubating space and the CEI – Centre of Enterprise and Innovation, both located at the Fábrica de Santo Thyrso, where she gained significant experience in the development and implementation of training and acceleration programmes.
Coordinator of European Projects and Urban Strategies - València Sostenible
He has experience in managing European and local projects in diverse areas such as energy, climate adaptation, citizen participation, multi-stakeholder governance, and climate strategy. Part of the València 2030 Climate Mission team, which manages València’s participation in the Climate Neutrality Mission and the Adaptation Mission. Holds a double Master’s degree in Renewable Energy and Management.
Climate EU Missions Leader - City of Valladolid
Mrs. Ángela Rivada serves as the Coordinator of Economic Development and European Programmes at the Agency for Innovation of the Valladolid City Council. She is the Climate EU Missions Leader for the city of Valladolid, overseeing both the EU Mission 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030, and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change.
Mrs. Rivada holds a Master’s Degree in European Project Management and is both a Telecommunications Engineer and an Economist. With over 20 years of experience in project management, she specializes in innovation and environment. She is responsible for coordinating smart city projects and participates in multiple European innovation initiatives.
Climate Project Officer - VVSG
Wim works on climate projects with both local and international impact. At the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), he contributes to European initiatives that support local governments in their climate ambitions.
Within the framework of the Life BE FREE project, he organises roundtable discussions to explore innovative financing solutions. These are needed to remove investment barriers for energy efficiency and towards decarbonisation.
He is also involved in the European Life AT LAST project, where he contributes to the development of positive energy districts in Ostend, Knokke-Heist, Bonheiden and Kontich. Through this network, he connects with partners across Europe to exchange knowledge and best practices. Before joining VVSG, Wim worked for nearly seven years as a policy advisor on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local government of Edegem. There, he helped translate global goals into local actions.
Communications Officer - Energy Cities
Jana has endorsed several roles in Energy Cities – from project manager and coordinator, through networker to communicator. In 2008, she was at the birth of the Covenant of Mayors Europe initiative, and she contributed to its enlargement to the Central and Eastern Europe. She also coordinated the European City Facility, a financing mechanisms for local sustainable energy projects and several European projects on housing renovation, financing and the set-up of local and regional one-stop shops for home energy renovations.
Research associate - IREES
Antonia Kranz is a research associate at IREES – Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies, focusing on energy communities and the social aspects of the energy transition. She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Bonn, with research on European energy policy and international science cooperation. At IREES, her work explores social acceptance of energy technologies, applying both qualitative and quantitative methods, and evaluating energy policy instruments and funding programs.
President of the City Assembly of Zagreb and member of the European Committee of the Regions
Joško Klisović is the President of the City Assembly of Zagreb and member of the European Committee of the Regions for which he is currently rapporteur of the opinion “State of the energy union: getting prepared for a smooth implementation of energy transition in line with Fit for 55 targets”.
He is a former diplomat involved in the accession process of Croatia to the EU, he served as chief of staff of the President of the Republic of Croatia, as political councillor at the Croatian Mission to UN in New York, and as deputy head of Croatian Mission to NATO in Brussels. He also served as member of the Croatian Parliament and of the European Parliament.