Conference Speakers

Alec von Graffenried was elected as Mayor of Bern in 2017. In addition, he serves as President of the New Helvetic Society and as President of the European Movement Association.

Antonio Loprieno is a renowned scholar in Egyptology, Linguistics and Semitology with a special interest on science management.

Prof. Dr. Christian Leumann has assumed the office of Rector of the University of Bern as of August 1, 2016. Leumann has been a member of the Executive Board of the University of Bern since 2011 as Vice-Rector for Research.

Connie Nshemereirwe is Science and Policy Facilitator at Actualise Africa in Kampala, Uganda, and co-chair of the Global Young Academy. She is also the Secretary General of the Uganda National Young Academy, and is active in Civil Society through the Ugandan Think Tank, Kigo Thinkers.

Dilyana Mihaylova is a conservation scientist and projects manager with background in marine plastic pollution science and a MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation.

Professor Francesco Profumo is the Chairman of Compagnia di Sanpaolo since May 2016. Prior of that, he has served as the Rector of the Politecnico di Torino, President of CNR and Minister of Education, University and Research in Italy (2011-2013).

Giulia Carlini is a staff attorney in the Environmental Health program, based in Geneva. Her work focuses on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), international chemicals governance, and global policy on plastics.

Guy Parmelin is the head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research.

Jean-Eric Paquet has been appointed Director-General of Directorate Research and Innovation of the European Commission since 1 April 2018.

Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon is the President of the European Research Council since January 2014.

József Györkös is the director of the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) since November 2014. He is former university professor in the area of computer science and informatics at the University of Maribor.

Koen Vermeir, a Research Professor at the CNRS and the University of Paris, studies science in its cultural and social settings and the nexus between science and public policy.

Lesley Wilson was educated at the Universities of Glasgow and Strasbourg and also has an honorary doctorate from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris. She joined the EUA at its creation in 2001 and took over as Secretary General in 2002.

Madeleine Herren is full professor of modern history and director of the Institute for European Global Studies, University of Basel, Switzerland.

Mariana Mazzucato (PhD) is the 2019 Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values. She holds the Chair in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL), and she is Founder and Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP).

Michael Saliba's research focuses on a deeper understanding of optoelectronic properties of emerging photovoltaic technologies with an emphasis on perovskites, working towards a sustainable energy future.

Nicola Forster currently serves as President of Science et Cité. He also founded the grassroots think tank “foraus – Swiss Forum on Foreign Policy” and is co-founder of the innovation platform “Staatslabor”.

Nicole Grobert is a Member of the European Commission Group of Chief Scientific Advisors. Her research group focuses on the synthesis, processing, and characterisation of novel carbon and non-carbon based nanomaterials.

Sabine is a Social Psychologist who focuses on the human dimension in environmental issues. She investigates perceptions and behaviour change, particularly in the area of protecting marine environments, marine litter and microplastics.

Vivienne Parry is a writer and broadcaster. A scientist by training, Vivienne hosts medical programmes for Radio 4, writes widely on health, presents films, facilitates many high level conferences and debates, and trains young researchers.