Dr. Tanja Armenski is a data analyst, PMP-certified project professional, and EU expert evaluator supporting projects on sustainable development, community resilience, and climate neutrality in the tourism sector. She is currently teaching at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg. Prior to this, she worked at the Canadian Centre for Tourism and Transportation Statistics at Statistics Canada (since 2017), contributing to data-driven analysis for tourism and transport policy. Earlier, she held academic positions as Teaching Assistant then Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad (Serbia) from 2008 onwards.

Karina Behar is a biologist and sustainable tourism specialist with extensive experience in nature-based tourism, ecotourism development, and territorial cooperation. She currently works at the Tourism Department of the Barcelona Provincial Council, where she contributes to the design and implementation of sustainable tourism strategies, European cooperation projects, and initiatives supporting destinations in their transition towards more responsible tourism models. Her work focuses on destination management, stakeholder engagement, nature tourism, and the integration of sustainability principles into tourism policies and practices. Karina is particularly interested in fostering collaboration between public administrations, local communities, and tourism stakeholders to create resilient and sustainable destinations

Julia Bonello is a Policy Officer at the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) in Malta, specialising in water policy and resource management. She supports the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and the development of Malta’s River Basin Management Plans, contributing to water efficiency, groundwater protection, and long-term water resilience. She began her career within EWA’s Projects Department, gaining experience in EU-funded initiatives focused on sustainable and circular tourism in the Mediterranean. She worked on Interreg Euro-MED projects such as INCIRCLE and ConsumeLess Plus, promoting circular economy principles, sustainable consumption, and resource efficiency. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Systems and a Master’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Malta, combining environmental knowledge and strategic management skills.

Arnau Bosch is a Tourism Consultant at Daleph, specializing in destination development, tourism strategy, and stakeholder engagement. He holds a degree in International Business Economics from Pompeu Fabra University and a Master’s in Tourism Destination Management from Breda University of Applied Sciences. Throughout his career, Arnau has worked across tourism, hospitality, and learning & development in both national and international contexts, contributing to destination marketing, tourism product development, capacity building, and research-based projects across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. His work brings together public institutions, private sector stakeholders, and local communities. His main areas of interest include regenerative tourism, community-based tourism, cultural heritage, and festivals as drivers of sustainable and resilient territorial development.

Soledad Bravo Letelier is the Manager of Tourism Services at the Barcelona Provincial Council. She holds a Law degree from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and specialized in Family Law at the University of Barcelona. She is a legal expert in gender equality policies, with postgraduate and master’s studies completed at the University of Barcelona. She has worked as a lawyer and in the private sector on projects promoting start-ups with social impact. She also has more than 18 years of experience in public administration management and in the development of public policies in the areas of Gender Equality, Social Services, Commerce, and Tourism.

Experienced EU Project Manager, Strategic Planning Consultant, and Tourism Councillor for the Municipality of Taormina, with over 15 years of expertise in European funding programmes, territorial development, tourism promotion, and multi-stakeholder governance. Currently Head of the Planning Office of GAL Taormina Peloritani, leading LEADER strategy implementation, institutional coordination, and local development initiatives. Skilled in EU project design, project management, communication, and policy support for public authorities, NGOs, and private organizations. International experience gained through collaborations with EU institutions, municipalities, and transnational partnerships across Europe. Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

Georgina Calvo works as Tourism and European Projects officer in the Tourism Department of the Barcelona Provincial Council. She holds degrees in Journalism and Tourism, and a Master’s degree in Business Tourism and Event Management. With more than 12 years of experience in the tourism sector, both in private companies and in regional and local administrations, she is currently in charge of coordinating the Sustainable Tourism Thematic Community of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, as well as other EU-funded projects (NextGeneration EU funds, LIFE Tour4Clima) that promote the sustainable development of tourism in the Mediterranean and in the province of Barcelona.

Nicola Camatti is Associate Professor of Applied Economics at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. His research focuses on tourism business ecosystems, sustainable tourism planning, regional development, and data-driven approaches to destination management. He serves as project manager and scientific coordinator of the TO CARE MED project, which addresses excessive tourism pressure by transferring its Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) assessment tool to Mediterranean destinations. A key innovation of the project is the use of carrying-capacity simulations to support ecotourism development and evidence-based tourism policies.

Dr Guido Capanna Piscè is a scholar in Sociology of Communication, researching the complex communicative dynamics among stakeholders and social groups within tourist destinations. Adjunct Professor and Researcher at the University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Italy, he brings an interdisciplinary approach to the sociological dimensions of tourism communication. He serves as Verifier for the Europarc Federation’s European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, evaluating compliance with sustainability standards, and as Supervisor of the ECST in the Natural Regional Park “Sirente Velino”, examining how communication shapes environmental governance. A registered journalist and European project design specialist, his work bridges academic theory and practical implementation in sustainable tourism.

Claudio Carlone is the Project Coordinator of the ARCHAEODIGIT project for the Municipality of Macerata (Italy). He has extensive experience in the management and coordination of national and transnational EU-funded projects across a wide range of thematic fields and scales. His expertise covers project implementation, administrative and financial management, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. He has also coordinated thematic working groups, peer-review activities, and stakeholder engagement sessions. In addition, he boasts strong expertise in the design and delivery of training and capacity-building activities, as well as in the development of communication and dissemination strategies.

Silvia Maria Carolo is a consultant on EU territorial cooperation with extensive experience in project design, coordination, and applied research in the field of cultural innovation and cultural heritage management. Her area of interest concerns the role of museums and heritage in the priorities of the EU cohesion policy and how cultural resources can serve as strategic elements for different territories and sectors. Over the past decade, she has been supporting research institutions, non-profit associations and innovative SMEs. She is currently the project manager of the Veneto Region for the MED4REGEN Project, and member of the “AIKU” research centre of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice dedicated to the interaction between art, culture and entrepreneurship.

An Engineer with a background in urban and landscape planning, Michele Cera is serving in a High Qualification role at the Puglia Region, Department of Tourism, Economy of Culture and Valorization of Territory, namely in the design, application, and technical management of culture and tourism initiatives funded by the ETC and EU Framework Programmes 2021-2027. Michele Cera expertly handles the technical coordination of complex transnational partnerships, stakeholder management, and the local implementation of project activities. He ensures the strategic integration of sustainable tourism practices, balancing environmental and socio-cultural impacts to foster responsible regional development.

Curzio Cervelli is a Head of Department at the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and serves as Coordinator of the Joint Secretariat for the Interreg Euro-MED programme.

Gianni Chianetta is Founder and Chair of the Greening the Islands Foundation and a leading international expert in sustainability, renewable energy, climate resilience, and island development. With more than 25 years of experience in the energy transition, he has held senior leadership positions in the renewable energy sector, including Chairman and CEO of the Global Solar Council. Through Greening the Islands and other international initiatives, he promotes integrated solutions for islands and remote territories, advancing sustainable tourism, clean energy, circular economy, environmental protection, and community-led development. At present, he is also Board Member and Vice-President of the Global Solar Council and Head of the Secretariat of the Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy and MEDSEC (Mediterean Dialogue for Sustainable Energy and Climate)

Enrico Collini, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Department of Information Engineering (DINFO) at the University of Florence and a member of DISIT Lab. His research focuses primarily on topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Smart Cities with a focus on Tourism data-driven applications and Cultural Heritage.
Enrico Collini participated as a founding member in the creation of the spin-off DAI – Data Analytics Insights, officially recognized as a university spin-off by the University of Florence.

Director of Tourism Sustainability and Transformation at the Catalan Tourist Board. Since 2015, she has led the European Projects, coordinating several EU-funded projects including Hiking Europe, CHARM, TOURBIT, BEFUTURE, Med Pearls, EnjoyPyr, Regenera4MED and Tour4Clima. She is also an active member of NECSTOUR, the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism. With extensive experience in the tourism sector, she holds degrees in Tourism from the University of Girona and the University of Toulouse Le Mirail.

Helena Cvenkel, Director of Research and Development at BSC, Business Support Centre, L.t.d., Kranj, Regional Development Agency of the Gorenjska Region, Slovenia.
She has been active in various fields of regional development for many years. She leads the development of new approaches and solutions, promotes the formation of partnerships and project ideas, manages the preparation and implementation of projects across various fields of regional development, prepares strategic documents, and helps shape strategic directions that lead to balanced, sustainable development of the region. Among her key focus areas is green, sustainable tourism. She is the project manager of MedSkyTour.

Andrea Di Girolamo is a Project Officer at the Secretariat of the Adriatic Ionian Euroregion, a network of regional and local authorities in the Adriatic-Ionian area. He holds a degree in Business and Economics, a Master’s degree in the Management of EU-Funded Projects, and has over 15 years of experience in EU project management. Through his work with the network and his involvement in several EU and Interreg projects, he has gained extensive experience in territorial cooperation and governance initiatives across various thematic fields, particularly within the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-Region and the wider Mediterranean area. He is currently involved in two Interreg Euro-MED governance projects focusing on sustainable tourism and innovative and sustainable economic development.

Director of the European Route of Ceramics since 2018, Benedetta Diamanti serves also as the Director of the Culture, Tourism and International policies Dept. of the Romagna Faentina Union and the Municipality of Faenza, Italy, a city whose name is worldwide connected to ceramics.
Lawyer, with studies in Humanities and Law, she has a long experience in the cultural field as manager for theatre, museums, libraries, ceramics and art exhibitions, and she has been project manager of many European and international projects for the valorization of cultural heritage.
Expert in historical theatres, since 2019 she has been Vice President of Perspective, the reference association for the European Route of Historical Theatres, gathering the best preserved theatres in Europe.

PhD in Marketing and PhD in tourism. Associate professor at ISCTE, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal. Integrated researcher at BRU.

José Antonio Donaire Benito (Salamanca, 1968) holds a PhD in Geography from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and is a tenured professor at the Faculty of Tourism of the University of Girona.
Throughout his academic and university management career, he has served as Director of the Official School of Tourism of the Government of Catalonia, Director of the Higher Institute of Tourism Studies, and Vice-Rector for Communication and Internationalization at the University of Girona.
In the public sphere, he has held the position of Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion and Urban Planning in the city of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, as well as serving as a Member of the Parliament of Catalonia. He is currently the Commissioner for Sustainable Tourism Management of the Barcelona City Council.

Marjan Dumanić is a Senior Expert Advisor at PI RERA S.D. for coordination and development of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. With over two decades of experience in regional development and EU-funded project and financial management, he specializes in the strategic coordination, financial oversight, and implementation of international cooperation projects. Currently involved in the implementation of sustainable and inclusive development initiatives, he leads the Interreg Italy–Croatia project ADRINCLUSIVE and the Interreg Euro-MED project REGENERA4MED. Beyond direct project management, his expertise encompasses stakeholder engagement and the evaluation of project proposals across various EU funding programmes. He holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Zagreb

Currently Coordinator of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme Branch Office for the Western Mediterranean, he took office in 2017 under the ENI CBC MED programme. He has previously been working in other EU programs like INTERACT or the SPAIN-PORTUGAL Cross Border Programme. He has also been the ENI- EURO-MED programmes Liaison officer between 2010 and 2013. Between 2014 and 2017, he was EU and International Projects Manager at the Valenciaport Foundation. He holds 3 master’s degrees: Business Administration, EU Economics and Human Resources.

Veronique Evers is a French geographer specialized in coastal governance. She currently works for PAP/RAC, a regional organization supporting Mediterranean countries in the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, sustainable coastal development and climate resilience initiatives.
Over the years, she has developed extensive professional experience supporting Southern Mediterranean countries in addressing coastal sustainability challenges in coastal and marine areas. She is mainly involved in activities related to governance, capacity-building and the sustainable blue economy. She has contributed to the design and implementation of policy support initiatives and capacity-building activities addressing climate adaptation, marine spatial planning and coastal management

Tim Fairhurst leads ETOA’s advocacy and engagement with policy makers from EU to local, industry partners, and working groups. He is a member of the European Commission’s T4T Together for EU tourism expert group, currently contributing insight on the impact of the Middle East crisis, previously focusing on product and governance themes. He chairs the Tourism Manifesto, a consensus-driven pan-European alliance of over 70 sectoral organisations in support of better European strategy and policy that affect tourism, and the necessary political leadership. Trained as a lawyer and mediator, he worked in tours operations and product development before joining ETOA.

Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Córdoba (Spain).
During the first stage of his professional career, he conducted research on soil and water conservation in irrigated agriculture. For nearly the last three decades, he has been part of the Agricultural and Fisheries Management Agency of Andalusia (Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Government of Andalusia). In this role, he has specialized in agricultural training and advisory services, agro-climatic information, and organic production. Since 2010, he has focused on European Union policies and the implementation of international projects.
He was responsible for the technical coordination of the candidacy for the Málaga Raisins GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, FAO) and currently participates in the development of the action plan for the site’s dynamic conservation.

He is also a member of the Technical Secretariat of the Málaga Raisins GIAHS Association. Recently, he has been an active participant in several EU-funded projects, including:

– “VALSIPAM” (Valorization of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems through sustainable tourism in the SUDOE space, funded by the Interreg SUDOE Programme).
– “MED-GIAHS” (Network of GIAHS sites to promote sustainable agricultural tourism, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme).

Virginia Fernández-Trapa is Programme Coordinator for Climate Action and Circularity at UN Tourism. Based in the Institutional Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy Department, she advances global initiatives on climate action, circular economy and sustainable consumption and production across tourism, fostering tangible changes in policy, business practices and collaboration among public and private stakeholders. Her portfolio includes the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, the Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction in Tourism and Recipe of Change initiative, engaging more than 1,000 organizations through the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme. She also contributes to UN Tourism’s work on ocean action, sustainable food systems and multilateral cooperation.

Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Córdoba (Spain).
During the first stage of his professional career, he conducted research on soil and water conservation in irrigated agriculture. For nearly the last three decades, he has been part of the Agricultural and Fisheries Management Agency of Andalusia (Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Government of Andalusia). In this role, he has specialized in agricultural training and advisory services, agro-climatic information, and organic production. Since 2010, he has focused on European Union policies and the implementation of international projects.
He was responsible for the technical coordination of the candidacy for the Málaga Raisins GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, FAO) and currently participates in the development of the action plan for the site’s dynamic conservation.

He is also a member of the Technical Secretariat of the Málaga Raisins GIAHS Association. Recently, he has been an active participant in several EU-funded projects, including:

– “VALSIPAM” (Valorization of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems through sustainable tourism in the SUDOE space, funded by the Interreg SUDOE Programme).
– “MED-GIAHS” (Network of GIAHS sites to promote sustainable agricultural tourism, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme).

Gian Andrea P. Garancini began his European career at the European Parliament, where he worked from 1994 to 1999. He then served as Coordinator of the EU Italian Regional Offices from 1999 to 2003. Between 2003 and 2008, he worked with the Italian Government as part of the EU State Secretary’s office for Regional Affairs. From 2014 to 2019, Garancini held the position of Deputy Mayor for Tourism for the City of Heraklion, in Crete. In addition to his public sector roles, he is active as an EU ICC Tourism and Entrepreneurship Expert, as well as an EU grant and project manager. He also serves as Secretary General of the “3win Action,” an initiative connected to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and works as an External Relations Associate with the ENA Institute.

Jordi Garreta is Head of the Tourism and External Promotion Department at Terrassa City Council and Director of the Industrial Tourism Network of Catalonia. He holds a degree in Contemporary History and a postgraduate qualification in Cultural Management and Policies. Over the past two years, he has coordinated the participation of Terrassa City Council as a partner in the Libeccio project, as well as that of the Network in the SMITour project, focused on the development of industrial tourism in the Mediterranean.

Said Gedeon is Deputy General Manager and Head of Services and Agricultural Development Department at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahle – Bekaa in LEBANON. His job is mainly focused on the Management and Coordination of Development Projects funded by international donors aiming to support the local economy in the Bekaa Valley. He is also Lecturer at the faculty of Agricultural Engineering at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. Founding member of the Agrifood KIC (Knowledge Innovation communities) launched by Berytech under Lebanon Innovate Program aiming to elevate Lebanon’s position in science, technology, and innovation

Boris Golob, CEO of STEP RI Science and Technology Park of University of Rijeka, Croatia, an expert in product, service, and business model innovation, with over two decades of experience as a business consultant and lecturer, has been actively engaged with start-ups, companies, and scientists.

Denis Grasso, PhD,is a Project Manager at the Institute for Transport and Logistics (ITL, Italy), a non-profit organization supporting the development and promotion of logistics and transport systems in the Emilia-Romagna Region through research, consultancy, and training activities. He has worked on several EU and national projects focusing on sustainable mobility, integrated transport services, urban logistics, mobility poverty, and cycle tourism.
He currently coordinates the PortCREW Project (Interreg MED), which aims to promote smart and sustainable ecotourism in Mediterranean cruise ports by increasing the tourism value of natural areas and lesser-known inland events. The project develops a digital platform to support port managers and public authorities in creating local and sustainable tourism packages, enhancing the connection between cruise activities and the territories that host them.

Jordi Hereu Boher has served as Spain’s Minister of Industry and Tourism since November 2023.
He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Higher School of Business Administration and Management (ESADE/UPC) and an MBA from ESADE.
Before joining the Government, Jordi Hereu was President of Hispasat and Idencity Consulting. He also served as a member of the board of trustees of the Fòrum Ambiental Foundation and as an advisor to BCL Barcelona Centro Logístico.
Between 2006 and 2011, Hereu was Mayor of Barcelona, Concejal Presidente del Área de Seguridad y Movilidad, Regidor del Distrito de Sant Andreu, Regidor del Distrito de Les Corts y Gerente del Distrito de les Corts.

Cristina Lagé Manich is General Director for Tourism of the Government of Catalonia. With a background in Marketing, Public Relations, Business Management and Hispanic Philology, she has held senior responsibilities in local government, leading policies on diversity, inclusion, education, youth and sustainable tourism. She has played a key role in advancing a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable tourism model and has also been recognised for her contribution to the promotion of Catalan culture and intercultural dialogue. 

Marianne Lang – Independent consultant specialising in marine conservation, sustainable development and international cooperation. With more than 15 years of experience, including within MedPAN, the network of Marine Protected Area managers in the Mediterranean, I have coordinated regional cooperation projects and capacity-building initiatives involving stakeholders from across the region.
My work focuses on protected area management and sustainable tourism, with a particular interest in developing and transferring practical solutions to support sustainability and resilience across the Mediterranean region.

Flora Leroy holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, with a specialization in cross-border cooperation, from the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) of Strasbourg. She has collaborated with universities on territorial cooperation initiatives and worked for the Intermediterranean Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR-IMC) as a Project and Policy Officer for six years. In this role, she was responsible for the CPMR-IMC’s participation in Interreg MED and Horizon 2020 programmes, coordinating communication and capitalization activities.
She also contributed to policy–project linkages through her involvement in CPMR-IMC Working Groups and Task Forces, including those focused on Sustainable Cultural and Maritime Tourism, AGRIMED, and Energy Renovation in Mediterranean buildings. Since January 2023, she has been CPMR Senior EU Programmes Officer, supporting the CPMR’s European project strategy while continuing to coordinate CPMR-IMC projects (EMFAF, Interreg Euro-MED) and Task Forces on sustainable tourism and energy renovation.
In addition, Mrs. Leroy teaches courses on “EU Project Management” within the Master in European and International Studies of the Aix-Marseille University.

Margherita Maniscalco is a development cooperation specialist with nearly 20 years of experience in development education, social inclusion, human rights, and the protection and valorisation of cultural and natural heritage. She has coordinated EU‑funded programmes in Sub‑Saharan Africa, the Middle East, the Western Balkans and Italy, including initiatives on sustainable water management, climate‑resilient agriculture, environmental education and UNESCO landscape preservation. She holds a Master’s in Development Cooperation Sciences and authored a Bachelor’s thesis on “Water and International Cooperation: Between Commodity and Law”. She currently supports the coordination of the SUBLIME SDGs project, empowering border and island authorities as ambassadors of sustainability.

Mark Mansoldo is a specialist in biodiversity, ecological restoration, and nature-based solutions. His work focuses on developing and implementing context-specific interventions that enhance biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and promote multifunctional landscapes while fostering stronger connections between people and nature. He has extensive experience in biodiversity monitoring across temperate and tropical ecosystems, with expertise in botany and restoration ecology. He also explores sustainability in island contexts, examining how to integrate tourism development with ecosystem regeneration. Mark contributes to several EU-funded projects on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions, helping bridge science, policy, and practice.

Ioannis Mardikis is an Environmental Sustainability Specialist at the Department of Technical Cooperation (EPLO). He is Project Manager of Interreg MED projects Dialogue4Tourism, HERIT ADAPT, and CO2 PACMAN, and Technical Manager in Horizon Europe projects including DesirMED, REBOAT, GREENHOOD, GRACE, and INBLANC. He has 15 years of experience in projects such as MED Green Growth Community, EnerNETMob, Blue Fasma, Blue Deal, and others. He serves as advisor on Circular Economy for the ReBrain Greece initiative. His work includes biomass valorisation projects, waste management studies, and coordination of major EU circular economy events. He holds a background in Biology with experience in marketing and business management.

Izidora Marković Vukadin is a Senior Scientific Associate at the Institute for Tourism, with over 15 years of experience in project management within the Institute. She obtained her PhD from the Department of Geography at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. Her expertise encompasses the development of strategic documents for regional and local destinations, spatial analysis, as well as the design and monitoring of sustainability indicators. She leads the CROSTO Observatory, part of the UN Tourism (UNWTO) INSTO network, which focuses on monitoring environmental indicators in tourism. She also coordinates the NaTour4CChange project, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, aimed at developing nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation in coastal destinations. As Head of Environmental Accounts, she is responsible for the development of the Tourism Satellite Sustainability Accounts (TSSA) system for Croatia, funded by the EU NextGenerationEU instrument. Izidora is the editor of two conference proceedings and two scientific books, and the author of more than 30 scientific papers, primarily addressing protected area management, climate change in tourism, and the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources in tourism. She currently leads the scientific project Commitment, which examines the effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures in tourism, as well as the Pact_ViRa project, focused on developing indices of tourism vulnerability and resilience in protected areas.

Marianne Martin is Head of the Projects Unit at AVITEM, a French public organisation based in Marseille and dedicated to territorial cooperation across the Mediterranean. She leads a team of five project officers and coordinates several European and Mediterranean initiatives focusing on coastal risk management, climate change adaptation, circular economy, agroecology and sustainable tourism. Holding a Master’s degree in Political Science, she works through AVITEM to support local authorities and institutional stakeholders in the design and implementation of innovative projects that foster resilience and sustainable development across the Mediterranean region.

Claudio Milano is a social anthropologist and economist specialising in the political economy of tourism, urban transformation, and labour dynamics in tourism destinations. He is a Ramón y Cajal Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Barcelona, where he is affiliated with the Research Group on the Anthropology of Contemporary Crises and Transformations (CRITS). He serves as President of the Observatory for the Anthropology of Urban Conflict (OACU) and Co-Chair of the Commission on the Anthropology of Tourism of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES). As Principal Investigator, he currently leads two major research projects. The first commissioned by UN Tourism on urban transformation and digital nomads in Medellín (Colombia), and the second is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities on labour regimes in Mediterranean tourism destinations. His applied research track record includes contributions to the European Parliament’s study “Overtourism: Impacts and Possible Policy Responses” (TRAN Committee) and advisory work for the European Capital of Smart Tourism and European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Awards (European Commission). He has provided strategic advice to institutions including the Asian Development Bank and Rotterdam Parterns and has been invited as keynote speaker by the European Parliament, municipal governments, and international organisations across multiple countries. His expertise sits at the intersection of academic research and policy-relevant knowledge, examining how touristification processes reshape cities and territories, and how communities, social movements, policies and institutions respond. His work is published in leading international journals and with major academic publishers, and is available in English, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, and Italian.

Ivana Miño is an actress, presenter and event host with extensive experience leading institutional, corporate, scientific, tourism and cultural events.
Holding a degree in Biology, she combines strong communication skills with a solid understanding of technical and specialised subjects, allowing her to engage comfortably with audiences ranging from public institutions and scientific communities to business leaders and international stakeholders. Fluent in Catalan, Spanish, French and English, she regularly hosts multilingual events and international conferences.
Throughout her career, Ivana has presented congresses, award ceremonies, corporate conventions, tourism summits, institutional events and large-scale public celebrations for leading organisations, companies and public administrations.
Her most notable engagements include hosting the presentation of the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer and the groundbreaking ceremony for Grifols’ new production facility, both attended by the Prime Minister of Spain; the biennial congresses of the Catalan Federation of Campsites; the PIMEC Business Awards; the Subtravelling Awards organised by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB); the World Tourism Awards; the Terres Travel Festival; events for the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona); and the annual gathering of the Barcelona Port Ship Agents Association.
Tourism has become one of the areas in which she has developed the strongest professional profile. Over the years, she has collaborated extensively with the Catalan Tourism Board (Agència Catalana de Turisme), hosting numerous tourism-related events, workshops, destination presentations, industry meetings and professional conferences aimed at promoting Catalonia and its territories in national and international markets.
She was also the presenter of Catalunya Experience, the international television programme produced by the Catalan Tourism Board and broadcast worldwide, showcasing Catalonia’s landscapes, culture, gastronomy and tourism experiences to global audiences.

With 20 years’ experience in sustainable development, gained working in more than ten different countries, Mr. Miraglia has a strong expertise in advocacy and capitalisation strategies. He focuses on mainstreaming Circular Economy in the Mediterranean via networking and local ecosystem building, developing impact communication and partnership tools to increase awareness and policy uptake of international best practices.

David Mora is a consultant and educator in tourism with over thirty years of experience. He excels in experience design and destination management. Since 2018, he has driven circular economy and sustainability projects in the sector. He collaborates internationally as a member of the UN Tourism panel of experts, Best Tourism Villages evaluator, Wine Routes auditor and IGCAT network expert. As an advisor, he promotes authentic tourism models that enhance cultural identity and territorial heritage, positioning gastronomy as a strategic pillar for sustainable development. He coordinates culinary tourism training programmes at Basque Culinary Center and authored academic papers on heritage management, gastronomy, and circular economy.

Pablo Morales is International Projects Coordinator at the Seville Chamber of Commerce, with experience in over 100 projects across multiple frameworks, collaborating with partners in more than 50 countries. He has led initiatives focused on sustainable development and innovation. Pablo served as project leader of MedDiet Go, promoting the Mediterranean Diet as a resource for sustainable tourism within the Interreg Euro-Med Programme. He has strong expertise in project design, management, and transnational cooperation, contributing to impactful strategies for sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean.

Lluïsa Moret has served as Mayor of Sant Boi de Llobregat since May 2014 and, since July 2023, as President of the Barcelona Provincial Council. Since March 2024, she has also been First Deputy Secretary of the Socialists’ Party of Catalonia.
A social psychologist by training, she holds a Master’s degree in Social Research Techniques and a Master’s degree in Gender Policies. Her career spans both the public and private sectors, with extensive experience in designing and implementing strategic programmes and socio-educational services. She has held senior leadership positions in public administration, specialising in transversal life-cycle and gender policies. Moret previously led Transversal Programmes and Technical Support at Sant Boi City Council, served as Deputy Mayor for Welfare and Citizenship, and was Delegate President for Equality and Social Sustainability at the Barcelona Provincial Council (2019–2023). She is also co-author of the book Transversality as a Driver of Improvement in Public Administration (2006).

Matilda Naço is a member of the academic staff in the Department of Marketing–Tourism, Faculty of Economy, University of Tirana, where she is also pursuing her PhD in Tourism Management and Marketing. She holds an MSc in Tourism Management and Marketing from Bournemouth University (UK). She has extensive experience in national and European research projects, specializing in smart and sustainable tourism, destination development, tourism policy and governance, and integrated coastal zone management. She currently contributes to European research through her participation in Interreg Euro-MED Community4Tourism and collaborates with key national bodies in the field. Her research focuses on smart destination management, sustainable tourism policies, and destination development, bridging governance with policy and practice.

Fernando Nardi, water scientist with a PhD in hydrology, is Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy). He also serves as Visiting Professor at the Institute of Environment of Florida International University (FIU) and is a member of the FIU UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Security in Miami.
His recent work focuses on transdisciplinary projects that create synergies between engineering, earth sciences, social sciences and humanities. He develops citizen-centred technological, policy and behavioural solutions through living labs, stakeholder engagement, citizen science and Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus approaches.
As coordinator of the PRIMA NEXUS-NESS project (2021–2025), Prof. Nardi is currently leading the strategy and scientific methods for water scarcity and sustainable tourism living labs within the AQUAMAN project. 

Sandra Navarro is an Associate Lecturer in the Tourism Degree Programme at the University of Alicante and a consultant specialising in tourism destination planning and management. Her research has focused on smart tourism, destination governance and visitor behaviour, and she has participated in several European and national projects, including SMARTDEST, Smart Tourism Planning and the SIKAT International Training Programme. Her doctoral research analysed the intradestination behaviour of cruise passengers in Valencia and its implications for destination management.
She combines her academic work with consultancy activities and has over five years of experience supporting local, regional and national public administrations, as well as tourism organisations, in the design and implementation of strategic initiatives related to Smart Tourism Destinations, sustainable tourism and destination governance.

Demetra Palaonda is Director of the Department of European Affairs & Programmes at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI). Holding an MBA and a BSc in Marketing, she has more than 30 years of experience in European affairs, SME support and EU-funded project management. Since joining CCCI in 1996, she has led numerous transnational initiatives in entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainable development, tourism and Mediterranean cooperation. She currently oversees the Chamber’s European project portfolio and leads project development, consortium building and implementation. As Coordinator of the MedBEESinessHubs and PLANBEE projects, she promotes the Bee Economy and Apitourism as tools for sustainable tourism, biodiversity protection, community empowerment and local development.

Dr. Theodora Papatheochari is Assistant Professor of Spatial Planning and Territorial Development at the Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Greece. She has extensive experience in national and European research projects, specializing in sustainable tourism, integrated coastal zone management, maritime spatial planning, and the blue and circular economy. She currently contributes to European research through her participation in projects, such as Interreg Euro-MED Community4Tourism, Interreg Euro-MED RECICLE MED, and Horizon Europe CIRCUIT. Her research and publications focus on tourism planning, sustainable tourism policies, and the assessment and development of sustainable destinations.

Pau Pitarch De Dalmases is a strategic consultant specialized in sustainable tourism, destination planning, and international tourism development projects. As co-founder and partner of PAX# Genuine Tourism Advisors, he has over 20 years of experience advising companies, institutions, and destinations on sustainability, competitiveness, tourism governance, product development, and strategic planning. He has led projects across Europe and Latin America, combining consultancy work with teaching at universities and business schools. He is also an EarthCheck Ambassador, a leading international benchmark in tourism certification and sustainability, reinforcing his commitment to responsible, innovative, and positive-impact tourism development.

Alessandra Priante is the President of ENIT SpA (the Italian Tourism Board), where she designs strategy and represents the company internationally. An economist with extensive diplomatic experience, she was the first woman and Italian to serve as Director for Europe at UN Tourism. In that role, she managed 51% of the global tourism market and led the sector through the pandemic crisis with initiatives like the Global Tourism Crisis Committee.
A Bocconi graduate with an MBA from Luiss, she speaks six languages and has previously served as a special government envoy in the Persian Gulf. Currently an associate professor and researcher at Luiss, she is also a member of the European Film Academy and Co-Chair of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance Europe Advisory Board (2026–2030).

Lucía Prieto Fustes works in the Ecosystem Resilience and Spatial Planning Programme at the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN Med), based in Málaga, Spain. She helps coordinate a portfolio of projects related to sustainable tourism, technology and protected areas. She is also part of the MEET Network Secretariat, an association that promotes ecotourism in Mediterranean protected areas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Salamanca, and a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management and Planning from the University of Málaga.

Marta Raspall Muntañola is a senior professional specializing in innovation ecosystems, international relations, and strategic event development. With extensive experience in designing and managing high-impact international platforms, she has contributed to the growth of initiatives that bring together governments, businesses, academia, investors, and civil society. She is actively involved in the development of Sun&Blue Congress, a leading European platform focused on sustainable tourism and the blue economy. Her expertise lies in fostering public-private collaboration, building strategic partnerships, and creating environments that drive innovation, sustainability, and long-term economic development.

Josep Rodríguez is the Head of Strategic Projects at the Tourism Department of Barcelona Provincial Council. Engineer, degree in Humanities and postgraduate degree in Tourism Destinations Management. More than 30 years of experience in the management of European and international projects, for the past ten years focused on the tourism sector. Coordinator of the Euro-MED Sustainable Tourism Community, an initiative bringing together several projects dealing with sustainability of the tourism in the Mediterranean in fields like innovation & new technologies, circular economy, climate change and biodiversity & natural resources protection. He is also responsible for the Climate Action Plan on Tourism in the Barcelona Provincial Council.

Miquel Rovira holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and has dedicated his entire professional career to applied research in environmental technologies aimed at advancing the circular economy, climate resilience, and zero-pollution objectives. He is currently the Sustainability Director at Eurecat – Technology Centre of Catalonia and serves on the boards of several organizations, including Water Reuse Europe, the Catalan Water Partnership, the Catalan Bioenergy Cluster, and Aigües de Manresa S.A. He has co-authored more than 120 publications, including 70 papers in SCI-indexed journals, and has supervised five Ph.D. theses.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in information sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and specializes in European project management and partnership coordination. Currently, she is involved at the Interreg Euro-MED Dialogue4Tourism and AQUAMAN projects of the Sustainable Tourism Mission, both led by El legado andalusí as Lead Partner.
Her contribution to the AQUAMAN project draws on her background in Mediterranean environmental sustainability applied to tourism. She has recently provided editorial support for the Interreg Euro-MED White Papers on Climate Adaptation and islands as hubs for climate resilience, both of D4T Project. She has been actively involved in the editorial support of the AQUAMAN Project’s “Blue Horizons” catalogue by the National Technical University of Athens, combining strategic policy recommendations with water management solutions for Mediterranean coastal areas and islands.

Director of UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union – since 2008.  He started working at UNIMED in 1998 as a project manager and moved gradually to the coordination of UNIMED’s initiatives and projects. He has extensive experience in managing and monitoring international projects. UNIMED is currently a network of more than 180 universities from more than 20 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region, with 13 thematic SubNetworks involving more than 400 researchers, around 30 funded projects, 20 staff members and several institutional partnerships with important international organisations. Nowadays, UNIMED is a permanent stakeholder of the European Commission and the Union for the Mediterranean. From November 2024, UNIMED is an Observer for the Dialogue 5+5, the Western Mediterranean Forum on Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Andreea Staicu is acting head of the tourism unit in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission. Andreea is a lawyer, specialised in EU law and policies.

Emilia Stoduto has been working in UNIMED since 2013 and, currently, as a Communications Manager. She holds a Master in Media and Lobbying in International and European Relations at SIOI – Italian Society for International Organization and a Master Degree in Modern Languages for International Communication at Roma Tre University.
In UNIMED, Emilia has worked as project and communication officer and is now in charge of the coordination of the communication activities, preparing and supervising the communication strategies and plans of UNIMED institutional activities and of some projects.
She has worked since 2016 in particular for the communication management on projects funded by the Interreg MED, currently Interreg Euro-MED, programme, some CBHE and Horizon2020.

Adriana Tramullas is Project Manager at NECSTouR, the European network for sustainable and competitive tourism, based in Brussels. She works on cooperation projects focused on climate action, including initiatives such as NECSTouR’s Climate Hub and EU‑funded projects, supporting regions and destinations to accelerate their climate transition.
With a background in tourism and destination management and experience in large‑scale events and project management, she facilitates network activities and exchange to support knowledge sharing across European destinations.

Guido Vettorel is a public sector professional with over 18 years of experience in port governance, promotion, and EU-funded projects. He supports strategic development initiatives for the ports of Ancona, Ortona, Pescara, Vasto, Pesaro, Falconara Marittima, and San Benedetto del Tronto. His work focuses on innovation, digitalisation of port procedures and logistics flows, communication, and international promotion. He is involved in projects aimed at strengthening port-city relations, maritime tourism, digital transformation, cybersecurity, sustainability, and the competitiveness of the maritime and logistics sectors. He regularly contributes to European cooperation initiatives and stakeholder engagement activities in the maritime and logistics sectors.

Dr Julie Wilson is Associate Dean for Research and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), where she is also co-PI of the New Perspectives on Tourism and Leisure (NOUTUR) Research Group, part of the UOC’s Centre for Digital Transformation and Governance (UOC-DIGIT). She has received the Roy Wolfe (2019) and John Rooney (2022) Awards from the American Association of Geographers (AAG) and was formerly Chair of the Tourism, Leisure and Global Change Commission of the International Geographical Union. Her research interests focus on tourism impacts, sustainability transitions and the socio-spatial transformation of urban/rural landscapes through tourism.