SPEAKERS
Jane MORRICE, vice-president for Communication, EESC
Born in Belfast, Jane Morrice has worked in many challenging fields throughout her career. Former
Deputy Speaker of the first Northern Ireland Assembly set up after the Peace Agreement, former
Head of the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland and former reporter for BBC Belfast,
Jane is currently Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Equality Commission. A
journalist by profession, her career began in the Brussels press agency European Report
(Europolitique) specialising in EU/Third World Relations. In 1987, she joined BBC Belfast as a
reporter where her work included covering the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland. In 1992 she was
appointed Head of the EC Office in Northern Ireland. This was during the time of the ceasefires and
she became a member of the Delors Task Force which established the first EU Peace Programme. It
was this work on peacebuilding that eventually led her into politics. She helped set up a new political
party– the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition – was elected to the new Northern Ireland Assembly
and became Deputy Speaker in 2000. Her work involved the implementation of the Peace Agreement
and chairing often heated and demanding sessions of the Assembly. Jane was appointed to the
EESC in 2006. She is a member of the TEN and SOC sections and the Communication Group. Given her career, she has focused on areas where she has
specialized knowledge and has been Rapporteur on two ‘Own Initiative Opinions’ on the role of the EU in Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland and beyond. In 2008
she was appointed to the Northern Ireland Equality Commission and is currently serving her second term. A fluent French speaker, Jane lives near Belfast and her
interests include photography, travel and music.
Władysław Piskorz, Head of Unit H1, DG REGIO, European Commission
Working since November 2006 in the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission. Currently
head of Unit H1 Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development. He has the lead role in the preparation of the "Cities
of Tomorrow" report. Between 1998 and 2006 at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European
Union - senior staff member, minister counsellor, head of Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Poland’s spokesperson for
the Special Committee on Agriculture. Actively involved on the Polish side in accession negotiations to the EU. Between
1993 and 1998 established and managed the Agricultural Policy Analysis Unit in Warsaw, a very successful think tank. In
1998, for one year, served as deputy secretary of state responsible for coordination of foreign financial aid for Poland in
the Office of the Committee for European Integration. Between 1979 and 1992 researcher and assistant professor at
Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Economics. Holds a PhD degree.
EN
Ing. et Bc. Roman Haken, rapporteur on CLLD, EESC
After the 1989 revolution, he worked at Czechoslovakia's Federal Ministry of the Environment, followed by
Strana zelených (Green political party). During the years 1990-1991, he was president of environmental
NGO Hnutí Brontosaurus ČR (Brontosaurus movement). In 1999, he became a member of the Czech
Government Council for NGOs; he was also a vice-chairman (2002) and later chairman (2007-2012) of its
regional cooperation committee. In his current job as Director of Centrum pro komunitní práci střední
Morava (Centre for Community Organising of Central Moravia), he is primarily responsible for putting
forward and delivering programmes promoting citizen involvement in the development of local
municipalities, facilitation and negotiations as well as training for NGOs and municipalities on EU regional
policy.
Member of specialist associations: member of Olomoucke regional authority's committee for strategic and
regional development and external relations (2001-2008). Member of the Central and Eastern European
itizens Network (CEE CN), which focuses on citizen participation in decision-making processes (since 2002). Member of the SFteam for sustainable future which
promotes the involvement of NGOs in the preparation of EU programming documents at national level and their monitoring (since 2003). Member of the European
Economic and Social Committee since 2006, and a member of the EESC Bureau in Brussels from 2008 to 2011.
"I consider Community Led Local Development to be one of the best methods I have ever come across. As well as helping improve people's quality of life through
small-scale projects, it teaches people how to work together and develop long-term relations among local people."
Ioannis Kovanis, Managing Authority of Greek Rural Development Programme
Education:
BSc in Agriculture Science, Agriculture University of Athens (1990-1995), Athens, Greece;
MSc in Environmental Pollution Control, Brunel University (1998-1999), Uxbridge, UK;
MSc in Integrated Rural Development & Management of Rural Space, Agriculture University of Athens
(2004-2005), Athens, Greece
Work experience (relevant):
2004-present: Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development & Food, Managing Authority of Greek Rural
Development Programme;
2013-present: Unit A, Programming and Evaluation; 2007-2013: Unit C, Audit
2004-2007: Unit B, Managing & Monitoring
2001-2004: Elikonas – Parnassos Rural Development Agency SA
Membership of professional bodies: Member of PRCert Hellas, Member of National Organisation for the
Certification of Qualifications & Vocational Guidance,
Member of Geotechnical Chamber of Greece, Official consultant for young farmers and investments of farm
holdings
Jane Howells, Policy & Strategy Advisor, PLANED
Jane is currently the Policy & Strategy Advisor for Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development (PLANED) having previously been its
Chief Executive Officer. PLANED is based in Pembrokeshire, Wales and is a community-led partnership that
has been in existence for almost 30 years. It is regarded as the most established Community Led Local
Development organisation in Wales. The organisation was a successful LEADER1, LEADER 2 and LEADER+
group and is currently the Local Action Group for the delivery of Axis 4 of the current Rural Development Plan
for Wales. Jane has been involved in the development and delivery of LEADER and has a strong practical
understanding both of the operational structures required to make it effective and the support required to
develop appropriate community led area based local development strategies that achieve consensus on
priorities. She has over 20 years’ experience of working in rural policy in the area of CAP reform, scheme
delivery and partnerships with many organisations throughout Wales and the EU. Of late, she has provided
input to the Task Force overseeing the 2014-2020 Programme for Rural Initiatives, chaired by the Sustainable
Development Commissioner for Wales, and has previously been involved in the development of the Farming
2020 Strategy. PLANED’s representative at ELARD and an active member of the ENRD CLLD cluster network,
she is also a member of Forum Synergies which aims to link sustainable practices throughout Europe. Her main
areas of interest are local economic development, policy and practice and she has a BSc (Hons) Degree in
Social Science and a Post Graduate Certificate in European Rural Development.
"PLANED believes that "an enterprising community can help to build a better future. Developing local resources
can strengthen the local economy. The greatest resource of any area is its people, their skills, knowledge,
enthusiasm and commitment."
Radim Sršeň (Ing., Ph.D.), president of the European LEADER Association for
Rural Development (ELARD).
Mr Sršeň graduated from the University of Economics in Prague, Faculty of International Relations. From 2009 he
has worked at the university as a teacher / researcher and as a lecturer after successful completion of his PhD
degree (in 2011). In 2007, he became a manager of the Local Action Group Šumperský venkov (Šumperk country)
and became an ELARD representative. In 2010, he was elected a mayor of Dolní Studénky municipality and from
2013 he has worked as a vice-chairman of the Czech Association of Local Municipalities and a vice-president of
ELARD. Mr Sršeň was appointed a president of this association at the beginning of this year.
Mr Sršeň has actively taken part in prominent professional conferences worldwide. He has worked closely with EU
institutions, members of the European Parliament, UN and the CR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Simultaneously, he
has been focusing on international policy issues and European integration.
Karolina Jasinska-Mühleck, Policy Officer, DG AGRI, European Commission
Started her career in the early 2000s as assistant to the pre-accession advisor in the fields of common organisation of agricultural
markets and rural development at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture in
Poland. From 2004 to 2007, information officer at the Contact Point of the LEADER+ Observatory in Brussels. After becoming an
official at the European Commission, joined DG Agriculture and Rural Development in 2010, initially in charge of co-ordination of
rural development policy with regional development policy and subsequently of other ESI funds. Since 2014, coordinator of
LEADER/CLLD in the Consistency of Rural Development Unit.
Jean-Pierre Vercruysse, Senior Policy Officer, DG MARE A3, European Commission
Jean Pierre trained as a journalist. His commitment to development led him to far away countries early in his career. This allowed
him to practice and to support community-led local development, first in the field and later from coordination structures, before the
term was even invented. He is now a Policy Officer within the unit which deals with the coordination of the structural component of
the common fisheries and integrated maritime policies of the EU. His rich experience and profound knowledge of the mechanisms
involved in supporting this approach to development is proving extremely valuable to those who are or are going to be involved in
implementing CLLD in fisheries areas, whether rural or urban.
Aleksandra Klimczuk, director of the Słowińska Fishery Group (Baltic Sea coast)
Aleksandra Klimczuk is an economist, specialising in project management and strategic planning. Since 2003, she has
been the author and coordinator of various types of investment and social projects. A trainer and coach with 10 years of
experience, she has worked with business, non-governmental organisations and the public sector (international trainer
certificate in the field of training, learning and development issued by Edexcel and BTEC Professional Qualifications (Great
Britain), Erickson Professional Coach international certificate (Canada)). Since 2007, she has been involved in work for the
third sector. She supports NGOs to develop and acquire sources of financing, coordinates informal groups and cooperates
with partners on local development. She is a member of the Trina Papisten association, which is active on behalf of
women. Since 2010, she has been director of the Słowińska Fishery Group (SFG), responsible for office management,
overseeing implementation of the local strategy for development of fisheries areas, initiating projects linked to the activities
and development of SFG, organising calls for proposals and cooperating with oversight bodies at regional and national
level. She has also been involved in the setting up and operation of the regional network of local fisheries groups in
Pomerania - Maszoperia - and the Polish national network - the Konwent Polskich Lokalnych Grup Rybackich. She is always passionate about motivating and
supporting people in the field of development. She also reads crime novels and is mother to five-year old Michał.
"I believe in the talent and potential of people and in the possibilities generated by change. For this reason, I am passionate about CLLD every single day."
Lotta Johansson, Stockholm region chair, Hela Sverige ska leva (All Sweden shall
live).
Hela Sverige ska leva (HSSL) is a national association consisting of approx. 5 000 village action groups and 45 member
organisations – many of these are large national NGOs. There are 24 county networks, which work with information and
advisory services at county level. These county councils are formed by the local action groups of the county. The
organisation also belongs to several rural and local development networks in Europe and was the initiator of the first
European Rural Parliament in Brussels in November 2013. Lotta Johansson is a journalist and became involved and started
to work in local democratic development and supporting structures for NGOs in 2003. HSSL Stockholm launched the
Stockholm Compact and is also involved, through the national umbrella organisation, in work with the Compacts
(Överenskommelserna) in the spheres of social affairs and integration, where we represent HSSL as members of the joint
group of civil society and government representatives. Ms Johansson has been vice-chair of the group during 2014. Lotta
Johansson is also a member of the Leader local action group Uross, one of two Leader groups in the Stockholm region that
are currently involved in drawing up the new regional strategy for the period 2014-2020.
Michael Bowe, Chief Executive, Tolka Area Partnership (since 1991)
Prior to joining the NGO sector in 1991, Michael worked for 15 years in the private sector with an
international engineering company involved in major turnkey management projects and also in a selfemployed capacity setting up a number of profitable enterprises in the food, retail and motor sectors in
Ireland. Tolka Area Partnership (formerly Finglas Partnership) is one of 12 companies (currently 51)
established by the Irish government in 1991 under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
These original 12 companies had a special remit to tackle long-term unemployment in particular localities
in Ireland. Michael chaired the national network of the 51 partnership companies for four years and
currently represents the network in discussions with representatives of the Irish government in a number
of employment and enterprise fora. He:
 has a valuable understanding of the voluntary, private and statutory sectors in Ireland;
 has been directly involved, since the outset, in tackling local social and economic disadvantage
within an Urban Partnership model;
 has an extensive management background and experience in the drafting and successful implementation of Strategic and Area Based Integrated Action
Plans.
Merja Haapakka, Policy Officer, DG REGIO, European Commission
Currently policy officer at the Regional and Urban Policy Directorate-General of the EU Commission, in the department responsible for the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF). Currently works in the Competence Centre for Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development.
Further info: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.cfm ; http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/activity/urban/index_en.cfm
Marie-Anne PARASKEVAS, Senior Policy Expert, DG EMPL, European Commission
Ms PARASKEVAS comes from Greece. She studied Law and Political Sciences at the Athens University. After a postgraduate
course on European Law at the College of Europe in Bruges, she joined the Legal Service of the European Commission in 1980.
Since 1995, Marie-Anne has been working in the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, firstly on
gender equality issues and as from 2004 on issues relating to social inclusion and the fight against poverty. In September 2011,
she took up the coordination of the team working on the transnational dimension of the European Social Fund. As from January
2013, she has been also in charge of other files which include the horizontal principles of the ESI Funds, in particular the
European Conduct on Partnership; social innovation; territorial cooperation; social inclusion.
Julien Navier, Foundation Relations Officer, Division of External Relations,
UNHCR
Building on a long history of engagement with philanthropic institutions and continuous dialogue, Julien
Navier has been developing multi-year partnerships with international foundations to provide life-saving
assistance to refugees and raise awareness on key issues such as the protection of their rights, the need for
an asylum space and the search for sustainable solutions. Julien Navier brings over 10 years of track record
in generating philanthropic engagement from international institutions, foundations and the financial private
sector, with an expertise in strategic resource mobilisation, especially in the field of development education
and livelihoods programmes. Julien joined the United Nations Refugees Agency in Geneva from a London
based private international fundraising and consulting organisation where, as a Managing Director, he
worked with stakeholders on the key topics of international education and social development sectors.
Prior to this he worked as an Adviser to the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and
Research in Paris on the subject of cross-cultural collaboration between France and African emerging
countries. Julien holds a Master degree in social and political sciences from Paris La Sorbonne and is
currently completing a PhD in Diplomacy and International Relations.
Cllr Graham Garvie, Rapporteur on CLLD, Committee of the Regions
Cllr Graham Garvie is the Convenor, or civil leader, of Scottish Borders Council, where he has been a councillor since
2003. Cllr Garvie is also President of the Scottish Provosts` Association From that same year Cllr Garvie has
represented Scotland at the EU Committee of the Regions where he was the rapporteur on Community-Led Local
Development, the first ever occasion that the new CLLD proposal was subject to detailed political scrutiny and whose
recommendations contributed to the legislative negotiations on the EU Regulations and the subsequent EU guidance
to set up CLLD. Previously, Cllr Garvie was chief executive of Tweeddale District Council, chairman of the Culture
committee at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, governor of Edinburgh Napier University and lecturer in
public sector management at Edinburgh University. He was also an elections expert of the UK Foreign Office and the
OSCE throughout the Balkans. Cllr Garvie has been married to Christine for 45 years –has two grown up daughters
and 5 grandchildren.
Joost P. van Iersel, President of the ECO section, EESC
Joost P. van Iersel began his professional career in 1967 as a civil servant in the Dutch
Ministry of Economic Affairs. Subsequently he was general secretary of a Dutch
employers' association. From 1979 until 1994 Mr van Iersel was a Member of Parliament
(Christian Democrats), where he focused on trade and industry and EC matters, and also
served as president of the Dutch European Movement. From 1992 until 2002 he was
chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of The Hague, where he took a particular interest
in regional infrastructure and spatial development in the Randstad (the densely populated
region in the west of the country). Mr van Iersel has served on the supervisory board of
several companies and social organisations. He has been a member of the European
Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since 2002. From 2006 until 2010 he chaired the
EESC Consultative Committee on Industrial Change. He subsequently chaired the EESC
steering committee on Europe 2020. Since April 2013 Mr van Iersel has chaired the
EESC's Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion.
His main areas of interest as a rapporteur on the EESC are industrial and sector policies,
(European) metropolitan areas and good EU governance. Mr van Iersel lectures and
writes articles on political economy and Europe.