Speakers
Explore the profiles of those shaping the conversations at the 4th European Youth Work Convention:
Opening speeches
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Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Malta
Member of Parliament Keith Azzopardi Tanti serves as Malta's Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation. His portfolio includes developing policies that support youth empowerment, research initiatives, and fostering innovation within the country.
Head of Youth Department, Council of Europe
Tobias Flessenkemper heads the Youth Department at the Council of Europe and oversees initiatives promoting youth participation, human rights, and democratic citizenship across member states.
Deputy Head of Unit Youth and Volunteer Solidarity, European Commission
Since January 2021, Karen Vandeweghe has been the Deputy Head of Unit of the unit B.3 ‘Youth and Volunteer Solidarity’ within the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. This unit is responsible for shaping EU youth policy, and for managing two EU youth programmes, which are Erasmus+ Youth including DiscoverEU and the European Solidarity Corps. EU youth policy and the EU youth programmes support actions and initiatives that empower young people and youth organisations across Europe.
Advisory Council on Youth, Council of Europe
Nina Grmuša chairs the Advisory Council on Youth at the Council of Europe. With a background in youth work and intercultural learning, she advocates for inclusive policies and the active participation of young people in democratic processes.
Plenary Discussions
Session: From Germany to Malta – A Five Year Journey
Head of JUGEND für Europa, National Agency Erasmus+ Youth, Erasmus+ Sport and European Solidarity Corps, Germany
Frauke Muth leads JUGEND für Europa, the German National Agency responsible for the EU youth programmes. This mission is linked to the financial promotion of European projects in the field of youth, volunteering and sport, the further development of youth work and the support of youth policy cooperation in Europe.
Head of European and International Youth Policy Unit, Federal Ministry for Education Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany
Uwe Finke-Timpe directs the unit responsible for shaping Germany's youth policies within the European and international context, promoting initiatives that support the development of international youth exchange and funding encounters of experts and young people.
Chief Executive Officer, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ , Malta
Miriam Teuma has been at the forefront of youth work policy and practice in Malta for over two decades. She played a key role in developing Malta’s National Youth Agency and has been actively involved in shaping youth work at the European level. Presently, she is the chairperson of the European Steering Committee for Youth at the Council of Europe.
Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator, European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA), Malta
Raphael Scerri serves as the Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator of the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA) in Malta. He is responsible for the strategic management and implementation of EU-funded programmes, including Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, with the aim of enhancing opportunities in education, training, youth engagement, and social inclusion. With extensive experience in European affairs and project management, Raphael is committed to strengthening Malta’s participation in EU initiatives, fostering collaboration, and supporting the professional development of individuals and organisations across sectors.
Manager of the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership
Clotilde Talleu has served as the manager of the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership since 2021, one of the longest-standing cooperation programmes between the two institutions. The Youth Partnership aims to foster synergies between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth, focusing on shared priorities to support greater European unity. It provides a unique and evolving platform for cooperation that benefits youth work, youth policy, and youth research.
Presentations from the European Institutions and their Partnership
Yael Ohana
Programme Manager, Education Training and Cooperation, Youth Department, Council of Europe
CoE Youth Work Portfolio
Frederike Hofmann-van de Poll
Member of the Pool of the European Youth Researchers
Launching the Youth Work Strategies Manual
Jorun Bokloev
Programme Assistant - Youth Policy and Programmes, DG EAC-B3
Erasmus+ Supporting Youthwork
Plenary Discussion: Noise vs Silence
Professor of European Youth Policy, University of South Wales
Dr. Howard Williamson is a distinguished academic and youth worker with extensive experience in youth policy development. He ran an open youth centre for 25 years, has advised various governments and international organisations on multiple youth issues and has published widely on youth work and policy.
EYF Board Member
Caillum Hedderman from Limerick, Ireland, is a passionate advocate for youth participation in our democratic processes and is currently a board member of the European Youth Forum. A lifelong scout and active member of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement, his dedication to youth participation and environmentalism is shaped by extensive non-formal education and volunteering.
President, Alliance of Youth Workers Associations (AYWA)
Dragan Atanasov has over 15 years of experience conducting research and assessments in youth work, designing and delivering non-formal education activities, developing policy documents, and monitoring and evaluating programmes.
Vice President of Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT)
Nadia Tismanaru is a member of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. She has over 8 years of experience in grassroots youth work, starting as a volunteer and gradually taking on roles such as volunteers’ coordinator, local projects coordinator, and international projects coordinator.
European Youth Representative, Flemish Youth Council
Israe Aiach Since 2023, represents Flemish young people and youth workers at the European level and is a co-founder of Brave vzw, an organisation dedicated to making sports in public spaces more accessible and empowering girls. Her work focuses on social inclusion, empowerment, and creating opportunities for young people and vulnerable groups.
Round Table Disussion: Young People’s Experience og Youth Work
Member of the European YWCA
Katrina has experience in youth work as a participant and practitioner at local and European levels, focusing on volunteering, advocacy, and inclusive youth work approaches. Through her role with the European YWCA (The Young Women's Christian Association), she connects with a broad network of youth organisations to amplify diverse voices and best practices.
Bureau Member, Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe
Anna is a Bureau member of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. As an administrative and constitutional lawyer, they are keen on integrating youth work with human rights, with special attention to minority groups.
Head of International Affairs and Climate Action in the Spanish Youth Council (CJE)
Ángel is experienced in youth work, student mobility, policy & advocacy, non-formal education and EU-funded projects. For more than 5 years he has been involved and became President of the global network Erasmus Student Netowrk (ESN) in Spain, and since 2024 he serves as Head of International Affairs in the Spanish Youth Council (CJE), representing Spanish youth before international decision-makers and forums on human rights.
Manager Eco Centre Radulovački
Nikola Blagojević has been active in the youth field since 2004 and has been a long-standing member of CSO Vojvodina Environmental Movement (VEM) since 2008. He is a highly experienced professional in ecology and youth, managing a Youth Centre that holds the Council of Europe’s Quality Label for Youth Centres.
Youth worker, Agenzija Zghazagh
Rebecca is a professional Youth Worker with a strong commitment to supporting environments for young people’s personal and social development. Currently, she is part of the Community and Outreach Unit, where she facilitates youth-centred services, including the Youth Café, Life Skills Programmes, and civic education initiatives in schools, focusing on areas such as leadership, sustainability, wellbeing, and community engagement.
Panel Discussion on Findings
Director for Youth Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
Henni Axelin leads Finland's national youth work and youth policy division, focusing on promoting youth participation and well-being through initiatives like the Finnish Model for Leisure Activities.
Head of Youth, Sport & ESC Development, Léargas (Ireland)
Celine Martin oversees the development of youth, sport, and European Solidarity Corps programs at Léargas, Ireland's national agency for international exchange and cooperation programmes.
Associate Professor of Youth Studies, University of Rijeka
Marko Kovačić is an associate professor of youth studies at the University of Rijeka, where he heads the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. He specialises in youth and education policy, with over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and consultancy. Marko participates in numerous youth policy processes at the European level and is a member of the Pool of European Youth Researchers.
Executive director DYPALL.
Bruno has been actively engaging in international youth work, working as an expert and external consultant for several institutions, such as the European Commission and the Council of Europe.
Closing speeches
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President European Youth Forum
Rareș Voicu has been involved in the field of youth and child participation since the age of 15. Over the past seven years, he has successfully led various youth organisations at the local, national, and international level, tirelessly advocating for the rights of his peers and empowering them to have their voices heard by decision-makers. He has previously served as a Board Member of the European Youth Forum and has worked for UNICEF in the field of child and adolescent engagement, supporting the participation of children in decision-making processes.
Director for Democracy, Council of Europe
Matjaž Gruden has been the Director for Democracy within the Council of Europe since May 2018. His responsibilities include Council of Europe activities and programmes in the area of education, including education for democratic citizenship, youth cooperation, civil society, media freedom and journalist safety, culture and cultural heritage.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe
Francesca Camilleri Vettiger is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe since 19 June 2023. She is also the President of the Executive Committee of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. A diplomat and attorney at law, her career spans roles in international law, human rights, and European affairs.
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport since 2024
Glenn Micallef leads efforts on developing strategies for intergenerational fairness, coordinating youth policy dialogues, improving the working conditions of artists and cultural professionals, and advancing the European Sport Model. He also heads initiatives on cyberbullying and child rights and works on strategic foresight to prepare for future challenges. Glenn Micallef held senior positions in the Maltese government, including as Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, where he negotiated major EU legislation and secured significant EU funding for Malta.
Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation
Member of Parliament Keith Azzopardi Tanti serves as Malta's Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation. His portfolio includes developing policies that support youth empowerment, research initiatives, and fostering innovation within the country
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