
Francisco Jose Melero Muñoz
ICT for independent living
Innovation Manger at CETEM Technical Centre, currently pursuing his PhD on digital solutions for ageing well at home, in the community and at home. Deals and coordinates with reseach, innovation and training initiatives on active and healthy ageing. Acted as chair a the COST Action CA16226 Sheldon - Indoor living space improvement: Smart Habitat for the ELDerly and currently coordinates the large scale pilots of the EU Funded project Pharaon that is deployed in the region of Murcia.

Paris Fokaides
Information technology
Dr.-Ing. Paris A. Fokaides is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering of Frederick University, Cyprus, and a research mentor at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. In Frederick University, Paris is lecturing the courses of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as well as the courses of Sustainable Energy Resources, and Energy Design of Buildings in the Masters Programme of Energy Engineering, which he also coordinates.

Elisio Costa
Social innovation, health and social sciences
Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto and researcher in the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences of the same institution (UCIBIO). He is also the Director of the Competence Center on Ageing of the University of Porto, which aims to work as a convergence Centre of all the skills and knowledge of the University in the field of ageing; and coordinator of the activities of the University of Porto as an INNOSTARS RIS-Hub of EIT-Health.

Marta Fernandez Bertos
Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design
Her career has spanned senior management roles in the UK, including Global Research Leader at international consultancy Arup. She has a strong interest in urban wellbeing, particularly the impact of design and technology for healthy ageing and has been a member of European expert panels for nature-based solutions in cities, energy efficient buildings and healthy buildings.

Regina Rosta-Pethő
Information technology
Regina graduated on Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Science in Budapest, in Master’s degree in regional development geography. As a senior project manager at Pannon Business Network (PBN) she has more than 15 years’ experience in the field of international relations, international project management especially for SMEs including social enterprise supporting services, implementation of innovative AAL ideas, e-health solutions, and digital transformation.

Stefan Danschutter
Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design
I'm an Architect Engineer by training. I work for Buildwise since 2004 on the themes accessibility & age-friendly housing. We're a private research institute and our members are the Belgian Construction companies (carpenters, plumbers, general contractors, and so on). Our work is steered by technical committees where these construction companies are represented.

Liane Colonna
ICT for independent living
Liane is an Associate Professor (“docent”) in law and information technology at the Department of Law, Stockholm University (SU) where she is performing research in the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanities and Society program. Liane sits on the executive board of the Swedish Law and Informatics Research Institute (IRI) and has been a member of the New York Bar since 2008.

Lenka Lhotská
ICT for independent living
Lenka Lhotská, PhD, MIET, MIEEE, graduated as Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CVUT), Czech Republic and got PhD degree in Cybernetics from CVUT. Currently she is head of the Cognitive Systems and Neurosciences Department at the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics and associate professor at the Department of Natural Sciences of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, CVUT.

Giorgos Koumanakos
Community intervention and care
Giorgos Koumanakos is the founder and the EU projects director of FRODIZO corporation. His processes bachelor’s degree in physical education and an MSc on Telematics management. FRODIZO started operating at 2009, and is a welfare organization for the care of older people and a day care center, accredited by the Greek Ministry of health, for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Andrej Grguric
ICT for independent living
Andrej Grgurić is working as a Researcher in Ericsson Nikola Tesla in Zagreb, Croatia. He holds a PhD from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and an Executive e-Leadership MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree from International Graduate Business School, Algebra University College, Croatia. His interests include software engineering, the Internet of Things, Ambient Intelligence, Active and Assisted Living, and privacy-preserving Machine Learning. has been a member of European expert panels for nature-based solutions in cities, energy efficient buildings and healthy buildings.

Isabel Vaz Serra
Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design
Degree in architecture and MA in Urban Design, from 2017 board of administration ar FJLJR, responsable for innovative approaches to active ageing, sénior digital inclusion, and new solutions to carehomes

Katalin Hajos
Policy and funding
The most important milestones of Katalin’s professional career are linked to the world of media and journalism. She has several decades of senior management experience at multinational companies in the fields of marketing, media and communication. International economist by profession she worked as CEO, Aegis Media Kft., Budapest a leading multinational communications company in Hungary between 1996 and 2014.

Kai Schnackenberg
Policy and funding
Kai Schnackenberg works for the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, as member of the Division of International Affairs and Innovation. Since 2012, he is in charge of project development and management, and he is supervising projects' legal, administrative and financial framework. He is specialized in the promotion of innovation and digitalization in the health sector. As graduated nurse and with a degree in Health Science, he has a solid background in health systems; in addition, he has a master’s degree in European Public Administration.

Andrea Ferenczi
ICT for independent living
Andrea Ferenczi has 30 years of experience in the fields of women's empowerment and career development. She is an entrepreneur (founder of PRenergia Ltd. providing professional business consultancy, PR & HR as well as IT & WEB services) and founder president of the Association for Women’s Career Development in Hungary (AWCDH). More information: www.womenscareer.org. On behalf of the AWCDH she has organized nearly 50 international conferences and founded several awards including the “Women’s Career Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Anto Čartolovni
Social innovation, health and social sciences
Anto Čartolovni research group and Digit-HeaL laboratory leader. Assistant professor at the Catholic University of Croatia in Zagreb. He received his PhD in Bioethics in 2016 from the Institute for Bioethics and Medical Humanities at the Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Sacred Heart in Rome. His main research areas are Ethics of emerging technologies (AI, Big data), Philosophy of technology, Bioethics, Neuroethics and Philosophy of medicine. He has published extensively on various topics in bioethics, philosophy and ethics of emerging technologies etc. He is currently involved in several international and national projects and has been engaged as an ethics expert in several ethical committees and IRB boards.

Milica Solarević
Social innovation, health and social sciences
Dr Milica Solarević is an associate professor at the Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management. She is expert in social geography with spatial emphasis on demography, ageing, social basics in tourism, migrations and population policy, where she published more than 50 papers. She is also an expert in the application of spatial information systems within social sciences. She actively participated in several projects related to ageing, older adults, migrations, marginalized groups, human rights within Serbia and bordering countries. She authored university textbook, numerous articles in national journals, presented her work and participated in organizing many international scientific conferences.

Hossein Chavoshi
Information technology
Hossein Chavoshi is a highly accomplished professional in the field of GIS, with over 10 years of experience in designing and developing GIS applications. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in GIScience at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), where he leverages his extensive knowledge and expertise to educate and inspire future GIS professionals. Hossein's work experience and academic background in GIS have made him well-versed in a wide range of cutting-edge technologies within the GIS industry. He has extensive experience manipulating and analyzing big geo-data, making predictions using machine learning, and developing customized web mapping services.

Charalampos Vassiliou
Information technology
M.Sc. in Computer Science from University of Oxford, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. Head of Strategic Planning & Coordination Unit, Directorate for Digital Governance at the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology Network (GRNET S.A.). Digital Transformation Advisor at the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. Member of the Open Technologies Alliance (GFOSS) Working Group for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Member of the Working Group (WG) at Greek Ministry of Health, to support the implementation of the European Health Data Space in Greece.

Ignacio Pedrosa
ICT for independent living
Ignacio Pedrosa, PhD. International Mention by the University of Oviedo, Master of Research in Health Psychology and Bachelor in Psychology. He has more than 15 years of experience in the field of bio-health research, with special emphasis on the design, development and implementation of innovative digital solutions for health, social care and healthy ageing in place.

Agnieszka Ciesla
Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design
Agnieszka Cieśla, PhD, architect and urban planner, CEO at Mimo Wieku Foundation (www.mimowieku.pl), lecturer at the Department for Spatial Management and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography Warsaw University of Technology. Agnieszka specializes in issues related to demographic ageing and its spatial consequences. Her area of particular interest is housing, both from a planning and policy perspective.

Sami Perälä
ICT for independent living
Mr. Sami Perälä has degrees in nursing, operating room and anaesthesiological nursing and paramedical nursing (Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences), as well as Master degree in health sciences (University of Kuopio). He is also a qualified teacher in vocational education (Tampere University of Applied Sciences) and has a degree in professional development in management (University of Tampere). He worked with South Ostrobothnia Health Technology Development Centre as an expert for seven years and then as an executive director for twelve years.

Andreea Toma
Policy and funding
I am Project Manage specialized in writing and implementing national and international projects, with experience in the development of strategy planning and communication. I am passionate about data science and technology. I am part of the management of the EXCELIVING Project - The habitat value chains towards healthy, age-friendly and sustainable living environments, an ecosystem that brings together partners from various fields (construction building materials, furniture and lighting, home automation, welfare technology) in order to provide qualitative services for SMEs that are eager to create better spaces and healthier environments for all ages (http://exceliving.eu/)

Joost van Hoof
Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design
Joost van Hoof works as a full professor of Urban Ageing with the Faculty of Social Work & Education of The Hague University of Applied Sciences in The Hague, The Netherlands (since 1 March 2018). His research interests lie in the domain of age-friendly cities and the design of housing and gerontechnology for older people. Since December 2017, he is also affiliated with the Department of Spatial Economy, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, in Wrocław, Poland.

Miriam Bellušová
Policy and funding
I work as Secretary General of the Slovak Craft Industry Federation, where we strive to support small and medium-sized businesses by commenting on legislation at national and European level. The aim of our activities is to create a healthy and balanced business environment in which sole traders and companies can freely do business and develop their business ideas. We bring together a number of business associations and guilds from the service and construction sectors, working with national social partners and government bodies.

Arthur Schreuder
Social innovation, health and social sciences
In a leading role and as an entrepreneur, he brings innovations by working with a plan with a vision on the future from abstract to practice and from a broad field of vision to the human scale. Facilitating co-creation from diversity to create a winning team that, together with co-creation partners, achieves successes through reciprocity that makes the world a better place. Looking at the workplace differently is the common thread in his working life Acting to unlock science knowledge pragmatically for society with a visionary view of digital developments with positive socio-economic societal impact. Taking into account anthropological values that are ethically humane in the benefit of the common good with the attitude of leaving no one behind

Gian Matteo Apuzzo
Community intervention and care
Urban sociologist and EU policies expert, with a PhD in Social Sciences on community development and social foresight, he has a long-time experience as a consultant, teacher, and researcher— matured in different countries and contexts. Since 2009 he has been working as senior researcher and project manager for different health systems’ organisations on the topics of active and healthy ageing, integrated care, social inclusion, and digital health. Currently employed at the Central European Initiative (CEI) as Senior Programme Manager, he has been the coordinator of a CEI-WHO Task Force in response to COVID19 and he is the Focal Point for Health Strategies and Emergencies Response.

Join us
Want to become a member of SIRENE Expert Hub? Click below