Workshop on Training funds in the EU

Juan Arasanz is a senior researcher in the field of comparative industrial relations, working conditions and employment policies at Notus ASR (Barcelona).

He holds a Master's degree in Public and Social Policy from the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and a post-graduate degree in Data Analysis for Public Policies from the University of Barcelona.

Simon Broek (1982) is senior researcher and was involved in more than 140 research and evaluation projects in the last fifteen years. In these projects, he is often the lead researcher or project manager, also responsible for managing client contact, quality control and conflict resolution.

He worked for the European clients (DG EMPL, DG EAC, ETF, Cedefop, EUROFOUND, DEVCO), international clients (UNESCO, ILO, OECD, DAAD), Dutch ministries and others.

Klara Engels-Perenyi is a Policy Officer in the Skills Agenda unit in DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission.

She is working on adult skills policies, and in particular on the Commission initiative on individual learning accounts and on the action “Skills for Life” of the EU Skills Agenda.

Sofia Gutierrez Dewar, is a senior VET expert at the Fundación Estatal para la Formación en el Empleo, in Spain.

She holds a university degree in Economics and Business Sciences and further education in training practices at NYU. Her focus is now on issues related to national and European research projects addressing lifelong learning and CVT, social dialogue, anticipation of sectoral training needs, and making training for digitalisation available for all.

Günter Hefler has been a researcher and consultant at 3s Research & Consulting, Vienna, since 2003.

He specialises in cross-country comparative research on lifelong learning, with a particular interest in the fields of learning at work and organisations’ training policies. Regarding the latter, he has served in various projects for the European Commission, Cedefop and in large-scale comparative projects funded by EU research funding frameworks.

Chantal Huinder describes being director of Doorzaam, the training fund of temporary workers within the Netherlands, as a privilege.

Doorzaam enables her and her team in making a difference in the lives of temporary workers regarding sustainable employability. Or as Doorzaam likes to refer to: safety, health and education.

Patrycja Lipińska has worked as an expert at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) since 2005.

She is responsible for research and policy analysis on VET financing.

Her recent and current projects include financing CVET/adult learning with a focus on demand-side schemes, financial and non-financial instruments supporting training performance in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, individual learning accounts and training funds. She holds master degrees in economics from the University of Gdańsk, Poland and the University of Exeter, UK.

Eleni Papaioannou, Researcher in Adult Education and VET

Eleni Papaioannou (Ph.D.) is a researcher in continuing education and lifelong learning. Her thematic expertise includes lifelong learning, European and international policies, adult education and VET.

Mario Patuzzi, Head of the Unit VET Policies at the DGB Federal Executive Committee in Berlin.

Mario Patuzzi is a political scientist and social business economist  and has worked as a trade union secretary since 2004, initially in the area of trade union youth. In his current role, he is particularly concerned with the legal framework of the dual vocational training system and issues such as validation, the National Qualifications Framework, National Skills Strategy and quality assurance. He represents the DGB on numerous bodies, including the Cedefop Management Board. He is currently its chairman.

Maria Pirea was born and raised in Nicosia. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Open University of Cyprus and a Higher Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management.

In 2005 she joined the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB) as an B. Officer in the Management Development department and in 2018 she was promoted to the position of Officer in the Research, Training and European Programs department. From 2023 she holds the position of Senior Officer in the Human Resources department.

Robert Plummer,Senior Adviser for Social Affairs, BusinessEurope

Robert is a senior adviser responsible for issues concerning migration and mobility, education and skills, social dialogue and the European Labour Authority.

Prior to joining BusinessEurope, Robert worked as a political adviser for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party.

Mantas Sekmokas is currently engaged as an expert in research and policy analysis at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), with a focus on the topics of financing and statistics in VET. During his more than 20 years of work experience, he provided advice on data analytics and monitoring of VET, adult learning and skills policies to multiple international and national bodies, such as UNESCO, ILO, OECD, G7, European Commission, Nordic Council of Ministers, BMZ/GIZ and Skills Future Singapore agency (including nearly ten years of work for the European Commission), as well as the private sector.

Jürgen Siebel joined Cedefop from the private sector in September 2019.

As Executive Director, he is responsible for managing the Agency’s operations in accordance with the strategic direction of its tripartite Management Board.