Mentors & guest speakers

+300 mentors/presenters have allowed insights into their careers

Mentors and guest speakers at the training programmes are renowned festival directors, cultural activists and artists, as well as people working in different fields of action such as the political, social, humanitarian and technological. Mentors are present throughout, not only as lecturers but fully engaged in (one-on-one) conversations and guidance of the participants. International and regional guest speakers are invited to add extra insights and perspectives on different topics.

Mentors and guest speakers all allow participants an honest and open insight into their careers including both success stories and failures. They share their motivation and explain their (artistic) choices in view of The Festival Academy’s mission.

Following the most recent Ateliers of 2023, our Experts network now includes 308 mentors & guest speakers coming from 103 countries and all continents.

Frosyni Trousa at the Atelier Eleusis in February 2019 (photo by Constantinos Theodorou)

Carolina Courbis Bascuñán, a participant in the Atelier Merano 2017:

"What I feel that what’s very valuable from the Atelier is: (...) The amazing pool of mentors that shared their experience with us. A group of real experts in their fields from a range of backgrounds, that were generous enough to tell us about their stories, ideas, achievements and failures, but overall that were genuinely open to have a horizontal conversation with us which in every single case, nurtured our idea of festivals."

Robyn Archer:

“As mentors and presenters I know we will get at least as much out of the participants as they may get out of us in the coming week. It should be understood at the outset that there are very few differences between us as mentors and you as participants, except perhaps in terms of experience. We are all participants in the Atelier.”

Pool of Festival Experts

Adam Potrykus, Co-Founder and Co-Director at Stockholm Fringe Festival and Nordic Fringe Network - Sweden
Agnes Havas, Director Armel Opera Festival - Hungary
Aguibou Bougobali Sanou - Dancer, choreographer, musician, storyteller, and Director of the In-Out Dance Festival – Burkina Faso/Unites States
Ahmed El Attar, Founder and General Manager of Orient Productions, Founder and Artistic Director of The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF), Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Ministry of Culture - Egypt
Airan Berg, Artistic Director and Theatre Maker - Festival der Regionen in Upper Austria - Austria
Alain Weber, Artistic Director Fez Sacred Music Festival - Morocco
Alvin Starks – Director Equality Team, Open Society Foundations – United States of America
Amy Cassello - Interim Artistic Director BAM – United States
Andrea Caruso Saturnino, Director Cena Aberta, São Paulo - Brazil
André Dudemaine, Cultural leader, co-founder and director of cultural activities at Terres en Vues/Land InSights – Innu Nation/Mashteuiatsh Community/Canada
Andy Fryers, Sustainability Director of Hay Festival - United Kingdom/South America
Angele Galea, Artistic Consultant of Science in the City - Malta
Anna Gallagher-Ross, Associate Artistic Director and Curator at Fusebox - United States of America
Anna Mülter, Artistic Director of Festival Theaterformen - Germany
Anna Pohribna, Deputy director for programs of Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex – Ukraine
Annet Lekkerkerker, Managing Director Holland Festival - Netherlands
Artur Mendes, Arts Manager at BOOM Festival - Portugal
Asiimwe Deborah Kawe, Director of Tebere Arts Foundation, Producer & Co-Curator of the Kampala International Theatre Festival, Sundance Institute Theatre Program Associate - East Africa
Atje Drexler, Senior Vice President international cooperation and understanding at the Robert Bosch Stiftung – Germany
Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, President Lyon Biennial - France
Biljana Tanurovska-Kjulavkovski, Co-Curator Lokomotiva Festival for contemporary art and performance in Skopje - Macedonia
Brahim El Mazned – Founding Director Visa For Music, Artistic Director Timitar Festival of World Music – Morocco
Brenda Uphopho, Co-Founder & Festival Producer of Lagos Fringe, Founder of Women in the Arts - Nigeria
Sir Brian McMaster, former Director of Edinburgh International Festival - United Kingdom
Bryn Herdrich, Producing Director in Under the Radar - United States
Camilla Colombo, Co-Founder Ohme - Belgium
Carla van Zon, former Artistic Director of Auckland Arts Festival - New Zealand
Carmen Romero Quero, Executive Director Teatro a Mil Foundation - Chile
Carole U. Karemera, Artistic Director of Ishyo Arts Centre - Rwanda
Catherine J. Wang, President of the Centre for China Shanghai International Arts Festival - China
Cecilia Kuska, Co-Curator at PROXIMAMENTE Festival and Santiago a Mil Festival - Argentina/United Kingdom
Celestine Kubelka, Production Manager Wiener Festwochen - Austria
Chiaki Soma, Representative Director of Arts Commons Tokyo - Japan
Ching-Lee Goh, Executive and Artistic Director CultureLink Singapore - Singapore
Clare Newman, President, Trust for Governors Island - United States
Cristina Fuentes La Roche, International Director Hay Festival - United Kingdom/South America
Danjel Andersson, Artistic and General Director MDT - Sweden
Darko Brlek, Artistic and General Director Ljubljana Festival - Slovenia
Darya Bassel, Producer, head of industry of Docudays UA – Ukraine
David Lavoie, Managing director Festival TransAmériques – Canada
Dena Davida, Co-Founder Festival International de Nouvelle Danse and the Tangente dance performance space, Co-Creator and Managing Editor of Turba: The Journal for Global Practices in Live Arts Curation - Canada
Diego Aparicio, Founder and artistic director of Queer Wave: the Cyprus LGBTQIA+ film festival – Cyprus
Dora Palma, Sustainability Manager at Rock in Rio – Portugal/Brazil
Dorottya Bauer, Virens Events (Sziget Festival) - Germany
Eckhard Thiemann, Artistic Director of Shubbak - United Kingdom
Elad Schechter, Dancer and Choreographer, Founder of Agrippas to Jaffa Festival - Jerusalem
Elisabeth Knauf, Production Manager Hebbel am Ufer - Germany
Elizabeth Moreau, Associate Vice President and Senior Producer BAM – United States
Ellada Evangelou, Cofounder Rooftop Theatre, Leadership Circle of the IMPACT project, Cyprus
Eva Neklyaeva, former Artistic Director Santarcangelo Festival, Director Checkpoint Helsinki, Baltic Circle International Contemporary Theatre Festival - Belarus
Fanny Martin, Creative Director Art of Festivals - Canada
Faisal Kiwewa, Artistic Director Bayimba Foundation - Uganda
Felwine Sarr, Humanist, philosopher, economist and musician – Duke University – United States of America/Senegal
Fergus Linehan, Director and Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival - United Kingdom
Frosyni Trousa, Artistic Director ARC for DANCE Festival – Greece
Fruzsina Szép, Festival Director Berlin Festival and Lollapalooza Berlin Hörstmann Unternehmensgruppe HUG - Germany
Gabi Gonçalves, Creator and Coordinator of Corpo Rastreado, Risco Festival and FarOFFA - Brazil
Gavin Henderson, Artistic Director Dartington International Summer School - United Kingdom
Gerard Mortier (†2014), former General Director Teatro Real de Madrid - Spain
Gerardo Salinas, Artist and Curator, Member of KVS Artistic Direction Team, Playwright and Co-Founder of the PROXIMAMENTE platform - Belgium/Latin America
Grace Lang, Programme Director Hong Kong Festival - China
Grayson Wambach, Creator/Producer - United States of America
Gundega Laivina, Artistic Director New Theatre Institute of Latvia - Latvia
Gunjan Arya, CEO Only Much Louder, NH7 Weekender Festival - India
Guy Coolen, Artistic and General Director Muziektheater Transparant and Artistic Director Operadagen Rotterdam – Belgium/Netherlands
Guy Weizman, Artistic Director and Choreographer at Noord Nederlands Toneel, Club Guy & Roni and NITE - Israel/Netherlands
Han van Poucke, Head of Production Holland Festival - Netherlands
Heiner Goebbels, Artistic Director Ruhrtriennale - Germany
Hendrik Storme, General and Artistic Director at deSingel - Belgium
Horacio Pérez, Curator, creative producer, cultural manager, and artist – Chile
Hugo De Greef, former Coordinator of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers, Co-founder of The Festival Academy and former EFA Secretary General - Belgium
Iman Aoun, Artistic Director of ASHTAR Theatre (Actress, Director, Producer) - Palestine
Isabel Lagos, Artistic Director at Gothenburg Fringe Festival - United Kingdom/Sweden
Jacob Boehme, Multi-disciplinary theatre maker, choreographer and artistic director, founding creative director of Yirramboi Festival – Narangga and Kaurna Nations/Australia
Jan Ove Hafstad, Director at Sweden Festivals - Sweden
Jessica Cortez, Theater artist, educator and director of Programming at The People's Creative Institute – United States
Jessie Mill, Artistic director of Festival TransAmériques – Canada
Jeff Kahn, Performance Space Sydney - Australia
Jelle Dierickx, Director Festival van Vlaanderen Mechelen/Lunalia - Belgium/Germany
Jerry Aerts, General Manager and Artistic Director deSingel International Arts Campus - Belgium
Jinghui Meng, Artistic Director Beijing Fringe Festival, WuZhen Theatre Festival, Beijing Bee Hive Theatre - China
Joe Sidek, Director of George Town Festival - Malaysia
Jonathan Holloway – International speaker, writer, coach and consultant, Artistic Associate of the Charleston Gaillard Center, Former Artistic Director Melbourne and Perth International Arts Festivals, Former Creator and Creative Director Elemental France, Former Director of the Watch This Space Festival – Global
Sir Jonathan Mills, Programme Director of Edinburgh International Festival - United Kingdom
Jörg Vorhaben, Board Member of ITI, Chief Dramaturge and Festival Manager at Staatstheater Mainz – German
Joseph V. Melillo, Artistic Director Brooklyn Academy of Music New York - United States of America
Joyce Rosario, Independent Curator/Producer - Canada
Juli Consigli, Founder of the Festival Internacional de Música Electroacústica and Virtuoso Records - Argentina

Julia Gause, Sustainability Consultant of Fuchsbau Festival - Germany
Jurriaan Cooiman, Founder and Director of CULTURESCAPES - Switzerland
Kai Amberla, Executive Director at Finland Festival - Finland
Kalle Karlsson, Integration Festival Gothenburg - Sweden
Kate Craddock, Founder and Festival Director of GIFT: Gateshead International Festival of Theatre - United Kingdom
Katrijn De Wit, Coordinator Press & Audience Development deSingel - Belgium
Kee Hong Low, Creative Director Manchester International Festival - United Kingdom
Keitu Gwangwa, Head Windybrow Arts Centre - South Africa
Kelly Diapouli, Artistic Director Capital of Culture Eleusis 2021 - Greece
Kyu Choi, Co-founder and Member of Steering Committee at Asia Producers’ Platform and APP Camp - South Korea
Lea Perekrests, Deputy director for operations Europe and MENA Region, Institute for Economics and Peace – Belgium
Leisa Shelton, Performance artist, teacher + curator with a practice that foregrounds collaboration and an advocacy for new Australian trans-disciplinary work – Australia
Lina Attel, Founder, Director General of The National Center for Culture and Performing Arts, Jordan
Luiz Coradazzi, Cultural Consultant, Founder Pangea Cultura and former Director Arts British Council Brazil - Brazil
Malin Schiller, Project Manager and Producer at Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival - Sweden
Mandisi Sindo, Theatre4Change Arts Project - South Africa
Mantse Aryeequaye, Co-director Chale Wote Festival – Ghana
Marie-Agnès Sevestre, former Director at Festival des Francophonies, Writer at Théâtre du blog - France
Marie-Hélène Falcon, former Director Festival TransAmériques Montréal - Canada
Mark Ball, Associate Artistic Director of Manchester International Festival (MIF) - United Kingdom
Mark Russell, Founder and Co-Director Festival Under the Radar - USA
Marsha Reid, Executive director at Kindred Arts. curator and public programs director at Monumental Tour - United States of America
Martin Honzik, Head and Managing Director at Ars Electronica Festival - Austria
Martine Dennewald, Artistic director of Festival TransAmériques – Canada
Matteo Penazzi, Director and Violinist at Lugo Music Festival - Italy
Mauricio Lomelin, Producer of Contemporary Programming at Lincoln Center - United States of America
Meera Dugal - Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Habibi festival & Program Associate for Arts and Culture, Mellon Foundation and - United States
Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Relations Officer at anti-poverty organisation Global Citizen – Australia
Michail Marmarinos, Artistic Director 2023 ELEVSIS European Capital of Culture
Michał Merczyński, Director Malta Festival Poznan, Nostalgia Festival Poznan - Poland
Mike Van Graan, Playwright and project manager at Sustaining Theatre and Dance Foundation (STAND) - South Africa
Mira El Mawla, MENA lead program manager at Build Up – Lebanon
Mwandwe Chileshe, Global Policy Lead for Food Security and Agriculture at Global Citizen - Zambia
Nadia Sokolenko, Performing Arts Programme Manager at Ukrainian Institute – Ukraine
Natália Jakab - Head of the Arts for Rural Development Foundation and director of Valley of Arts Festival – Hungary/Ukraine
Natália Machiavelli, Initiator and Director of MIT+ at MITsp - São Paulo International Theatre Festival – Brazil
Nayse Lopez, Artistic director of the international platform Panorama Raft – Brazil
Nevenka Koprivsek, Artistic Director Mladi Levi Festival - Slovenia
Nick Rongjun Yu, Chief Director of ACT Shanghai International Theatre Festival – China
Nicolas Klimis, Founder Ohme - Belgium
Norman Armour, Executive Director PuSH International Performing Arts Festival Vancouver – Canada
Ophelia Huang, Director of International Affairs in Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (SDAC) and Programme Director of ACT Shanghai International Theatre Festival - China
Orwa Nyrabia, Artistic Director International Documentary Festival Amsterdam – Netherlands/Syria
Pedro de Freitas, Director at Périplo, creator of FarOFFA - Brazil
Quito Tembe, Artistic director of the international platform for contemporary dance performing arts organisation Kinani – Mozambique
Rania Elias, Director Yabous Cultural Centre and Jerusalem Festival - Palestine
Rania Kamhawi, Director and creative producer Amman Contemporary Dance Festival, Jordan
Rashmi Dhanwani, Arts Consultant, Curator, Creative Producer, Founder of The Art X Company - India
Renato Quaglia, General Director at the Foundation Foqus, Former Managing Director of the Venice Biennale - Italy
Ricardo Peach, Director Vrystaat Kunstefees/Arts Festival/Tsa-Botjhaba - South Africa
Roberto Naccari, General Manager Santarcangelo Festival - Italy
Rose Fenton, Co-Founder and Former Director LIFT Festival, Former Director of Free Word - United Kingdom
Rosette Nteyafas – Creative Producer, Line Producer of Kampala International Theater Festival and Tebere Arts Foundation – Uganda
Roy Luxford, Programme Director Edinburgh International Festival - United Kingdom
Rucera Seethal, Artistic Director of National Arts Festival Grahamstown - South Africa
Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Artistic Director Théâtre du Châtelet - France
Samantha Nampuntha, Event producer, PR and Communications Expert - Malawi
Sami Pyne - Producing Director, ArKtype – United States
Sarah Nsigaye – Director Celebrating Womanhood Festival – Uganda
Seok Kyu Choi, Co-Founder, Member of Steering Committee at Asia Producers’ Platform, APP Camp - South Korea
Seonghee Kim, Artistic Director of Asia Culture Center Theatre - South Korea
Sepehr Sharifzadeh, Artistic Director of NH Theatre agency – Iran
Siphiwe Ngwenya, Curator & Founder The Maboneng Township Arts Experience - South Africa
Stefan Schmidtke, Artistic Director at Theater der Welt - Germany
Sylvain Vollant, Former general manager of Festival Innu Nikamu – Innu Nation/Mani-Utenam Community/Canada
Tamar Brüggemann, Managing Director WoNDeRFeel - Netherlands
Teesa Bahana, Director of 32° East Ugandan Arts Trust – Uganda
Thobile Maphanga, Durban-based dance practitioner, writer, creative collaborator, and emerging festival curator, curatorial mentee for JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience - South Africa
Thom Loubet, Executive Director at The People's Creative Institute – United States
Thomas O. Kriegsmann - President, ArKtype – United States
Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival - Hong Kong
Tobias Kokkelmans, Festival dramaturgy and artistic policy coordinator of Operadagen Rotterdam - Netherlands
Tom Stromberg, Former Director Impulse Festival - Germany
Trésor Nzengu Mpauni, Founder and Director at Lumaini Letu Festival - Malawi
Truls Sanaker, Managing Director at Norway Festivals - Norway
Tzvetelina Iossifova, Director of Red House for Culture and Debate - Bulgaria
Valentina Corona, Director of Playwave - Australia
Victoria Leshchenko, Programme director of DocuDays UA, the Ukrainian international human rights film festival – Ukraine
Vigdís Jakobsdóttir, Artistic Director and CEO Reykjavik Arts Festival - Iceland
Vincent de Repentigny, Artistic and General Director of the OFFTA - Canada
Wai-Lap Kwong, Programme Director Guangdong Modern Dance Festival - China
Yazmany Arboleda, People's Artist for New York City at the Civic Engagement Commission, senior artistic advisor for Community Arts Network and founder of The People's Creative Institute – United States/Colombia
Yolanda Markopoulou, Co-founder & Curator of Mind the Fact, line producer in major cultural institutions – Greece
Yuan Zhang, Performing arts curator - China
Yvette Hardie, ASSITEJ Director - South Africa

Artists

Ahmed Tobasi, Artistic Director The Freedom Theatre - Palestine
Arkadi Zaides, Artist/Choreographer - France/Israel
Ashraf Atraqchi, Artist, Arts Critic, Curator - Iraq
Asif Majid, Scholar, Artist and Educator - United Kingdom
Benjamin Von Wong, Visual Engineer, Solution Consultant and Installation Artist for Change – Canada
Bronwyn Lace, Animateur for the Centre for the Less Good Idea - South Africa
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author, one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World (2015), one of Fortune Magazine's World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (2017), member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences - Nigeria/United States of America
Claudia Billourou, Worldwide-active Stage Director, Set and Costume Designer, Creator and Director of the School of Art and Trades for the Contemporary Show of Theater of La Plata - Argentine
Craig Peterson, President, LMCC - United States
Danny Yung, Experimental art pioneer, influential artist, Founding member and Co-Artistic Director of Zuni Icosahedron - Hong Kong
Dennis Redmoon Darkeem - Multimedia artist – United States
Dijana Milošević, Theatre director DAH Theatre - Serbia
Diya Naidu, Dancer, Choreographer and Repertory Member at Attakkalari - India
Edima Otuokon – Co-Founder Ladima Foundation - Nigeria
Emanuele Sinisi, Designer and Lecturer at School of Fine Arts of Turin and Venice - Italy
Emily Johnson, Dancer, Choreographer - Yup'ik Nation (United States of America)
Erifili Giannakopoulou, Opera singer/director/teacher, Greece
Étienne Minoungou, Actor, performer, director and cultural entrepreneur – Burkina Fasso
Euripides Laskaridis, Theatre director, filmmaker, choreographer and performer – Greece
Fien Leysen, Writer, Theatermaker and Videographer - Belgium
Galin Stoev, Founder Fingerprint Company - Belgium/Bulgaria
Gebing Tian, Director, Founder and Artistic Director of Paper Tiger Theatre Studio - China
Graham Sheffield, Director Art British Council London - United Kingdom
Hajooj Kuka, Founder of Refugee Club and the director of Beats of the Antonov – Sudan
Hamza Boulaiz, CEO and Artistic Director Spectacle Pour Tous – Morocco
Hank Willis Thomas, Conceptual Artist – United States of America
Hira Nabi, Filmmaker and multimedia artist - Pakistan
Hongming Lin, Professor and Dean of the Art Management Department of Shanghai Conservatory of Music - China
John Ashford, Director of Aerowaves, former director of The Place Theatre and the ICA Theatre, founding theatre editor of Time Out magazine - United Kingdom
Juan Pablo López Otero - Artistic Director of the Cali International Dance Biennial - Colombia
Juan Pablo Siles, Associate Curator and Producer, Trust for Governors Island - Bolivia / United States ACGI Production & Operations Manager, LMCC - United States
Kasie Kirkland, ACGI Production & Operations Manager, LMCC - United States
Kenneth Kimuli – Co-Founder Tebere Arts, Kampala International Theatre Festival – Uganda
Khaled Harara, Hip-Hop Artist – Palestine
Kirstin Hess, Dramaturge at D'haus Junges Schauspiel, Equity forum – Germany
Lázaro Rodriguez, Actor and Director at Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol - Mexico
Leila Heinriques, Director ‘Hani: The Legacy’ - South Africa
Lemi Ponifasio, Artist and Founder of MAU – New Zealand
Luiz Coradazzi – Arts manager and cultural strategist, global programming & content manager at Shared Studios, Former Artistic Director Advisor at Theatro Municipal de São Paulo – Brazil
Malin Nagel, Head of Project, Dramaturge, Project and Production Manager at German Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) - Germany
Manu Siebens, Scenographer and Visual Artist - Belgium

Marko Ciciliani, Composer, Audiovisual artist, Performer and Artistic Director at ChampdAction.LabO and TimeCanvas@DeSingel - Austria
Mélanie Demers, Multidisciplinary artists, founder of MAYDAY dance company, choreographer – Canada
Mety Panagiotopoulou, Performing arts researcher and practitioner - Greece
Michiel Vandevelde – Performing Arts Programmer at deSingel, Choreographer – Belgium
Nima Dehghani, Transdisciplinary Artist - United States/Iran
Omar Abi Azar, Theatre Director, Founding Member of Zoukak Theatre Company - Lebanon
Ong Keng Sen (PhD), Artistic Director TheatreWorks and Artspace 72-13 Singapore, founder Arts Network Asia and the International Curators Academy - Singapore
Pedro Affonso Ivo Franco, International consultant for culture, arts and creative economy - Brazil
Raegan Truax, Artist, Scholar, Untimely Body - United States
Robyn Archer, Singer, writer, artistic director and public advocate for the arts, former Artistic Director of the Adelaide and Melbourne International Arts Festivals - Australia
Roselle Pineda, Curator, dramaturge, educator, scholar, community worker, artist-activist, founder and artistic director of Aurora Artist Residency Program and Space (AARPS) and Performance Curators Initiatives (PCI) - Philippines
Shahidul Alam, writer and human rights activist, initiator of Chobi Mela International Photography Festival - Bangladesh
Shamisa Debroey, Producer, lllustrator and Comic artist at deSingel - Belgium
Shannon Litzenberger, Performer, Choreographer, Director, Embodiment Facilitator, Community Builder, Leadership Developer, Advocate, Change-maker – Canada
Sharon Cooper – Sponsorship and Business Development Head for Active Imagination, Representative AFROPUNK LTD, CTEMF and the Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival – South Africa
Tania El Khoury, Distinguished Artist in Residence of Theater and Performance and Director of Center for Human Rights & The Arts at Bard College, New York – Lebanon/United States of America
Tom Creed, Opera & Theatre Director - United Kingdom
Thomas Engel, Director at German Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) - Germany
Thuthukani Ndlovu, Festival Assistant and Spoken Words Artist at Free State Literature Festival - Zimbabwe/South Africa
Wilfried Schulz, Intendant at Schauspiel Düsseldorf - Germany
William Kentridge, Craftsman, performer and filmmaker at the Centre for the Less Good Idea - South Africa
Yafa Goawily, Creative Director at yafa arts & Crafts - Canada

Experts from other fields of action

Foundations, policy-making, science, social movements, education, digital and new technologies etc.

Ana Carla Fonseca Reis, Economist and Director of Garimpo de Soluções – Brazil
Alex Diaz Loo, English professor, researcher and women's’ and LGBTQI+ activist - Peru
Alina Ivan, Producer and Researcher in Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London - United Kingdom
Angeliki Lampiri, Director of Cultural Strategy at Eleusis 2021 - Greece
Angharad Wynne-Jones, Head of Creative Engagement at Arts Centre Melbourne – Australia
Anthony Richter, Director Special Initiatives Open Society Foundations New York - United States of America
Arundhati Gosh, Executive Director India Foundation for the Arts - India
Aubrey Bergauer, CEO and Designer of "The Long Haul Model" _ United States
Barbara Filion, Programme Officer for Culture with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO – Canada
Basma El Husseiny, Director at Action for Hope - Egypt
Benn Wiebe, Executive Producer of HF Productions, Climate Reality Leader, Board Advisor of SIE Society, Advisory Committee member of Center for the Digital Future on the Expansion & implementation of GDKP, governance team member of UN Environment's Playing for the Planet Alliance – North America, Australia, South-eastern Asia, European Union
Beth Ponte, Arts Manager, Researcher and Independent Consultant - Brazil
Beverley Ditsie, non-conforming lesbian activist, award-winning filmmaker and LGBTIQ+ rights advocate - South Africa
Boitumelo Tumy Motsoatsoe, Head of Programmes at Business and Arts South Africa NPC (BASA) - South Africa
Brett Pyper, Associate Professor and Head Wits School of Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg - South Africa
Prof. Brian Walker, CSIRO Honorary Fellow, Australian National University Visiting Professor, Fellow in the International Beijer Institute for Ecological Economics Sweden - Australia
Dr. Bristow Tegan, Senior lecturer and director at Fak'ugesi Festival and Wits School of Arts, Digital Arts Department – South Africa
Carmen Olaechea, Art Culture and Conflict Transformation, IMPACT Leadership Circle – Argentina
Carole Gürtler, Head Department Levant, Drosos Foundation (Zurich) - Switzerland
Cathrine Helland, Communication Manager International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) - Norway
Chiara Badiali, Knowledge and Sector Intelligence Lead for Julie’s Bicycle – United Kingdom
Chrisoula Plakioti, Art Therapist at AMAKA NGO - Greece
Christine Van Winkle – Professor at the University of Manitoba and associate faculty member at Royal Roads University – Canada
Christopher Crimes, Consultant/Advisor to [N!A] Project and Eleusis 2021 European Capital of Culture - France/Greece/United Kingdom
Christos Carras, Executive Director Onassis Cultural Centre, Greece
Courtney White, Lawyer at Davies Collison Cave Law - Australia
Cynthia Schneider, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy; Co-Director Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics Georgetown University, Co-Director MOST Resource, Co-Director Timbuktu Renaissance, Former US Ambassador to the Netherlands - United States of America
Darius Cuplinskas, Director of the Ideas Workshop at the Open Society Foundations – Lithuania/UK
David Teevan, Festival Advisor Arts Council of Ireland - Ireland
Dea Vidović, Director Kultura Nova - Croatia
Dharam Saraviya, Vice-President at Brand Solutions, OML Entertainment – India
Diana Collazos, Co-founder of elgalpon.espacio, cultural administrator, audiovisual producer, interdisciplinary artist – Peru
Diane Ragsdale, Director of Cultural Leadership at Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity – Canada
Edima Otuokon, Executive Director at Ladima Foundation – Nigeria
Elizabeth Mbabazi – Program Officer Kuonyesha Arts Fund – Uganda
Erica McCalman, Creative Producer and Consultant, Art Oracle - Australia
Farooq Chaudhry, Producer at Akram Khan Company - United Kingdom
Fine Stammnitz, Founder of Green Touring Network - Germany
Florentine Muhry, Assistant Curator at Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen – Germany
Dr. Gabriel Gauler, Director Goethe-Institut Cyprus – Germany/Cyprus
Hjalmar Jorge Joffre-Eichhorn, Theatre activist, Co-Founder Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organisation, Theatre of the Oppressed and Playback Theatre - Germany/ Bolivia/Afghanistan
Hooman Nassimi - Founder of Society in Motion and the New Faces toolkit - Netherlands
Hortense Archambault, Director MC93 Maison de la Culture de la Seine Saint-Denis - France
HOWEST, University of Applied Sciences on Digital Arts and Entertainment - Belgium
Ismail Mahomed, former Chief Executive Officer of the Market Theatre Foundation - South Africa
Jan Linder, Board Member and Head of programme at German Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) and Stiftung Humboldt Forum - Germany

Jessica Hagan – Program Lead Arts & Culture, Africa No Filter – Ghana
Jesús Martinez, Writer, lecturer and LGBTQI+ researcher - France
Joachim Lux, President at German Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) and Director at Thalia Theater Hamburg - Germany
John Speyer, Director of Music In Detention - United Kingdom
Jonte Nynäs, Art Educator at Nordic Watercolour Museum - Sweden
Judith Mair, Associate Professor and Discipline Leader of the Tourism Discipline Group in the University of Queensland Business School – Australia
Karin Hansson, Coordinator ICORN - Sweden
Keith Nurse (PhD), Principal/President Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Morne Fortune, St. Lucia and Unesco Expert - Caribbean
Keren Zaiontz, Assistant Professor and Queen’s National Scholar in Creative Industries in the Global City in the Department of Film and Media and Cultural Studies Graduate Program – Canada
Konstantinos Tzathas, Programming Research Coordinator ONASSIS Foundation - Greece
Kumi Naidoo - Human rights and climate justice activist – South Africa
Lavinia Iovino, Spokesperson for MockCOP 26 – A group of young people dedicated to creating a set of climate targets ahead of COP26 – Global
Lilian (Lily) Hughes, Programme Manager for the Edinburgh International Culture Summit - United Kingdom
Lily James Olds, Director of the TED Fellows program - United States
Maria Efstathiou, Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre
Maria José Cifuentes, Artistic and managing director of NAVE, Creation and Residency Center in Santiago – Chile
Marie Bäckersten, Culture Strategist of Tjörn - Sweden
Manon Muti, Peace and Justice Digital Security Training - Netherlands
Marion Louisgrand Sylla – Founder and Director at Kër Thiossane – Senegal
Marisa Henderson, Chief of the Creative Economy Programme in United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Palais des Nations - Switzerland
Marta Keil, Curator, dramaturg and esearcher - Poland
Matthias Theodor Vogt, Founding Director of Institut für Kulturelle Infrastruktur Sachsen - Germany
Meera Krishnan, Senior Arts Manager at Prakriti Foundation - India
Menaka Rodríguez, Head-Resource Mobilisation and Outreach at India Foundation for the Arts - India
Mengtong Guan, Executive and Creative Director at Ping Pong Productions - China/United States
Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, Founder and president of Fondation Connaissance et Liberté/Fondasyon Konesans Ak Libète/Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL), former First Minister and Minister of Justice and Public Security of Haiti – Haiti
Mike Van Graan, Playwright and Project Manager at Sustaining Theatre and Dance Foundation (STAND) – South Africa
Mike Verledens, Owner of Sparklink - Belgium
Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter – South Africa
Monica Urian, Programme Manager at European Commission - Belgium
Monique Veaute, President Fondazione Romaeuropa - Arte e Cultura - Italy
N’Goné Fall, General Commissioner of the Africa2020 Season - Senegal
Nele Hertling, Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe” - Germany
Ouafa Belgacem, CEO and Co-Founder of Culture Funding Watch - Tunisia
Oussama Rifahi, Board member and Executive Director 2010 - 2016 Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) - Germany/Lebanon
Parvin Ardalan, Activits & Journalist - Iran
Polly Gifford, Executive Director at Theatre Complicité and Anchor circle member of Culture Declares Emergency - United Kingdom
Salim Rajabi, Program coordinator/Theatre of the Oppressed activist, Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO), representative of Peaceful Heart Network – Afghanistan
Sarah Melin, Curator and Producer at Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival - Sweden
Sascha Förster, Director at Theatermuseum Düsseldorf - Germany
Serhan Ada, Professor Cultural policies and management, Cultural diversity, Art practice and criticism at Istanbul Bilgi University - Turkey
Stefan Fischer-Fels, Vice-president and member of the Board of Assitej 2011-2021
Steve Austen, Permanent Fellow Felix Meritis Foundation - Netherlands
Stuart Green – Principal at Davies Collison Cave - Australia
Susanna Seidl-Fox, Program director for culture and the arts Salzburg Global Seminar - Austria
Suzette Pullinger, Trade Marks Attorney at Davies Collison Cave - Australia
Taiwo Afolabi, Interdisciplinary artistic scholar - Nigeria/Canada
Thimali Kodikara, Series Producer & Co-Host: Mothers Of Invention at DOC SOCIETY - United States
Tutu Zondo, Film and Television Creator and Creative Director at Vogue Nights Jozi - South Africa
Vallejo Gantner, Artistic Executive Director of the Onassis Foundation, chair at Hoovie – United States of America
Dr. Vicensia Shule, Senior Culture Officer African Union – Tanzania
Yusuf Mahmoud - CEO Busara Promotions, Director Sauti za Busara festival, Chairperson Music in Africa Foundation – Tanzania