Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco is the Academic Expert for the Centralised Support for the global network of Erasmus+ National Focal Points,working for PRACSIS srl. She has been recognised with the Double Gold in Education and the Global Diamond Award in Innovation from the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network (UK) and the Marie Curie Social Impact Award. As part of her passion project, she serves as the United Nations Vienna and UNESCO Representative as well as United Nations Administrator for the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, and the Chair of the Genders,Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group of the Marie Curie Alumni Association. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (UK).

A scholar of EU universities including an Erasmus scholarship and Marie Curie fellowship, she holds a PhD in Peace and International Development, a master’s degree in Global Studies, Peace and Security, and an MBA in Big Data and Business Intelligence. She also completed the Executive Program in Law, Policy and AI at IE Law School, Madrid, and the Executive Program in the Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies at the University of Cambridge.

Prior to her current engagement, she worked with international organisations and diplomatic missions in the areas of international relations, science diplomacy, development and governance.

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Kevin O'Connell has been Head of the Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Mexico since August 2024. He is responsible for EU-Mexico cooperation on political, cultural and consular matters, as well as relations with universities, think tanks and the media.

Previously, he was Political Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Delegation of the European Union to New Zealand (2020-2024). Prior to that, he worked at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels for 12 years, including six years in the cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, focusing on external relations, security, criminal law and data privacy.

He holds degrees in Economics (Master of Economics, University College Dublin), Law (LLB, LLM, Open University) and European Studies (BA, King's College London). For two years he served as an assistant professor in the Department of EU International Relations and Diplomatic Studies at the College of Europe (Bruges, Belgium).

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Kevin O'Connell es Jefe de la Sección Política, Prensa e Información de la Delegación de la Unión Europea en México desde agosto de 2024. Es responsable de la cooperación UE-México en asuntos políticos, culturales y consulares, así como de la relación con universidades, grupos de expertos y medios de comunicación.

Previamente, fue Consejero Político y Jefe de Misión Adjunto en la Delegación de la Unión Europea en Nueva Zelanda (2020-2024). Antes de eso, trabajó en la sede de la Comisión Europeaen Bruselas durante 12 años, incluidos seis años en el gabinete la Vicepresidenta Věra Jourová, Comisaria de Justicia, enfocándose en relaciones exteriores, seguridad, derecho penal y privacidad de datos.

Posee títulos en Economía (Maestría en Ciencias Económicas, University College Dublin), Derecho (LLB, LLM, Open University) y Estudios Europeos (BA, King's College London). Durante dos años fungió como profesor asistente en el Departamento de Relaciones Internacionales de la UE y Estudios Diplomáticos del Colegio de Europa (Brujas, Bélgica).

Dr. Luis Armando González Placencia is Executive Secretary General of ANUIES. He has a degree in Psychology from UNAM, a Master's degree in Sociology of Law and a PhD in Criminal Policy. He was Ombudsman of Mexico City and Rector of the Autonomous University of Tlaxcala, where he is Professor Emeritus.

He has been a teacher and researcher in various prestigious institutions and a Level II National Researcher of the SNI. His work focuses on human rights, criminal policy and social inclusion, areas in which he has numerous publications and international conferences. He presides over the Mexican Academy of Criminology and is a member of various academic councils.

Dr. Luis Armando González Placencia es SecretarioGeneral Ejecutivo de la ANUIES. Licenciado en Psicología por la UNAM, Maestroen Sociología del Derecho y Doctor en Política Criminal. Fue Ombudsman de laCiudad de México y Rector de la Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, donde es ProfesorEmérito.

Ha sido docente e investigador en diversas instituciones deprestigio e Investigador Nacional Nivel II del SNI. Su trabajo se centra en losderechos humanos, la política criminal y la inclusión social, áreas en las quecuenta con numerosas publicaciones y conferencias internacionales. Preside laAcademia Mexicana de Criminología y forma parte de diversos consejosacadémicos.

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Germán Bernal Ríos has just started a secondment to the Delegationof the European Union to the United Kingdom, to help the UK prepare for rejoiningthe Erasmus+ programme at the start of 2027.

Prior to this, he worked in the International CooperationUnit of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DGEAC) of the European Commission. Most recently he was in charge of cooperationwith the Latin America and Caribbean regions, with an emphasis on theinternational dimension of the Erasmus+ programme. In DG EAC, his pastassignments were in the unit in charge of the overall coordination of Erasmus+programme and in policy development in the fields of School Education andDigital Education.

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Luisa Bunescu is an Education Policy Officer at the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), where she leads on the higher education portfolio and the Erasmus+ programme. She has extensive experience in managing European and international higher education policies and innovation projects.

Previously, she served as Programme Coordinator of the Higher Education Initiative at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and as Policy Analyst at the European University Association (EUA). Her work focuses on strengthening higher education systems, supporting academic mobility, and fostering strategic international partnerships.

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Paul Harris is a Project Adviser at the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission, where he contributes to the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme’s Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) action. He has worked for the European Commission Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, and in several European Union executive agencies. Before that, he was a Brussels-based adviser for higher education institutions in Wales and Scotland. He has abachelors degree in European Studies and French.

Prof. Dr.José Carlos Quadrado is an internationally recognised leader in engineering education and accreditation.He serves as President of ENAEE and ENTER, and is a past President of IFEES, LACCEI, and ASIBEI. A senior electrical engineer and academic, he was recently elected as a Foreign Member of Kazakhstan’s National Higher Education Academy of Sciences (2025).

He holds multiple international honours, including the Venus de Valdivia Medal (Ecuador,2026), the Kazakhstan Medal of Merit as University Educator (2024), and the Medal of Honour of the National Council of Engineers of Italy (2022). He serves as a Visiting Professor globally, holds several patents, and has authored over 150 scientific publications.

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Alejandra Yanez has been part of the Universidadde Monterrey (UDEM) community for over 20 years. She serves as Chief Internationalization Officer within the Vice-Presidency for Integral Formation,leading institutional internationalization strategies for students, faculty,and staff while fostering strategic global partnerships aligned with UDEM’s vision.

Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles in governance, institutional relations, and study abroad. She is also a professor in the Social Sciences Department and an active member of APAIE, NAFSA, and EAIE. Frequently invited by the media to comment on Mexican foreign policy and diplomatic protocol, she is committed to advancing global education. Alejandra holds degrees in International Relations and Humanities,and is a PhD candidate in Higher Education Internationalization.

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Attila Nagy is the International Project Coordinator and Vice-President of the Youth Association from Transylvania (ATA), Romania, with nearly two decades of experience in European youth, education, and mobility programmes. He has coordinated numerous EU-funded projects focused on youth participation,inclusion, and competence development.

Notably, he coordinated the VETPACT project, an Erasmus+ Capacity Building initiative with ten partners across Europe and Latin America designed to enhance vocational skills visibility,mobility, and competence-based learning. Combining project management with hands-on experience as a trainer and facilitator, his work bridges European programmes with local community needs in Transylvania and partner communities globally.

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Lorena del C. Ramos holds a Degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (UCA, El Salvador) and in Industrial Engineering from the Technological University of Panama (UTP). She has a solid track record in innovation management, formulation and evaluation of technological development projects, knowledge transfer and articulation with the productive and institutional sector. She serves as the Innovation and Linkage Coordinator at the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT-UTP), where she leads entrepreneurship initiatives, dynamisation of innovative culture and strategic alliances. In addition, she participates in research projects focused on social innovation, labour sustainability and digital transformation in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Mgtr. Lorena del C. Ramos es Mgtr. en Emprendimiento eInnovación por la Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA, ElSalvador) e Ingeniera Industrial por la Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá(UTP). Cuenta con una sólida trayectoria en gestión de la innovación, formulación y evaluación de proyectos de desarrollo tecnológico, transferencia del conocimiento y articulación con el sector productivo e institucional.

Se desempeña como Coordinadora de Innovación y Vinculación en el Centro de Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica(CITT-UTP), donde lidera iniciativas de emprendimiento, dinamización de la cultura innovadora y alianzas estratégicas. Además, participa en proyectos de investigación enfocados en la innovación social, la sostenibilidad laboral y la transformación digital en las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas.

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Juan Viesca is the European Funds Director at Finnova, a Belgian foundation specialising in European funding for innovative projects. He is also a Professor in the Master’s in International Studies and EU at the University of Valencia, a member of the Valencian Committee for European Affairs, and an expert evaluator for the European Commission. He previously served as Director General for European Projects and Funds at the Valencian Ministry of Finance and worked at the European Commission managing university-industry technology transfer programmes. He has published on European funding and digital entrepreneurship. Juan holds degrees in Naval Engineering from UPM and ENSTA ParisTech.

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Dr. Angelica Reyes Mendoza holds a PhD in Accounting from the UANL (Cum Laude mention) and is a Full-Time Research Professor at the UABC, with PRODEP Profile and ANFECA certification. Leader of the Consolidated Academic Body UABC-CAC-256, she presides over the Academy of Administrative Sciences and is a member of the University Council and other collegiate bodies. She is also part of the Basic Academic Core in postgraduate studies, coordinates the REPICE National Network and the Business Administration career. With 18 years of face-to-face and virtual teaching experience, she has extensive scientific publications, in addition to more than 70 courses and five refresher diplomas.

Dra. Angelica Reyes Mendoza es Doctora en Contaduría por la UANL (menciónCum Laude) y Profesora Investigadora de Tiempo Completo en la UABC, con Perfil PRODEP y certificación ANFECA. Líder del Cuerpo Académico Consolidado UABC-CAC-256, preside la Academia de Ciencias Administrativas e integra el Consejo Universitario y otros órganos colegiados. También forma parte del Núcleo Académico Básico en posgrados, coordina la Red Nacional REPICE y lacarrera de Administración de Empresas. Con 18 años de experiencia docente presencial y virtual, cuenta con una amplia producción científica en capítulosde libros y revistas indexadas, además de más de 70 cursos y cinco diplomados de actualización.

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Alejandra Cruz Tovar is Head of the Office for Knowledge Generation Management at Universidad Antonio Nariño (Colombia). She leads institutional strategies to strengthen research, knowledge management, and the formulation of Science,Technology, Innovation and Creation (STIC) projects for national and international funding. Previously, she served as Coordinator of International Cooperation, promoting global partnerships and research collaboration through programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. Her work focuses on building bridges between academia, government, territorial stakeholders, local communities, and international partners to develop collaborative initiatives that address societal challenges. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Government and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia and a Master's degree in Peacebuilding with a focus on Public Policy from Universidad de los Andes.

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Dr. Isabel Cornejo Plaza is a Jean Monnet Chair holder in "Human Behaviour and Regulation of Neurotechnologies"and a full-time professor and researcher at the Faculty of Law, Universidad Autónoma de Chile. She serves as the Director of the Research Group in Artificial Intelligence and Law, as well as the Director of LISA LAB (Laboratorio de Innovación, Tecnologías y Ciencias Jurídicas). Additionally, she is the Director of the Jean Monnet e-Ride Module ‘Ethics and Research Integrity in the Digital Age’. Dr. Cornejo Plaza acts as an expert advisor to the Senate of Chile's Commission on Challenges of the Future and is an internationally recognised scholar specialising in neurorights, artificial intelligence, and bioethics. 

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Geraldina Camargo Fernández is an educator, pedagogue and specialist in educational publishing, with more than 40 years of experience in education,institutional management, pedagogical innovation and distance education. She currently serves as General Director of the Association of Educational and Cultural Services (ASEC/IGER), where she promotes processes of institutional strengthening, innovation and expansion of opportunities for young people and adults. With a degree in Pedagogy from the Rafael Landívar University and a Master's Degree in Publishing from the Open University of Catalonia, she has specialized training in leadership and hybrid education. She has actively participated in international cooperation initiatives, skills development and projects linked to the Erasmus+ program.

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Geraldina Camargo Fernández es educadora, pedagoga y especialista en edición educativa, con más de 40 años de experiencia en educación, gestión institucional, innovación pedagógica y educación a distancia. Actualmente se desempeña como Directora General de la Asociación de Servicios Educativos y Culturales (ASEC/IGER), donde impulsa procesos de fortalecimiento institucional, innovación y ampliación de oportunidades para jóvenes y adultos. Licenciada en Pedagogía por la Universidad Rafael Landívar y Maestra en Ediciónpor la Universidad Abierta de Cataluña, cuenta con formación especializada enliderazgo y educación híbrida. Ha participado activamente en iniciativas de cooperación internacional, desarrollo de competencias y proyectos vinculados al programa Erasmus+.

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Edgar Omar López Caudana is a research professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey and a member of the Institute for the Future of Education. He holds a PhD in Communications and Electronics from the IPN and conducts interdisciplinary research in educational innovation, Education 4.0, complex thinking, and social robotics applied to education and health. He has led international initiatives funded by Erasmus+, including DigiUGov, focused on digital transformation and university governance, and MakerWomenSTEM,aimed at strengthening women's participation in Maker and STEM education. His career combines scientific research, student training, technological innovation, and international collaboration. Among his awards are the QS Reimagine Education Award, recognitions for leadership, scientific output, and educational innovation, as well as his membership in the National System of Researchers. His work seeks to turn technology and educational innovation into tools for transformation and social impact. 

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César E. Gutiérrez Jurado is Executive Director for Institutional Strengthening at the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES) in Mexico. He served three consecutive terms as President of the Mexican Association for International Education (AMPEI), representing a broad network of public and private higher education institutions across the country. He also serves as the Erasmus+ National Focal Point for Mexico, facilitating academic mobility, institutional cooperation and international engagement through the Erasmus+ programme.

A distinguished professor in the Humanities Department at Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (UACH), César also served for nine years as Director of Internationalization and Linkage at the same university. This included initiating and managing projects supported by the U.S. Embassy,Santander Bank, the British Council, and the French and Mexican Ministries of Education.

César is also Mexico’s national representative and coordinator for the Latin American Initiative for the Internationalization of Higher Education (INILAT).

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Alexandros Diamantis-Balaskas is an EU Projects Manager and Non-Formal Education Facilitator at Action Synergy S.A.in Greece, with over 12 years of experience in European education and youth projects. He serves as the Project Coordinator of InclusiVET, an international capacity-building initiative focused on improving employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for artists with disabilities.

His work centres on social inclusion, youth work, civic participation, and innovative non-formal education methodologies, including educational drama, cinema, podcasting, and participatory approaches. Through InclusiVET, he also advances the application of inclusive learning approaches and Universal Design for Learning principles in vocational education and training.

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Inmaculada Mora Ortí is an International Relations professional with over 20 years of experience in managing international projects in education, innovation, and tourism. She holds a Master’s degree in Tourism Management and Planning from the University of Valencia.

Since2012, she has headed the International Relations Department at Florida Grupo Educativo, leading internationalisation strategies and partnership development across Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

She currently leads CIRCULAT, an Erasmus+ Capacity Building project focused on circular economy and digitalisation in Latin America. A member of the SEPIE Expert Evaluators Panel, she actively contributes to international networks such as EAIE and EfVET, promoting innovation and educational cooperation.

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Dr. Rodolfo Casarín is a Senior Researcher and Professor of Civil Engineering at the Institute of Engineering of the UNAM, as well as a PhD in Coastal and Port Engineering from the University of Cantabria. He has more than 35 years of international experience in coastal engineering and ecosystem-based solutions. Since 1995 he has led the Oceanographic and Coastal Engineering Group of the UNAM and since 2016 he has directed the CEMIE-Ocean. He was a Delegate of Mexico and Regional Coordinator in the EXCEED network. He is a prolific researcher with more than 750 publications, 130 technical reports and several patents.

Dr.Rodolfo Casarín es Investigador Titular y Profesor de Ingeniería Civil en el Instituto de Ingeniería de la UNAM, además de Doctor en Ingeniería Costera y Portuaria por la Universidad de Cantabria. Cuenta con más de 35 añosde experiencia internacional en ingeniería costera y soluciones basadas enecosistemas.

Desde1995 lidera el Grupo de Ingeniería Oceanográfica y Costera de la UNAM y desde2016 dirige el CEMIE-Océano. Fue Delegado de México y Coordinador Regional enla red EXCEED. Es un prolífico investigador con más de 750 publicaciones, 130reportes técnicos y varias patentes.

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Anna Piotrowska is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Education Relations and Programming team in Global Affairs Canada’s Pan-Geographic Affairs Bureau, leading select bilateral education cooperation initiatives and supporting federal–provincial collaboration. Since March 2025, she has also served as Canada’s Erasmus+ National Focal Point.

Prior to joining Global Affairs Canada, she was Associate Director, International at McGill University and held academic and administrative roles at higher education institutions across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and French Literature from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from New York University.

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Manuela Alfé is Head of Sector Skills, in the Skills and Innovation Unit at the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, of the European Commission, where she leads several actions focussing on Vocational education and training (VET), funded by the Erasmus +Programme.  Her work focuses on promoting excellence in the area of VET, putting emphasis on the international dimension of the actions and enhancing skills development.

She has extensiveexperience in the management of European projects, both in the field of education and research. 

Previously, she worked as Call coordinator and Head of the Grant management team at the SESAR Joint Undertaking and at the European Commission Research Executive Agency. She has a PhD in Political Science and Institutions in Europe.

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Amada Pérez Traba is Coordinator of the External Funds and Research Support Office at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Ecuador. She supports the identification, development, and management of externally funded research, innovation, and cooperation projects, focusing on international funding programmes and strategic partnerships.

She serves as USFQ’s Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR) and primary administrative contact in the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal. Amada currently coordinates two USFQ-led Erasmus+ Capacity Building projects: InnoLabs and GRETA. Her work focuses on strengthening institutional capacities for research support, university–industry collaboration, innovation ecosystems, and sustainable international cooperation.

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Danny Vandenbroucke is a Research Manager at KU Leuven, Belgium, specialising in geospatial and space technologies for environmental, agricultural, and urban planning applications. He served as scientific and technical coordinator for the Erasmus+ Blueprint project EO4GEO within the Earth Observation and Geoinformation sector. He has extensive experience in designing and delivering work-based vocational training in collaboration with private partners.

Currently,he coordinates the Erasmus+ project “Saint Lucia Training for Climate Resilience using Citizens Science Data (SALUT)”. This initiative uses a train-the-trainer approach to equip professionals from public agencies,companies, and schools with hands-on skills to monitor climate change phenomena.

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Dr. Johanna Masse is Strategic Partnerships Manager at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Université Laval. She leads the development of international partnerships and institutional agreements that strengthen the faculty’s global engagement and internationalisation efforts.

Drawing on a research background rooted in the analysis of complex social and political issues, she brings a strong analytical perspective to the design and management of international collaborations in higher education. 

She earned a PhD in Political Science from Université Laval, with a specialisation in political violence and gender, and subsequently completed postdoctoral fellowships at Queen’s University and University College Dublin.

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Margarita López Pinzón holds a Master's degree in Didactics from the University of Caldas, Colombia, where she directed the programme for 12 years and served as Head of the Graduate Office for four years. She possesses extensive teaching and educational research experience, co-authoring publications on curriculum development, qualitative research, and English Language Teaching.

She is Head of the International Relations Office at the University of Caldas, a position she has held for eight years. Her responsibilities include overseeing student and faculty mobility, curriculum internationalisation, and international cooperation projects. She has coordinated and participated innumerous international initiatives with partners from the European Union, the United States, and Germany, including Erasmus+ and DAAD-funded projects.

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Julissa Gómez is a mother, professor and researcher at the Technological University of Nayarit for 20 years, and has a Master's degree in Information Technologies. She has an outstanding career in higher education, participating in the opening of new academic programs and initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, soft skills and prevention of gender violence.

She currently coordinates international cooperation projects, leading the Ibero4jobs project of the Erasmus+ program since 2023. In this role, she articulates collaboration between the governmental, business and social sectors to enhance the skills of students and teachers, in addition to strengthening the university-business linkage ecosystem.

Julissa Gómez es mamá, profesora e investigadora en la Universidad Tecnológica de Nayarit desde hace 20 años y Maestra en Tecnologías de la Información. Posee una destacada trayectoria en educación superior, participando en la apertura de nuevos programas académicos y eniniciativas enfocadas en el emprendimiento, habilidades blandas y prevención del a violencia de género.

Actualmente coordina proyectos de cooperación internacional, liderando desde 2023 el proyecto Ibero4jobs del programa Erasmus+. En esta función, articula la colaboración entre los sectores gubernamental, empresarial y social para potenciar las competencias deestudiantes y docentes, además de fortalecer el ecosistema de vinculación universidad-empresa.

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