MASTER OF CEREMONY

Anna-Lena Claeys-Kulik

Moderator, Coach and Higher Education Policy Expert

Anna-Lena is a certified systemic coach, moderator and independent European higher education policy and foresight expert. As coach, she helps multicultural teams, particularly of associations and university representations active at European level, to improve collaboration, effectiveness and wellbeing at work. As master of ceremony and moderator, she brings presence, energy and expertise to your event, holds space for others to shine and creates connection between the speakers and the audience to foster open exchange and mutual understanding.

Before starting her journey as full-time entrepreneur in 2025, Anna-Lena worked for almost 15 years in different positions in European cooperation in higher education, research and innovation policy and foresight, for most of the time at the European University Association (EUA).

Day 1 | 17 June

WORDS OF WELCOME

Hannes Raffaseder

President of EURASHE, CEO St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences

Hannes is a Member of the Executive Board as Chief Research & Innovation Officer of St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences and leading coordinator of E³UDRES², the Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions.

Geleyn Meijer

EU Affairs Representative, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Before his appointment to the Executive Board, Geleyn Meijer served as dean of the AUAS Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries for seven years. Geleyn began his career as a partner at Logica and strategy director at Logica Management Consulting Netherlands. He studied Physics at the University of Amsterdam and received his PhD in Robotics in 1991.

Sofyan Mbarki

Alderman, City of Amsterdam

Sofyan Mbarki is the alderman for sports, education, economic affairs, and youth services in Amsterdam, representing the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA). Mbarki is committed to creating an inclusive city where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of their background. Through his work, he aims to improve the quality of life and social cohesion in Amsterdam. Before becoming an alderman, Mbarki served as the leader of the PvdA in the city council. He was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Nieuw-West.

Ekaterina Zaharieva (video message)

European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation

As Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva’s task is to drive the EU’s ambition to put research and innovation, science and technology at the centre of our economy. She works to foster investment and cooperation, creating the right conditions for researchers to thrive and develop new skills, and the innovation needed for the EU’s competitiveness, security and sustainability goals.

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Robbert Dijkgraaf

Professor for Science and Society, University of Amsterdam, former Minister of Education, Culture & Science in the Netherlands

Robbert Dijkgraaf is a mathematical physicist who has made significant contributions to string theory and the advancement of science education. He was Director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (2012-2022). In 2022, he became the Minister of Education, Culture & Science in the Netherlands, until 2024. In 2025 he returned to academia as a Professor of Science and Society at the University of Amsterdam, and has recently been elected President-Elect of the International Science Council.

Plenary Session: Applied universities as drivers of European competitiveness

Moderator: Anna-Lena Claeys-Kulik

Moderator, Coach and Higher Education Policy Expert

Anna-Lena is a certified systemic coach, moderator and independent European higher education policy and foresight expert. As coach, she helps multicultural teams, particularly of associations and university representations active at European level, to improve collaboration, effectiveness and wellbeing at work. As master of ceremony and moderator, she brings presence, energy and expertise to your event, holds space for others to shine and creates connection between the speakers and the audience to foster open exchange and mutual understanding.

Before starting her journey as full-time entrepreneur in 2025, Anna-Lena worked for almost 15 years in different positions in European cooperation in higher education, research and innovation policy and foresight, for most of the time at the European University Association (EUA).

Robbert Dijkgraaf

Professor for Science and Society, University of Amsterdam, former Minister of Education, Culture & Science in the Netherlands

Robbert Dijkgraaf is a mathematical physicist who has made significant contributions to string theory and the advancement of science education. He was Director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (2012-2022). In 2022, he became the Minister of Education, Culture & Science in the Netherlands, until 2024. In 2025 he returned to academia as a Professor of Science and Society at the University of Amsterdam, and has recently been elected President-Elect of the International Science Council.

Ellen Hazelkorn

Joint Managing Partner, BH Associates, Professor Emerita, Technological University Dublin

Professor Ellen Hazelkorn is an internationally-recognised expert in higher education and research. She was vice-president at Dublin Institute of Technology (now Technological University Dublin), has advised governments globally, authored over 200 publications, and is recognised for her contributions to education policy, rankings, and quality assurance in higher education.

Geleyn Meijer

EU Affairs Representative, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Before his appointment to the Executive Board, Geleyn Meijer served as dean of the AUAS Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries for seven years. Geleyn began his career as a partner at Logica and strategy director at Logica Management Consulting Netherlands. He studied Physics at the University of Amsterdam and received his PhD in Robotics in 1991.

Plenary Session: Applied Universities and the City

Moderator: Ulla Preeden

Deputy Mayor City of Tartu, Vice-President of EURASHE

Ulla is the former Rector of Tartu Applied Health Science University. She also represents her institution within the Estonian Rectors’ Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (RCUAS). She was elected Deputy Mayor on 4 December 2025.

Petr Blížkovský

Secretary-General, European Committee of the Regions

Petr Blížkovský was appointed Secretary-General of the European Committee of the Regions on 7 October 2019, for a period of five years. In 2024 his mandate was prolonged for another two years.

Over a career spanning nearly three decades in various public roles, Petr Blížkovský has been a member of a city council and a university lecturer, and served in a number of positions in the Czech and Europe an civil services. He was also a young elected politician during the Velvet Revolution.

Doutje Lettinga

Chief Science Officer, City of Amsterdam

Dr. Doutje servers as Chief Science Officer (CSO) for the City of Amsterdam, where she connects research, policy and practice to address urban challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. In addition, she holds the special chair ‘Urban Dynamics of Rights and Justice’ at the University of Amsterdam. Between 2020-2025, Doutje was the Manager of the Research and Policy department of The Netherlands Human Rights Institute. Previously, she worked as a researcher and strategic policy advisor across government, academia, and international (non-profit) organizations, with a focus on human rights, pluralism, citizenship and justice.

Heimo Sandtner

Rector, Hochschule Campus Vienna

FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Heimo Sandtner has been Academic Director and Rector of the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna since February 2022, involved with the university since 2011.

Sandtner studied Materials Science at the Montanuniversität Leoben, where he subsequently worked as a university assistant and deputy head of the Institute of Refractory Building Materials and Ceramics. In 2003, he completed his doctoral thesis on computer assisted systems in teaching. Since 2024, Sandtner has also been a member of the executive board of the Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference.

Nynke Van Dijk

Member Executive Board, Amsterdam UAS

Since March 2026, Nynke van Dijk is member of the executive board of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, with a focus on research, education and student wellbeing. She has been trained as medical doctor and educationalist and has combined teaching/education, research and management roles at the Amsterdam University Medical Center for almost 20 years. She is a Professor of education and training of Health Care professionals at the University of Amsterdam. From 2020 to 2026 she was dean of the faculty of Health, Sports and Physical Activity at Amsterdam UAS.

Plenary Session: Spotlight on Applied eXel

Mark Butler

Vice President, Corporate Development, Applied Research & International, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

As Vice President at SAIT, Mark leads a portfolio including Applied Research, Corporate Training, Business Intelligence and Analytics, International Projects and Business Operations, the Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies, and SAIT’s International Centre. His responsibilities include local, national and international business development, partnerships and revenue diversification. Before his extensive leadership roles, Mark taught various courses at Lakeland College and has developed and/or delivered many educational management and leadership projects, programs and courses.

Karin Verschoor

Member Executive Board, Saxion University of Applied Sciences (tbc)

Pascal Krupka

UNESCO Chair on Strategic Foresight and Higher Education, Higher Colleges of Technology

His career began at EM Normandie in 1987, before joining NEOMA in 1999 as a professor specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship, where he developed 15 new programs. In 2014, he joined Montpellier Business School as an Associate Dean, where he developed innovative pedagogical approaches with the faculty. He then joined the Kedge Business School in 2018, as the Director of Programs, where he worked on a major transformation of the institution’s flagship program. He is Associate Dean – Business Faculty at Higher Colleges of Technology since August 2023.

Alan Kin-tak Lau

President, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong

Professor Lau’s career began as a technical apprentice, then progressed to an engineer, and finally became a scientist, with research areas spanning novel materials, smart structures, and renewable energy. He co-founded three world-class companies focusing on hydrogen energy, electric vehicle chargers, and kitchen appliances, respectively. He is an active researcher and entrepreneur. Despite dedicating significant time to innovative educational systems in applied science and technology, he maintains a high level of research activity. His papers have been cited over 32,000 times, with an h-index exceeding 85. Currently, academic programmes at THEi are mostly funded by industry, resulting in high graduate employment rates.

Plenary session: Spotlight on The Netherlands

Moderator: Jurgen Rienks

Director, Netherlands House for Education and Research (Neth-ER)

Jurgen Rienks is Director of the Netherlands house for Education and Research (Neth-ER) in Brussels since July 1, 2019. Since 2013, Jurgen worked as Director International Strategy and Relations at Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), where he was responsible, among other things, for drafting the Joint International Vision and the International Agenda. Prior to that, he held various positions at and for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, as well as the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission (DG EAC), where he focused on the modernisation agenda for higher education.

Rogier Busser

Member of Board of Directors, Hotelschool The Hague

Rogier joined Hotelschool The Hague as dean and a member of the Board of Directors on 1 October 2023. He has over 20 years’ experience in academic management positions at research universities and universities of applied sciences. Apart from that, he has also been in several administrative positions such as director of international relations (Faculty of Humanities, Leiden), managing director of the Leiden University College in The Hague and programme director for International Business Studies at the Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS).

Marc Otto

Chair Executive Board, NHL Stenden UAS

Marc is Chair of the Executive Board at NHL Stenden since 1st January 2025. He has already been a member of the Board since August 2020. Prior to that, Marc held board positions at Deltion College in Zwolle and LMC Voortgezet Onderwijs. His mission? To offer students an unforgettable time studying in a vibrant and inspiring environment.

Wilma Scholte op Reimer

Chair Executive Board, HU Utrecht

Wilma has been a member of the Executive Board of Hogeschool Utrecht since 1 February 2020 and Chair of the Executive Board since 1 September 2023. She previously worked at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HU). She has extensive experience as a dean, programme manager, assistant professor, and professor. Wilma is at the heart of practice in practice-oriented research and attaches great value to the connection between education and research.

Plenary session: Applied Research in European University Alliances

Moderator: Liam Brown

Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation, Technological University of the Shannon

With significant public and private sector experience, Dr Liam Brown has a proven track record in strategic development and operational management of research, development, innovation, community and enterprise engagement. He leads the RDI team across all TUS campuses, Ireland’s first cross-regional Technological University and is focused on areas that have clear social, cultural, economic and environmental impact regionally, nationally and internationally. Collaboration and addressing the needs of internal and external stakeholders – academic, industry and community is a key focus along with sustained growth of funding, postgraduate and postdoctoral research across the RDI continuum. Delivering for stakeholders through impactful projects and meaningful research output is the priority.

Dr Brown represents TUS on several external boards and is the TUS lead for the European Universities Alliance: RUN–EU.

Corinna Engelhardt-Nowitzki

Scientific Director, FH Joanneum, EU4DUAL (TBC)

Koen Goethals

President, HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts (U!REKA)

Koen Goethals obtained a Master and a PhD in Biological Sciences from Ghent University
(UGent). He pursued a career as a researcher in the field of molecular genetics and in 2002
was appointed a tenured lecturer in Molecular Genetics at UGent.

In 2004 Koen started as Chief Academic Administrator of UGent, responsible for the administration and policy in research, education, personnel, juridical affairs, communication, and internationalization. Together with the rector, the vice-rector, and the Chief Logistic Administrator he was responsible for the daily management of UGent. In 2017 Koen changed gears and became President (“General Director”) of the HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Ghent, Belgium).

Dick Pouwels

Chairman Executive Board, Hanze UAS (STARS-EU)

Dick Pouwels has been Chairman of the Executive Board of Hanze University of Applied Sciences since January 2021. He studied Business Economics at the University of Groningen and was, among other positions, a member of the Management Board at Wageningen University & Research and Chairman of the Executive Board of HAS University of Applied Sciences, a university of applied sciences with campuses in Den Bosch and Venlo.

Conclusions and key takeaways

Anna-Lena Claeys-Kulik

Moderator, Coach and Higher Education Policy Expert

Anna-Lena is a certified systemic coach, moderator and independent European higher education policy and foresight expert. As coach, she helps multicultural teams, particularly of associations and university representations active at European level, to improve collaboration, effectiveness and wellbeing at work. As master of ceremony and moderator, she brings presence, energy and expertise to your event, holds space for others to shine and creates connection between the speakers and the audience to foster open exchange and mutual understanding.

Before starting her journey as full-time entrepreneur in 2025, Anna-Lena worked for almost 15 years in different positions in European cooperation in higher education, research and innovation policy and foresight, for most of the time at the European University Association (EUA).

Simon Pickard

Network Director at Science|Business

Simon Pickard leads on network engagement and development for Science|Business in line with the company’s growth strategy. He previously held directorial positions with The Academy of Business in Society (ABIS) network and IDAS Global, a technology solutions provider to the global cash industry. Within these roles, he designed and coordinated many international research and education projects focused on sustainability-driven innovation. Simon holds master’s degrees in modern languages from the University of Oxford and in business administration from HEC Paris School of Management.