Alexander Boto Bastegieta holds a degree in Economics from the University of the Basque Country and a Master’s degree in Territorial and Environmental Planning from the London School of Economics, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Management. He has an extensive professional career of more than 30 years in the field of environmental management and public policy.

He is currently Director General of Ihobe, the Environmental Agency of the Basque Government, within the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability. Throughout his career, he has held senior management positions related to environmental planning, natural environment, climate change, strategy and communication, both at Ihobe and within the Basque Government. His professional background combines strategic leadership, environmental planning and the coordination of public environmental policies.

Kurt is director general at the European Commission’s directorate general for climate action (DG CLIMA) since January 2023. Before that, he was the Green Deal and health advisor to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Between 2016 and 2019, Vandenberghe was director for policy and programming, and subsequently, acting director for research and innovation outreach at DG RTD. Vandenberghe had worked as the director for climate action and resource efficiency at DG RTD since 2013. He served as head of the cabinet of EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik between 2004 and 2010, and in the cabinet of Philppe Busquin from 1999 to 2004. Vandenberghe holds a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Gianmarco is a policy researcher working for DG Climate Action at the European Commission, where he coordinates the implementation of the LIFE Subprogrammes on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

Hans is Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Executive Agency - CINEA, responsible for the implementation of the LIFE CLIMA and LIFE ENERGY Programme. He has worked for the European Commission for 25 years in different positions, first in the field of external relations and development aid, then in the field of energy. Before joining the European Commission, he worked with the United Nations and international NGOs in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Adolfo Uriarte Villalba holds a PhD in Oceanography and a Master’s degree in Oceanography from the University of Southampton, as well as a degree in Geological Sciences from the University of the Basque Country. He also completed the ADECA senior management programme for agri-food companies at Fundación San Telmo.

He has an extensive professional background of more than three decades in marine and environmental research, primarily at AZTI Foundation, where he has held senior scientific, managerial and market-oriented positions within the Marine Research area. His career includes roles as Head of the Oceanography Department, Scientific Director of Marine Research, Director of Market Development and Director of Value Development.

He is currently Director of Natural Heritage and Climate Change Adaptation, and is also actively involved in higher education as a lecturer in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Marine Environment and Resources (MER) and in the Master’s Degree in Environment, Sustainability and SDGs at the University of the Basque Country.

Bernd, Head of Sector, LIFE Climate Action, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, CINEA, is affiliated with the LIFE programme for more than 10 years, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation, both, in urban and rural areas. In the past, he worked on environmental health with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, on urban environmental planning and management with UN-HABITAT and on sustainable transport and mobility with local authorities and the European Commission.

Aušra is the LIFE IP EnerLIT project group manager at Environmental Project Management Agency, Lithuania. She works with LIFE projects, including capacity building of applicants and beneficiaries since 2016. Earlier involved in administration of EU funding programmes. PhD in environmental engineering.

Angela is a Policy Officer in the Smart and Sustainable Growth Unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy. Her work focuses on climate investments under Cohesion Policy, particularly on climate adaptation and disaster risk management. Before joining the European Commission, she worked on just transition and disaster resilience at the United Nations and the Spanish administration.

Director of the Climate Change Office of Navarre, Fernando holds a degree in Industrial Engineering by the Public University of Navarre. After three and a half years at a consulting firm specializing in innovation, he joined the Government of Navarre in 2006, where he held positions of responsibility in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and mining.

Since December 2023, he has been the Director of the Climate Change Office of Navarre within the Directorate General for the Environment and, since December 2024, the coordinator of the LIFE-IP NAdapta-CC project, until the end of the project in December 2025.

Biologist, Victoria works in the Biodiversity Foundation, a public entity attached to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. Since 2017, responsible for the coordination of the integrated LIFE INTEMARES project, "Integrated, Innovative and Participatory Management of the Natura 2000 Network in the Marine Environment". Her professional career has been linked to the preparation and management of European projects in the field of biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, at national and international level, mainly through the LIFE financial instrument.

Diana is a dedicated environmental professional with 18 years of experience in EU affairs. She has worked closely with MEPs, preparing legislative files for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and the Regional Development (REGI) Committees of the European Parliament. As a policy officer at DG Environment, European Commission, she managed the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and the international aspects of circular economy. For the past 12 years, she serves as a Project Advisor for the LIFE programme at the Executive Agency for Climate, Environment and Infrastructure (CINEA).

Senior policy advisor on climate adaptation at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management and project coordinator of LIFE IP NASCELLERATE.

Karoliina is Director of the EU LIFE project ACE LIFE, accelerating climate efforts and low-emission investments in Finland. She is an experienced project leader and researcher advancing the clean energy transition. With a PhD in policy co-design and over 20 years of expertise in energy systems, policy and economic analysis, she bridges research and implementation to deliver impact. ACE LIFE focuses on accelerating emission reductions in agriculture, heavy-duty transport and mobile machinery, addressing key implementation and financing gaps in the effort-sharing sector.

Fabio is a climate physicist by background. He worked in a regional environmental protection agency in Italy dealing with air quality and climate adaptation matters. He started working for the European Institutions in 2008 and served in DG CLIMA and JRC before landing in the EC executive agencies and managing a portfolio of climate project on climate modelling, services and adaptation.

Since 2024, Amaury Parelle has been the national coordinator of the Life ARTISAN programme at the French Office for Biodiversity, which aims to roll out nature-based adaptation solutions across France. With a background in political science and environmental economics, he has spent the last 10 years working on multi-stakeholder cooperation projects addressing the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation. He has chosen to address these issues from various perspectives: initially through bilateral cooperation at embassies or multilateral cooperation within NGOs, then more recently at the national and local level in France within a consultancy firm, and now within a government agency dedicated to the preservation of biodiversity.

Juan Terrádez Mas is a senior European project manager specializing in climate change and natural risks, currently working at the Pyrenean Climate Change Observatory (CTP). He coordinates INTERREG projects (POCTEFA, SUDOE) on climate adaptation in mountain regions and has extensive experience in regional and national adaptation strategies (Italy, Spain). He is an expert in territorial cooperation, climate governance, and multilingual science communication.

Jacek is the LIFE AFTER COAL project management team member, European Climate Pact Ambassador, doctor of economics, supporting initiatives in the fields of climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

Experienced Project Manager with over 10 years of experience in environmental and public-sector initiatives and projects. With a technical academic background as a Civil Engineer from the National Technical University of Athens, and a specialization in Urban and Regional Planning (MSc) and Management (MBA), I currently serve as Project Manager for LIFE-IP AdaptInGR project, supporting the implementation of Greece’s National Adaptation Strategy.

Miljenko is a climate policy and resilience expert with over 20 years of experience working with EU institutions, national ministries, and local and regional governments. He leads the Climate and Resilience Department at REGEA, focusing on climate risk assessments, adaptation planning, and climate-resilient infrastructure investments. At the European level, he contributes to adaptation processes with DG REGIO and DG CLIMA and serves on the UK National Adaptation Advisory Board. He coordinates the AdaptationHubs project and founded the Croatian NECP Dialogue Platform, promoting multilevel climate governance aligned with EU policy.