Speakers at the 2026 Annual Event
Day 1 - General Assembly & Grundtvig Award
Marta Jendeková has over 25 years of professional experience in the non-formal adult education sector as a trainer, project manager and researcher. She focuses on making civic, green and sustainability competences accessible to the public, also through online learning. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Slovak umbrella organisation of AE institutions (AIVD SK) and served on the EAEA Board in 2023–2025.
Raffaela Kihrer is Secretary General at the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and has extensive experience in advocacy and policy on adult learning and education at the European and international level, with a particular focus on citizenship and development. Since June 2022, she is also an elected Vice-President of the Lifelong Learning Platform which brings together all sectors of education. Her background is in International Development Studies, and she is a trained teacher in secondary school education and adult learning.
Dearbháil Lawless is the Chief Executive Officer in AONTAS, the National Learning Organisation in Ireland. Dearbháil attended at the UNESCO CONFINTEA VII conference in 2022 as an Irish national delegate. Her background in education includes teaching in community education, Further Education and Training and lecturing in Higher Education.
Anna Skocz is a certified trainer at the NGO Trainers Association sTOP, an intercultural educator and coach specialising in the Points of You method (Level 3 Expert) and the Solution-Focused Approach. She delivers international and intercultural trainings for Polish and foreign organisations. EAEA board member and coordinator and initiator of the Quality in Non-formal Adult Education and Learning (Q-ALE) project.
Oleg Smirnov is a Ukrainian expert in adult education, civil society development and intercultural dialogue with over 30 years of experience. He is a founding member and current board member of the Integration and Development Centre for Information and Research (Max van der Stoel Award 2009), where he has led initiatives to promote interethnic understanding and civic engagement, including the development of the Culture of Good Neighbourhood course. Since 2015, he has served as Director of DVV International’s Ukraine Country Office, focusing on strengthening adult education systems at learner, institutional and policy levels. Oleg has served on the Board of EAEA since 2021.
Lauri Tuomi is the CEO of the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation and the President of EAEA. Moreover, he serves as the Vice President of the Finnish Association for Adult Education. He is a member of Finland's UNESCO Commission and Finland's Prime Minister's Commission on Sustainable Development. Lauri holds a doctorate in strategic management as well as a teaching qualification.
Greta Pelucco is a specialist in international relations and business human rights, with a strong focus on the intersection of policy, advocacy, and civic engagement. Currently serving as Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), she has experience in the context of civic lobbying, as well as leading and coordinating civic and social projects. Passionate about international and European public affairs and their intersections with social justice, human rights, and democratic governance.
Day 2 - Conference, panel & workshops
Agnieszka Borek is a certified trainer and supervisor with over 20 years of experience working with adult learners and social sector organisations. She is President of the NGO Trainers’ Association sTOP, President of the Management Board of Valores Foundation – Poland’s first venture philanthropy fund, and Managing Director of the Social Business Accelerator at PSIK. She specialises in well-being, resilience and sustainable leadership in mission-driven organisations, designing experiential learning processes that strengthen psychological safety, personal agency and inner balance.
Andrea Filippo Calabria is the Responsible of the Art, Culture, Design and Gamification Department at CEIPES ETS. He is an experienced trainer working in both youth and adult education, facilitating workshops based on non-formal education methodologies. His work focuses on the use of theatre, digital media and gamification as tools for learning, participation and community engagement.
Irene Capozzi has a Master’s Degree in Cooperation for Development and has implemented social projects for many years in the non-profit sector in Italy, in different regions of Europe and in developing countries. She has more than 10 years expertise as a trainer in non-formal education and in local and European project development and management.
Gustav Fridolin is an adult educator at Stockholm City Mission Folk High School and a doctoral student in adult education at the University of Gothenburg. Since 2021, he has served on the Executive Board of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA). He also has a background in politics, having served as Sweden’s Minister for Education from 2014 to 2019.
Alicja Gałązka is a professor at the University of Silesia, a psychotherapist, pedagogue, psychologist, linguist, an internationally licensed coach and an international master trainer of Positive Psychology, NLP and Mindfulness. President of ICI (International Coaching Institute) in Poland and Head of the Educational Centre FUTURE in Poland. An active member of the Psychotherapeutic Association and Positive Psychology & Mindfulness, a regional adviser for Trinity College London in Poland, working in two main sectors: medicine and education.
Marina Sakač Hadžić is EAEA’s Communications, Capacity-Building, and Membership Officer. She manages and supports EAEA’s internal and external, and project communication. In capacity-building and membership, she supports members and helps facilitate trainings and other EAEA events. Marina has an MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology from KULeuven, interested in gender and menstrual studies; she brings her academic and professional experience to build effective communication.
Raffaela Kihrer is Secretary General at the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and has extensive experience in advocacy and policy on adult learning and education at the European and international level, with a particular focus on citizenship and development. Since June 2022, she is also an elected Vice-President of the Lifelong Learning Platform which brings together all sectors of education. Her background is in International Development Studies, and she is a trained teacher in secondary school education and adult learning.
Musa Kirkar has a Master’s degree in Governance and Human Rights (LUISS), ISIPM Project Management certification from the Italian Institute of Project Management, and a postgraduate Master’s degree in Management and Rights of Third Sector Organisations (University of Florence). Since 2021, he has been a member of ISIPM – Association of Project Management Professionals. He is founder and director of CEIPES, with over 20 years of experience, responsible for organisational policy, strategic goals and overseeing the functioning of departments and offices.
Irena Lipowicz is a Polish lawyer and diplomat, professor of social sciences in the field of legal sciences, member of the Sejm (Polish Parliament) in its first, second and third terms, Polish Ambassador to Austria from 2000 to 2004, and Ombudsman from 2010 to 2015. In 2024–2025, she was a member of the Government Commission for the Investigation of Russian and Belarusian Influence on the Internal Security and Interests of the Republic of Poland between 2004 and 2024. She is a full professor at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW) in Warsaw.
Marcin Mitzner is the programme director of Ale Granda game agency, a trainer and creator of over 500 educational games. A graduate of the Institute of Applied Social Sciences, the Academy of Special Education and the School of Group Training. He has implemented gamification projects for, among others, the National Cultural Center, the Polish History Museum, Orange Foundation, Foundation for Civic Education, Cała Polska Czyta Dzieciom and the Pilecki Institute in Berlin. Marcin is a member and collaborator of NGO Trainers Association sTOP, focusing on educational game design.
Maria Gonçalves Ribeiro is Policy and Project Coordinator at the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA). She works on access, basic skills, intergenerational fairness and digitalisation in education. Maria has experience in coordinating social projects, as well as supporting policy and advocacy activities. Her background is in Economics and Cultural Studies and is certified trainer. Passionate about the intersections between education, culture and social affairs.
Greta Pelucco is a specialist in international relations and business human rights, with a strong focus on the intersection of policy, advocacy, and civic engagement. Currently serving as Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), she has experience in the context of civic lobbying, as well as leading and coordinating civic and social projects. Passionate about international and European public affairs and their intersections with social justice, human rights, and democratic governance.
Benedetta Perego is a Criminal and human rights lawyer admitted before the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation and strategic litigator committed to using the law as a tool for systemic change. Co-Founder of the Freccia Law Firm, member of the litigation team at Antigone, and President & Co-Founder of StraLi. Her focus is on detention conditions, fundamental rights, and the protection of marginalized communities.
Karolina Pisz is a trainer and facilitator specialising in equality, sustainable development and experiential learning, supporting groups and NGOs in related processes. Her work is grounded in active methods and game-based approaches, with a strong focus on testing solutions in practice. A board member of sTOP and a lecturer at the University of Opole, she cooperates on international projects, including Q-ALE – Quality in Adult Learning and Education.
Anna Skocz is a certified trainer at the NGO Trainers Association sTOP, an intercultural educator and coach specialising in the Points of You method (Level 3 Expert) and the Solution-Focused Approach. She delivers international and intercultural trainings for Polish and foreign organisations. EAEA board member and coordinator and initiator of the Quality in Non-formal Adult Education and Learning (Q-ALE) project.
Oleg Smirnov is a Ukrainian expert in adult education, civil society development and intercultural dialogue with over 30 years of experience. He is a founding member and current board member of the Integration and Development Centre for Information and Research (Max van der Stoel Award 2009), where he has led initiatives to promote interethnic understanding and civic engagement, including the development of the Culture of Good Neighbourhood course. Since 2015, he has served as Director of DVV International’s Ukraine Country Office, focusing on strengthening adult education systems at learner, institutional and policy levels. Oleg has served on the Board of EAEA since 2021.
Lauri Tuomi is the CEO of the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation and the President of EAEA. Moreover, he serves as the Vice President of the Finnish Association for Adult Education. He is a member of Finland's UNESCO Commission and Finland's Prime Minister's Commission on Sustainable Development. Lauri holds a doctorate in strategic management as well as a teaching qualification.