The steering group
Steering group login access point.
The Steering Group of the Platform for Intercultural Europe was elected for the second time at the organisation's statuary annual general assembly of members in June 2010. The 7 elected or coopted Steering Group members have a representative mandate of three years.
The criteria below are taken into account in assembling the group:
- individuals representing organisations with a track record of trans-national cooperation in Europe or specific expertise in intercultural dialogue
- a balance between cultural and non-cultural organisations
- gender and age balance desirable
- a clear case for supporting the Platform
- commitment to attend meetings or to provide prior input in case of inability to attend
- working language English
- a willingness to (re)present the Platform
Current Steering Group Members:
Tarafa Baghajati
(European Network against Racism (ENAR) and Austrian Muslim Initiative)
Tarafa Baghajati is a founder of the Austrian Muslim Initiative, established in 1999. The Austrian Muslim Initiative promotes Muslim perspectives in the media, and in public discourse in generally; it engages actively with civil society organisations, including on issues relating to the Middle East, an area of work for which Tarafa is specially responsible; it encourages interreligious dialogue; it promotes Muslim participation in public life, in particular political participation; and builds bridges among Muslim communities, also addressing racism within the Muslim community.Tarafa is member of the Advisory Council of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR). Born in Damascus, he is a civil engineer by profession.
Eli Borchgrevink (Transnational Arts Production)
Managing director of Transnational Arts Production (ex Du store verden! / the DSV network). Coming from the artistic sphere (classical and contemporary ballet, North/South exchange projects), Eli founded Du store verden in 1995 and acquired thirteen years of experience in the implementation of artistic cross-cultural cooperation projects, political lobbying and conducting and moderating seminars. Transnational Arts Production (TrAp) is a Nordic artists and NGO network promoting and enhancing a cultural life and cultural policy that reflects the cultural diversity in the Norwegian, Nordic and international society. In the Platform’s Steering Group Eli wants to give effect to the idea and vision of a broad European platform for intercultural dialogue as an important tool to help obtain equal access, availability to and power in social, cultural and professional fields in the arts in Europe today.
Mercedes Esteban Villar
(European Foundation Society and Education and Director of Educational and Social Studies)
Vice-President of the European Foundation Society and Education, as well as Director of the Educational and Social Studies Institute (Department of Research). As former Director of the Maraya Cultural Centre, Secretary General of OIDEL EUROPE and current Designer and Director for socio-educational and cultural projects, Mercedes has extensive experience in the education policy domain. Mercedes is an expert in Cultural Management, Corporate Communication and Public Relations. She holds a Masters Degree in Spanish Linguistics and graduated in Modern French Studies.
Guido Orlandini
(The Intercultural Communication and Leadership School) Secretary General of The Intercultural Communication and Leadership School.
The ICLS is assisting the emergence of intercultural communication and leadership, offers training in intercultural communication and leadership for young people and supports networks and new initiatives for peace and co-operation. Guido holds a Masters degree in Economic Development, and is Chartered Accountant and Certified Auditor with his independent accountant consultancy experience. Guido has also worked as administrator for the Council of Europe and as a manager of the language service at the International Fund of Agricultural Development (United Nations).
Niels Righolt
(Nordic Forum for Interculture, Danish Centre for Arts and Interculture)
Coordinator of the Nordic Forum for Interculture, which is a Nordic cooperation project and a network for the exchange and sharing of experiences, project development and culture-political discussion. NFI aims to create a profound understanding of what needs to be done in order to ensure cultural diversity from a political and instititutional perspective. Niels was director of the Dunker Culture Centre, Helsingborg, Sweden; he worked as a curator and producer for the memorial place Møstings Hus & Byggeriets Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark; and he was also Head of Information within the cultural department of the Frederiksberg Copenhagen municipality. Within the Platform for Intercultural Europe Niels wants to improve the mapping of the European experiences and possibilities in order to progress the further implementation into national and transnational initiatives and policies.
Guillermo Ruiz Torres (Centre for Politics, Culture and Research - Berlin)
Guillermo Ruiz Torres is a member of the Centre for Politics, Culture and Research (Berlin), a politically independent organisation carrying out research and political advice. He is adviser for Roma and migration organisations in Belgium, Germany and Spain. As Policy Officer at the European Roma Information Office (ERIO) he has been involved in advocacy initiatives for the improvement of policies towards Roma, Sinti and Travellers in Europe for many years. He continues this work as an independent adviser for Roma and migration organisations in Belgium, Germany and Spain. Guillermo has been and is regularly invited to hold lectures at universities in Germany and Latin America and worked for research institutes on minorities, racism and discrimination. He coordinated several transnational projects and has several publications on racism, integration, political system and Roma communities. Guillermo holds diplomas in Law and Political Science at the Universidad San Marcos, Lima, Peru and in Political Science at the Freie Universität Berlin. Since 2011, he has been a PhD scholar of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Germany at the Freie Universität Berlin.
Isabelle Schwarz (European Culture Foundation)
Head of Programmes and Advocacy at the European Cultural Foundation (ECF), an independent foundation supporting transnational cultural cooperation and advocating for the arts on all level of political decision-making. Since 2005, the ECF has been focusing its work on the exploration of diversity in three main areas: artistic diversity, diversity brought about by migration, and issues of interculturalism both from within and beyond the EU. Isabelle is the former Executive Director of the European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centres (ENCATC). Earlier, Isabelle worked for international organisations such as the Council of Europe and UNESCO (Pérez de Cuéllar World Commission on Culture and Development), the Ministry of Culture of France (Department of Forecast Studies), and cultural organizations in London, Paris, Brussels, and Copenhagen. Within the Platform Steering Group, Isabelle represents a key funder of the Platform and deals with advocacy and institutional relations.
Chris Torch (Culture Action Europe and Intercult)
Originally an actor and theatre director, Chris extended his career into the domains of cultural management, production and public speaking. He served as Vice-President of Culture Action Europe 2005-2010 and was delegated to input to the Platform, which Culture Action Europe co-initiated. He is founder and Senior Associate at Intercult, a Stockholm-based independent resource and production unit focusing on international exchange and distribution. Chris is also on the Board of Trustees for the European Museum Forum (since 2010) and the European platform River//Cities (since 2007). He earned a BA in Dramatic Arts/Business Administration from Amherst College, Massachusetts, USA and has lived in Sweden since 1978.
