Eric Mamer was appointed Director-General for Environment on 1 July 2025. With over 30 years at the European Commission, his previous roles include Chief Spokesperson for the European Commission from 2019 to 2024, Director for Competitiveness at the Directorate-General for the Internal Market, and Deputy-Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger. Mr Mamer has extensive experience on EU policies and their implementation.

Dr. Mihaela Frăsineanu has over 25 years of experience in the field of environmental protection. She holds a PhD in environmental risks and is the author of 6 books and 12 published scientific articles. She has acted as an expert in 7 scientific research, development, and professional training projects and served as project manager for the development of the National Waste Management Plan 2017–2025.
Following her professional experience within the Ministry of Environment and the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR), where she held positions as Director, Director General, and Deputy Secretary General, since 2023 she has been serving as State Counsellor for environmental matters within the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

Mr. Ciobanu-Dordea is a Director of Circular Economy in the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment. He has been previously in charge of the Directorate responsible for enforcement, investments and environmental governance in the same DG. Before joining DG Environment in 2014, he was Director for "Equality", in charge of fight against discrimination in DG Justice. He joined the European Commission in 2009 as Director for "Fundamental Rights and EU Citizenship" in the same directorate.

Mr. Ciobanu-Dordea is a lawyer and holds an LL.M. degree from the University of Illinois (US) and a Ph.D. from the University of Bucharest (RO).

Ileana Fălcescu is a professional dedicated to the transition toward sustainability, with over 18 years of experience in developing integrated solutions for the circular economy, resource management, and environmental infrastructure. At Ramboll, she leads multidisciplinary teams and strategic projects that support the transformation of public and local systems, contributing to a future focused on bioeconomy and environmental responsibility.

Monika Romenska has held senior positions in public administration, Local authorities’ and Industry organizations in Bulgaria. Since 2014, Ms Romenska is Regulatory & Public Affairs Manager at the Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA) based in Brussels, which acts as the authoritative voice and common policy platform representing the interests of all its 32 member packaging recovery and recycling organizations founded and run by or on behalf of obliged industry. She has extensive experience in local and regional self-government, sustainable development, incl. waste management (with a focus on packaging), regional development, communications and project management.

Daniel Montalvo has over 20 years of experience in environment and climate policy, working across a wide range of topics and governance levels in Europe. He began his career in environmental consultancy, before serving as an industry regulator in Spain, where he led the environmental inspectorate for the North Madrid Region.

He later worked at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, focusing on industrial policy. For the past 12 years, Daniel has been based at the European Environment Agency (EEA), where he currently heads the Unit on Circular Economy and Clean Industry.

He leads the Agency’s work on the circular economy transition, climate economics and finance, as well as the interface between industry and the environment. His team compiles and produces European-level datasets and provides policy-relevant analysis to support the development and implementation of European Union policies.

I am honored by the invitation to take part in the proceedings of the International Environment Forum. I believe that the session addressing the role, responsibility, and performance of public services brings together the key stakeholders of the sector, thereby laying the foundation for a constructive dialogue environment.

Iulia Teodora Pașa has over 15 years of experience in national and European strategic projects, specializing in green finance, European policies, and the integration of ESG criteria into the financial sector.

Since March 2024, she has been serving as Director of the Sustainable Development Directorate at the Development and Investment Bank, where she coordinates initiatives related to the green transition and climate risk management, in line with European objectives. She is involved in the European Commission’s Green Assist program (CINEA), serves as a lecturer for specialized courses on sustainability and climate risks, and has extensive leadership experience in the banking sector. She has contributed as a key specialist to the implementation of major European Union-funded projects, in partnership with JASPERS and the World Bank.

She holds a PhD in Economics (Econometrics) and has expertise in cost-benefit analysis, economic modeling, and European-funded projects.

Federico Foschini is a Senior Policy Advisor representing Utilitalia, and leads EU and Italian association relations as well as key environmental policy dossiers for HERAmbiente. He brings extensive experience in environmental permitting, circular economy projects development, strategic planning, and public affairs across the HERA Group, where he has worked since 2012.

Before joining HERA, he served as a Technologist and Policy Advisor at ISPRA, acting as a national expert in several European and national committees and working groups on environmental and waste policy.

Throughout his career, Federico has collaborated closely with international, EU, and national institutions and research bodies, developing a solid technical and institutional background in environmental governance.

Françoise Bonnet is the Secretary General of ACR+ (the Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management), a prestigious international network that promotes the circular economy and resource efficiency at local and regional level.

With over 25 years of experience in environmental legislation and material resource management, Françoise has built an outstanding professional career in both the public and private sectors. Her career includes roles within the United Nations, the European Commission, and as Director of the Waste Department at Brussels Environment.

By profession a lawyer, Françoise graduated from the University of Liège, the College of Europe, and the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She is a recognized European expert in the waste hierarchy and a strong advocate for the crucial role that local authorities play in the global transition towards a circular economy.

Steve Claus is the Secretary General of Steel for Packaging Europe.

An entrepreneurial professional, Steve has more than 25 years of experience in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), collection, sorting and recycling of packaging waste and sustainability in general.

Having initially joined the association, formerly known as APEAL, in 2018 as Sustainability Manager, Steve has played a crucial role in various technical projects for packaging steel including recyclability, recycling rates, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and recent discussions on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

He previously held positions at Fost Plus, the Belgian EPR scheme for household packaging in Belgium, and provided guidance in and outside the EU to both industry and authorities in establishing innovative and sustainable circular models based on EPR.

He holds a master's degree in applied economics from the University of Antwerp.

Venera Vlad is responsible for Infrastructure business in Romania and Bulgaria at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a portfolio of approximately EUR 1 billion of investments, including loans to local authorities, municipal utilities and companies as well as private sector financing.

Prior to joining EBRD in 2008, Mrs Vlad worked for the Romanian Ministry of Environment as Programming Director for European Funds; in this capacity she developed large scale programmes, leading to EUR 6 billion investments in the municipal and environmental infrastructure.

She is double graduated from the Engineering University and the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Marius is a passionate packaging professional with over 20 years of experience, driven by a mission to create sustainable, impactful solutions for people, the planet, and businesses through packaging innovation. Having worked for leading global companies in global and regional Packaging senior leadership roles, such as Wrigley, Mars Wrigley, and Danone SN, Marius has leveraged his deep expertise, curiosity, and collaborative approach to develop and implement forward-thinking packaging strategies.

Throughout his career, he has co-created and championed numerous packaging innovations strategies and initiatives, built and led high-performing teams worldwide, and mentored future talent. His passion for sustainability and innovation has consistently delivered measurable, market-impacting results. 

In 2024, Marius launched his own company, ViaPackaging UG. ViaPackaging collaborates closely  with leading consortiums such as CEFLEX (circularity of Flexible Packaging)  and CELAB-Europe to advance the circularity of specific packaging materials. 

Dr. Ilie-Ionel Ciuclea is the President of SUPERCOM Industrial Group S.A. and President of ARSMD, with extensive experience in public sanitation services and waste management. He is the author of books and specialized publications in the fields of environmental protection and the circular economy and is an active participant in professional working groups and debates, both in Romania and internationally. He has also held positions in public administration, including serving as a Senator of Romania.

Ionuț Georgescu is an entrepreneur in Romania’s circular economy sector, with over 20 years of experience in developing public policies, infrastructure, and sustainable waste management solutions in Romania. After contributing to the alignment of national environmental policies with European legislation and leading the Waste Directorate within the Ministry of Environment, he shifted his focus to the private sector, where he founded and developed FEPRA, generating a direct positive impact on the environment.

Today, FEPRA operates as a circular economy ecosystem, providing integrated solutions for extended producer responsibility, collection, recycling, and environmental auditing, contributing to the consolidation of this model at national level. His vision is focused on transforming the circular economy into a genuine driver of sustainable development at the national level.

Gabriel Moiceanu is President of the Federation of Intercommunity Development Associations (FADI) and Executive Director of the Intercommunity Development Association Servsal Argeș. Mr. Moiceanu has over 30 years of experience in the field of public services and 15 years in integrated waste management.

Together with FADI members, he was actively involved in promoting the interests of Intercommunity Development Associations that represent over 2900 territorial administrative units, as well as in the development of integrated waste management systems at the county level. FADI, as a professional association, was and it is an active partner for central and local authorities, being present in working groups whose activity resulted in proposals to improve waste legislation. The experience exchange and best practices took place in more than 35 conferences and public events related to municipal waste management, as well as in the 7 working groups organized within the federation.

"I hope that the forum will provide the perfect platform for communication at a professional level, both with specialists from Romania and from other countries."

Paolo Campanella is Secretary General of FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, where he leads the association's technical and policy work at EU level in Brussels. An environmental engineer with over 10 years of experience in the environmental and waste sectors, Paolo has extensive expertise in the design and management of waste treatment plants and in the evaluation of project proposals of waste treatment plants. Since joining FEAD in 2022, he has played a central role in shaping the association’s policy positions and advancing the waste management sector’s contribution to Europe’s circular economy objectives.

Ionuț Eriksen is an entrepreneur with over 22 years of experience in business development, organizational transformation, and strategic management, gained across industries such as healthcare, financial services, real estate, publishing, and telecommunications. Throughout his career, he has coordinated complex growth, restructuring, and operational scaling processes, leading organizations through key stages of development and consolidation.

At FEPRA, he contributes to the development of business initiatives, strengthens institutional and economic relationships at both local and European level, and supports the attraction of funding and grants, advancing projects capable of scaling responsibly and generating real value for the economy and society.

Chemical Engineer Monica Popescu has been advocating for the integration of biotechnological innovations into water, air, and soil purification processes for over 20 years. Convinced that harnessing the microbiome can provide sustainable solutions for a cleaner and healthier future, she is dedicated to bringing these ideas to the forefront and contributing to the development of innovative methods that improve the environment.

She is also the Project Coordinator of “Microbes, the Lesser-Known Secret of Human Health.”

Indra Mihăilă is Vice President of ARAM, with over 15 years of experience in strategic communication, public affairs, and corporate social responsibility.

Throughout her career, she has coordinated Corporate Affairs activities for companies in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, contributing to the strengthening of institutional relationships with key industry organizations and to the implementation of sustainability and education initiatives with national impact.

Mălin Ionuț Paicu is the Deputy General Director within the General Directorate for Projects and PNRR Manager at the Environmental Fund Administration. He coordinates the implementation of strategic funding programs dedicated to the modernization of public infrastructure and the support of the green transition. His work focuses on managing financial mechanisms for investments in energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, and environmental infrastructure, supporting public authorities in accessing and implementing national and European funds. He actively contributes to strengthening institutional capacity and accelerating projects aimed at achieving environmental and sustainable development objectives.

Robert Uzună is the President of the Romanian Packaging and Environment Association (ARAM), with extensive experience in diplomacy and the corporate sector, covering areas such as international relations, Public Affairs and strategic communication, ESG, and Sustainability. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to develop and implement relevant business strategies, including through active involvement in business associations, which he has led or to which he has made significant contributions.

He has a degree in Business Administration in Pavia University, as a pioneer in the environmental sector he founded in 1984 of Ecopì Srl, one of the very first Italian companies focused in composting of the organic residues. In 1996 the company was sold to Waste Management Italia, the Italian branch of Waste Management Inc listed in NYSE.
He Joined Entsorga Italia Srl in year 2000, bringing his deep knowledge of the waste treatment process and focusing in business development.
At present he's CEO of Entsorga S.p.A, and also officer in several companies of the Group.
He's also designated inventor of the Entsorga's patents and author of publications and presentation related to green economy.

Rodica Mihaela Frincu is a Chemical Engineer with an MSc in Environmental Science and Environmental Management and a PhD in Chemistry, specializing in circular bioeconomy, water quality, and technology transfer. She has over 20 years of experience in national and international projects, contributing to the development and implementation of innovative and sustainable environmental solutions.

Entrepreneur and leader with over 21 years of solid experience in business administration and development. An expert in strategy, financial management, and technical innovation, he is actively involved in economic and civic organizations. Since 2025, he has served as Secretary of the Committee for Economic Affairs, Industries, Services, Tourism and Entrepreneurship and as a member of the Committee on Communications, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence in the Senate.

CEO of Repsan Energy, graduate of the Faculty of Astrophysics, with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in Romania. He is active in the fields of IT, renewable energy, and environmental protection, with a strong track record in developing and scaling sustainable projects. He adopts a strategic leadership approach focused on performance and long-term impact.

Ciprian Iosep is the President of GS1 Romania, the organization responsible for implementing and developing global GS1 standards for identification, traceability, and data exchange. A founding member of the organization, he has over 30 years of experience in standardization, traceability, and the digitalization of economic and logistics processes.

In recent years, he has been actively involved in digitalization initiatives with environmental impact, promoting interoperability, traceability, and the use of data as a foundation for the circular economy and operational performance.

He is a graduate of the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers at the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest. He holds a PhD in Cybernetics, with a thesis focused on optimization models for logistics decision-making.

Dr. Eng. Horia Matei Bărdeanu has extensive experience in the renewable energy and biogas sector, being one of the leading promoters of the circular economy in Romania. He is the General Director of Genesis Biopartner, the company operating Romania’s first biogas cogeneration plant and developing a national network of facilities for energy production from organic waste. Under his leadership, Genesis Biopartner has transitioned from using agricultural biomass to exclusively valorizing biodegradable waste from the food industry, retail, and HoReCa sectors, with a direct impact on reducing emissions and landfill waste.

He holds a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest and has academic training in Economic Engineering in the energy field from the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, as well as in Business Administration from Athenaeum University. His academic activity includes research and scientific publications focused on optimizing biogas production processes and the stability of anaerobic digestion systems. He is a founding member of CERC Romania and is actively involved in developing strategic projects to expand national biogas energy production capacity, supporting initiatives for professional development, education, and institutional dialogue in the renewable energy and sustainable waste management sectors.