Francisco Mingorance

For over 25 years Francisco advises international firms and governments agencies on European and International policy and regulatory matters. In 1999 he participated in the development of the European Commission policy on TRIPs-related matters and access to patented pharmaceuticals in Africa. After completing his mission for the European Commission (declining a kind invitation to work for Mr Viola’s predecessor in DG Trade at the time), Francisco moved back to private sector and opened the representation of the Business Software Alliance (BSA) in Brussels where and managed International and European regulatory affairs for leading US Tech corporations for over 10 years.

After leaving BSA and since 2011 in his capacity of founding partner of Europa Insights, a consultancy specialized in IP, trade and technology matters, Francisco has created and is supporting several European-driven associations that bring together leading European corporations, SMEs and research institutions, such as: IP Europe (Brussels-based European-driven coalition for R&D and IP-intensive innovators) and CISPE (Association of European and SMEs Cloud Infrastructure Providers). Europa Insights also supports leading IoT groups such as AIOTI and his currently engaged with dozens of European innovative SMEs. In the past 18 months, Europa Insights has advocated for the next European budget (“InvestEU”) to help finance strategic Intellectual Property Rights for R&D-intensive European start-ups and SMEs in order to make these innovative enterprises more competitive and attractive for growth investors, without diluting entrepreneurs. Press release here: https://www.iptalks.eu/3148-2/

Dual Swiss and Spanish citizen, Francisco is a lawyer with an engineering background: he holds masters of the University of Geneva (Law) and of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL, Technology Management, materials and fuel cells department).

Lieve Fransen

Lieve is former Director, Europe 2020 Social Policies DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission and current senior policy advisor for Royal Philips Health, Plusvalue, Tiburg University, Bozar and European Policy Centre. She’s also been a Public Health Advisor to the Ministry of Health, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda and Cape Verde Islands, Task Manager of a research programme on pregnant women and new-borns in Rwanda, and Director of a research programme on sexual and reproductive health in Kenya and in the Tropical Institute in Antwerpen, Belgium. Lieve is a medical doctor and holds a PhD. Her expertise spans health and development, pensions, social protection, gender, employment and social innovation.

Damir Filipovic

Damir started his career in 1998 in public sector, in the Ministry of Communication in Croatia. From 2000, he was leading regulatory and wholesale business departments in Croatian telco operators. In 2008, he joined Telekom Austria in Brussels, covering spectrum, environment and m-commerce and providing support to South-East Europe operations. In 2010 Damir became Director of Public Affairs in DIGITALEUROPE. In January 2012, he joined the Samsung EU Affairs where he became Head of public policy. In January 2016, he re-joined DIGITALEUROPE as Director for Digital Economy. In October 2017, Damir joined Europa Insights as Director. He speaks Croatian, English, German, Romanian and French.

Stephen Fenerty

Stephen specialises in content, communications, thought leadership and engagement. With a background in tech and communications, he helps organizations to formulate key messages and deliver persuasive content across multiple channels for external and internal audiences. Often working with senior leaders and through periods of transition, Stephen’s expertise spans thought leadership, campaigns, web, events, social media, writing training and coaching. Client work includes QinetiQ, Consultus (The Energy Brokers), Brown Thomas/Arnotts (Selfridges), DLA Piper, BP Lubricants (Castrol), SAS, Symantec and Vodafone. He graduated from the University of Manchester.

Mojca Blas

Mojca is a policy specialist and team leader with a thorough understanding of EU political and legislative landscape. Prior to joining Europa Insights Mojca worked as a policy advisor to a Member of the European Parliament, where she focused on EU budget and budgetary control, as well as internal market and environmental policy. Out of personal interest she participated in two European elections campaigns as policy advisor and international event manager. Before Brussels she worked as a manager of a translation agency and translator for the European Court of Justice and European Commission.

Mojca holds a MA in European Studies, a university diploma in German language and is finishing a MA of Business Administration. She is fluent in Slovene, English and German.

Simone Casadei Pastorino

Simone is a public affairs and communications specialist, with experience in both private and public sector. Prior to joining Europa Insights, Simone worked as policy advisor to a Member of the European Parliament where he focused on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and on Legal Affairs matters with particular interest in digital policies. Before this, he worked for GS1, the global standards organization, as public policy and PR manager. Simone has an entrepreneurial mindset acquired throughout the years as co-founder of Penrose CDB, a communication agency with offices in Bucharest and Brussels.

Simone holds an MSc in Political Science and European Union from the University of Amsterdam. He is fluent in Italian and English, with knowledge of Spanish, French, Romanian and Polish.

Laura Lischinski

Laura is a policy and communication specialist. She started her career at the European Union Intellectual Property Office in Alicante in the Public Awareness Team of the Observatory, where she focused on grants, and communication activities. Before she joined Europa Insights, she worked at the European Patent Office in Munich in the External Communication Department. Laura worked in media relations and assisted in the preparations for the European Inventor Award. 

She holds a Master’s degree in European and International politics from the University of Innsbruck.

In addition to her native German she speaks fluent English and has a good knowledge of French.

Rebecca Nakalema

Rebecca has previously worked as an intern in Event & Office management at SolarPower Europe and before that she worked as a human resource officer in Uganda. Rebecca holds a Master In International Business Economics and Management from KU Leuven. She speaks English, Swahili and intermediate Dutch.

Darren Perera

Darren manages Europa Insight’s communications and media outreach, including relation with the Brussels press. Darren is specialized in political communications. He is also in the board of advisors of the Brussels diversity movement “50 Shades of Racism”. Prior to joining Europa Insights, Darren gained his expertise in communications and marketing within the “EU Brussels bubble”, having worked with POLITICO, The European Standardisation Organisation (CEN and CENELEC), DIGITALEUROPE and The Confederation of the European Paper Industry (CEPI). Darren has also represented as the Communications Manager for the European Digital Skills for Jobs. Coalition initiative by the European Commission, to foster a digitally equipped European society.Darren holds a Master’s Degree in Politics and International Relations.