Steering Committee
Anaïs Fontanel
Institut français
Since September 2014, Anaïs Fontanel is in charge of the “Europe” department at the Institut français. In 2009, she started working at Culturesfrance – an association in charge of promoting French culture worldwide, which later evolved into the Institut français. She then took part in the creation of the “Training” department, which provides the staff of the French cultural network abroad with training programmes, before participating in the creation and definition of a specifically European strategy for the Institut français.
Anaïs Fontanel studied at Sciences Po Grenoble where she obtained a masters’ degree in Cultural Management.
Susanne Höhn
Goethe Institut
Susanne Höhn is the Director of the Brussels Institute, the Regional Director for Southwest Europe and the Goethe-Institut’s Representative to the EU since January 2014. Born in 1959, she studied German and Roman Languages and first worked as a freelance journalist. In 1985, she began her career at the Goethe-Institut, as Press and Public Relations Officer in Munich. Her first foreign assignment took her to Jerusalem. In 1995 she became the Head of Educational cooperation at the Goethe-Institut in Rome. From 2000 to 2006 she was the Head of Knowledge and Information Department in the Goethe-Institut Headquarters in Munich. In 2006 she took over the country directorate of the Goethe-Institut in Italy.
Sana Ouchtati
More Europe - external cultural relations
Sana Ouchtati is the Director of MORE EUROPE – external culture relations since 2011. She was also the project manager of the Preparatory Action “Culture in EU External Relations” in 2013-2014. In 2001-2011, she worked at the European Institutions in Brussels mainly on trade multilateral and bilateral agreements with third countries. She has also been responsible for the cultural dimension of the EU external relations mainly with ACP countries, Neighbourhood countries and Emerging countries. She has a thorough knowledge of the culture field, international relations as well as EU processes, policies and instruments dedicated to external relations, culture and intercultural dialogue, mainly with the Southern Mediterranean countries.
Sana Ouchtati graduated from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, with a Master’s degree in European Union policies. She also has a Master’s degree in International Relations & Business Administration from the High Institute of Commercial Studies in Brussels.
Isabelle Schwarz
European Cultural Foundation
Isabelle Schwarz (France / Germany) is Head of Advocacy, Research and Development at the European Cultural Foundation which she joined in 2002. Previously, Isabelle Schwarz was Executive Director of ENCATC, the European Network of Cultural Management and Cultural Policy Education. Earlier posts include the World Commission on Culture and Development, the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Culture of France, and cultural NGOs in London, Paris, Brussels, and Copenhagen. She serves on several boards and juries.
Isabelle Van de Gejuchte
British Council
Isabelle Van de Gejuchte is the Head of EU policy engagement at the British Council Brussels Office. In particular, she is responsible for the area ‘Culture and EU external relations’ and the management of the EUNIC and More Europe – external cultural relations relationships on behalf of the British Council.
Prior to this role, Isabelle was responsible for leading EU advocacy effort for the British Council. Her task was to increase the visibility and impact of the British Council’s work with the EU institutions, international audiences through events and meeting programs. She was also responsible for the following thematic: Social Enterprise, Skills and Gender equality.
Gottfried Wagner
Advisor to the Steering Committee
Gottfried Wagner is now freelance cultural consultant, advisor to public and civil cultural organisations. Prior to this, he has been an advisor to the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education and Women’s Affairs. For many years, he was Director of the European Cultural Foundation, Europe’s only independent, supranational and pan-European cultural foundation, and of KulturKontakt Austria, a European centre of excellence and resources for education, culture and the arts in Vienna.