Steering Committee

Anaïs Fontanel

Institut français

Since 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.

Dr. Elke Kaschl-Mohni

Goethe Institut

Dr. Elke Kaschl-Mohni is the Director of the Brussels Goethe Institute, the Regional Director for Southwest Europe and the Goethe-Institut’s Representative to the EU since Summer 2019. Previously, she was head of the Goethe-Institut Cairo for five years and regional director for the North Africa / Middle East region.

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.

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.

Philip Hanna

Goethe Institut

Since October 2020, Philip Hanna is the Head of European Programs at the Goethe-Institut Brussels. From 2008 to 2011 he worked as Robert Bosch Cultural Manager at the Goethe-Institut in Cairo. At the German Embassy Cairo, he subsequently was the head coordinator of the “German Weeks” festival 2012. As Senior Resident Representative, Mr. Hanna managed the regional office of DAPD news agency in Cairo from 2012 to 2013. From April 2013 to December 2014, he has been Liaison Officer of the Technische Universität München in Cairo. In his position as Industry Outreach Manager for GIZ, he was responsible for researching, pursuing and securing career opportunities for college graduates of Technical and Vocational Schools in Saudi Arabia. Subsequently he went back to Germany. In Delmenhorst/Lower Saxony he was the Head of the Coordination Centre for the integration of young people from a migrant background into the job market. In 2017 he went back to Cairo to work once again for the Goethe-Institut as Teaching and Training Expert.

Éric Soulier

Institut français

Head of Development & Partnerships at the Institut français.

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.