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.

Susanne Höhn

Goethe Institut

Susanne Höhn is the Director of the Brussels Goethe Institute, the Regional Director for Southwest Europe and the Goethe-Institut’s Representative to the EU since January 2014. She 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. In July 2019, Susanne will leave the directorate of the Brussels Institute, to become the Director of the Cairo Institute.

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 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.

Philipp Dietachmair

European Cultural Foundation

Philipp Dietachmair is Programme Manager at the European Cultural Foundation (ECF). He is an experienced expert and practitioner in the field of European cultural relations. Since joining ECF, he has developed and managed the foundation’s capacity development programmes for new cultural initiatives in the EU Neighbourhood. He has created the Tandem cross-border cultural collaboration programmes together with the NGO MitOst from Berlin. In close collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Brussels, Mr. Dietachmair also coordinates the Global Cultural Leadership Programme for the Cultural Diplomacy Platform.

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.