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 Schwarz

European Cultural Foundation

Isabelle Schwarz (France / Germany) is Head of Public Policy at the European Cultural Foundation which she joined in 2002. She has over 20 years of experience in international cultural cooperation and European policy development. Her expertise ranges from EU policy influencing to programme/project development and management in the philanthropic and civil society sectors. She previously served as Director of the European Network of Cultural Management and Policy (ENCATC) in the framework of which she launched the Nordic-Baltic Platform of Cultural Management. Earlier work experience includes research positions with the UN World Commission on Culture and Development, Council of Europe, and Ministry of Culture of France. She serves on several expert groups, juries and boards, and is a frequent contributor (speaker, moderator, host) to international conferences and events.

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.

Antonia Blau

Goethe Institut

Antonia Blau is the head of the EU office at the Goethe-Institut Brussels. She has been working with different European programmes in the sectors of culture, education, civil society and youth. From 2012 to 2015 Antonia Blau coordinated the establishment of an antenna of the Goethe-Institut in Marseille in the framework of the European Capital of Culture Marseille-Provence 2013. She is interested in the links between politics and arts and culture in an international context and holds an M.A. degree in North American Studies, political sciences and German literature from the Freie Universität Berlin.

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.