European Seminar How to Implement the New Operational Programmes 2021-27 successfully

Christian BerckerManaging Director, rechenwerk GmbH

Christian is managing director of rechenwerk GmbH. After graduating with a business degree in computer science and planning in 2001, he began his career as a freelance IT consultant for the Ministry of Economics in North Rhine-Westphalia, working on the ERDF-Programme and gaining experience in monitoring system development. Notably, he developed an integrated data warehouse for analyzing project indicators and financial data. In 2010, he founded rechenwerk. Since then, he has engaged in various programme evaluations providing data support and quality checks, developing web applications and Business Intelligence systems. He has also contributed to articles on e-Cohesion and has condicted two e-Cohesion feasibility studies. His expertise extends to supporting users in different roles, serving as a project manager. Currently he works for several Jems using programmes (MED, EMR, BY-CZ, Brandenburg-Poland, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-Poland, ABH) providing hosting, maintenance and development.

Merike NiitepõldHead of Managing Authority Central Baltic Programme, Regional Council of South-West Finland

Since 2011 Merike Niitepõld has been working at the Managing Authority of the Central Baltic Interreg Programme. Before that Merike Niitepõld had both worked in the Joint Secretariat of the Central Baltic programme and been involved in the programming for the periods 2007-2013 and 2014-2020. In the years 2001-2008 Merike Niitepõld worked in the management of Interreg projects and other environmental projects.

Grzegorz Orawiec Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy Unit F3 - Programmes and Projects in Poland, European Commission

Grzegorz Orawiec is the President of the Board of the Centre for Business Promotion in Sandomierz (Poland). He coordinates the system for SMEs based on financial instruments and vouchers scheme. Before he was the Director of the Regional Policy Department in the Marshal’s Office of the Świetokrzyskie Regional (2012 -2019). Before that, he was President of the Board of the Regional Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer in Kielce. He has been working on preparation and supervision of EU funded projects in various international, national and regional institutions for over 15 years. In 2007/2008, Grzegorz Orawiec worked in the Delegation of the EC in Skopje, where he prepared IPA funded projects. In addition, he has been Lecturer at universities in Poland and Germany (regional development). Since 2004, he co-operates as Expert with TAIEX Programme of the European Commission and regularly holds lectures in the fields of strategic development, EU Funds and public procurement.

Nataša PrahHead of Unit, Ministry of Finance, Slovenia

Nataša Prah was a Director of the Budget Supervision Office of the Republic of Slovenia, responsible for auditing EU funds, public internal financial control and budgetary inspection for 11 years. Now she works as a Head of Unit, responsible for auditing European Funds. Working for eight years in accountancy and statutory auditing and fifteen years in public sector auditing, she has accumulated an impressive experience in auditing. She has been awarded the title Verified Statutory Auditor (chartered accountant) by the Slovenian Institute of Auditors as well as she has been given the title of a Verified State Internal Auditor (issued by CIPFA) and a Verified State Auditor (issued by the Slovenian Supreme Audit Institution). As a lecturer in the process of acquiring the qualification of Certified Public Accountant and Verified State Internal Auditor, performed under the supervision of CIPFA, she is responsible for two modules: Cost Accounting and Auditing Management Performance.

Bernd SchuhEvaluation Expert and Member of the Board of Directors, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, Austria

Bernd Schuh is Senior Expert and Member of the Board of Directors of the Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR). He has vast experience in the fields such as economic, agricultural and environmental policy on EU level. In addition, he is a Member of the European Working Group on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Methods. Bernd Schuh has notably worked on structural funds evaluations, spatial monitoring of structural funds effects in terms of urban development as well as social issues and sustainability of structural funds implementation. He has profound experiences in evaluation practice and theory – being an advisor for international, national and regional authorities and a university lecturer at two universities in Vienna as well as a guest lecturer at different universities in Rome, Seville and Sheffield.

Louis VervloetGeneral Director, ESF-Agency Flanders

Louis Vervloet is the General Director of the Flemish ESF-Agency, the Managing Authority for the ESF in Flanders. He has a vast experience in working in public administration and is acquainted with the ESF for over 30 years. In his current position, he is responsible for the relations with the European Commission and for the setting up, implementation, monitoring and control of ESF programmes. Additionally, he is member of the European ESF Committee representing Belgium and the Flemish Policy Council on Employment and Social Economy.