European Seminar ESIF Effective Closure of Operational Programmes 2014-20

Béatrice BaumannInspector of Finance, Head of the Federal Audit Cell for the European Funds, Interfederal Corps for the Inspectorate of Finance, Belgium

Béatrice Baumann has been a member of the Inspectorate of Finance since 2010. She is currently the Audit Authority for the three European Funds AMIF, ISF and FEAD. In the very end of 2014, she was asked to take over the Audit Authority in charge with the ESF 2007/2013 at federal level, and the SOLID funds at national level. Prior, she was assigned to the classic assignments of the Inspectorate of Finance, and was appointed to the federal Ministers of Finance, Budget and Sustainable Development as an independent controller and adviser. In this capacity, she developed a strong expertise in the ex ante control of public procurement, among others. Before that, she assisted the Wrapping-Up Body (former name of the Audit Authority) in the closure process of the 2000-2006 programming period of ESF at federal level. She is an recognized expert in internal control and audit since 2007 within the Belgian Federal Administration.

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.

Louis VervloetGeneral Director, ESF-Agentenschap Vlaanderen / 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.