Experts
Mr. Wolfgang Wedderkopf, Germany
More than 20 years of experience in all aspects of regional/local development, sectoral restructuring, regional strategy building, capacity building to regional development agencies (RDA), technology transfer agencies and Cross-Border Cooperation;
Comprehensive experience in training and mentoring/coaching: Preparation and implementation of (national/international) workshops and training courses on behalf of local/regional administrations, universities and research institutes with participants from, local, regional and national administrations, R&D institutions, business community. Specialisation: local/regional strategic development planning; economic stimulation programming; institution building.
Fully fluent in German, English and Russian.
Mr. Daniel Sepic, Belgium
More than 15 years of working experience in the field of business and institutional reforms process. Experience both in the development of the private sector (former Country Manager of a Belgian multinational in charge of two plants) and institutional reform process in transition countries (from the local level up to the level of Ministers and their teams), ), notably in the field of regional/local development and institutional capacity building. Huge working experience in the CIS but also in other transition countries in Northern Africa, Balkans and Asia.
Fully fluent in French, English and Russian.
Ms. Ane Sindik, Croatia
Project Manager and Senior Consultant with extensive experience in strategic and policy planning, projects development, project selection, management and monitoring, under EU funding. As grant management expert, has, inter alia consulted a number of municipalities in developing projects and implementing of grant contracts worth over 5 million euro.
Has, inter alia experience in regional development strategic and policy programming, Cross-Border Cooperation programmes, her experience includes intensive capacity building and training programme for local and regional authorities and on the job coaching, setting up regional development agencies, advising and assisting institutions in their operations, finding partners and projects with regional and inter regional impact.
Fully familiar with SME policy, regional, rural, and cross border development in Western Balkan countries and Ukraine. Her experience includes elaboration of strategies, fostering of partnerships and development of project pipelines and grant applications across borders.
Has designed and delivered trainings using best EU practise to over 400 entrepreneurs, 60 regional development experts and over 150 project writing experts under funding by various institutions and agencies, such as EU,UNDP, EBRD.
Fully fluent in English and Russian.
Mr. Sigitas Brazinskas (Lithuania)
An international development expert and consultant, trainer and lector. He has a deep experience in international business for more than 23 years.
He has worked at leading multinational companies of consumer and industrial products with export development worldwide where continued cooperation with corporate clients is maintained further. He has an extensive experience as consultant and trainer in the areas of internationalization. In 2008-2012 an assignment was taken as the commercial attaché in Stockholm on permanent basis, he also cooperated at long-term projects in Russia and Ukraine.
Fields of expertise: overall international business development, export marketing and management, trade and foreign direct investments (FDI) promotion, value chain management, capacity building, SMEs development, policies review and advices, events arrangements, market and industry research, assessment and planning, consulting on business strategy development, evaluations of market structure and attractiveness, distribution channels development.
Fully fluent in English, Russian, German and Swedish
Mr. Andrei Akopov, Russia
Over 30 years of professional experience, of which 25 years in Private Sector Development: SMEs development, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Promotion, Public-Private Partnership, Regional Development and Competitiveness, Business Development Services, Management Training/Internships, Clusters/Value Chains, Business Partnership Matchmaking, Trade fostering for countries in economic transition.
Fully fluent in English, French and Russian.