Who we are
 Jela Tvrdoňová |
J. Tvrdoňová - Hudecová was born in the spa town Trenčianske Teplice, on 19.6.1958. In 1977 she has graduated from Grammar School in Trenčín and in 1982 from the Slovak Agriculture University in Nitra. In 1991 - 1995 she worked at Agroinstitute - in the area of adult education. She was author of several training curricula in rural development and agriculture. In 1995 - 2004- as the executive director of the national Agency of Rural Development in Nitra, she managed several national and international projects in the field of rural development and related fields. As expert in strategic planning and project management she also assisted rural communities and micro-regions in Slovakia in the capacity building for Leader approach. Today she works as rural development consultant in the area of strategic planning, programming, EU LEADER Program and EU Structural Funds. She also works as the part time executive director of Civil Association of Rural organization for Community activities - VOKA in Banska Bastrica. Since 2000 she was active as the Board member and later vice-chair of the Rural Parliament - NGO type national platform for rural development policies. She was responsible for international cooperation within this platform. During her professional carrier she participated in several study programs in USA, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Ireland and others. Her main field of expertise is the strategic planning in rural development - programming, implementation, evaluation, monitoring of rural development programs, the EU Program LEADER and EU Structural Funds, but she also has capacity to work in the area of rural development policy. She is also teaching these subjects at universities - in Nitra, Slovakia and Cordoba, Spain. In this capacity she is one of teachers in Erasmus Mundus International Masters for Rural Development Program led by University of Ghent in Belgium. Since 2007 she is the chairperson of the European Rural Alliance. |
 Vanessa Halhead |
Vanessa lives and works in the Highlands of Scotland. She has worked in rural and community development for over 25 years, in Scotland and in Europe. Her work has included managing several organisations and major rural development projects, for NGO's and government. She has also been very active in local community development. Her work in Europe began in the early 1990's, and she has been active in several European networks including ERA and Forum Synergies and she is currently co-ordinating the development of ERCA (the European Rural Community Association). In 2003 she undertook research which was published by PREPARE in 2004 as "The Rural Movements of Europe". This report led to the development of the networks between the 23 national rural movements: ERCA and ERA. Vanessa has also had a strong working relationship with Norway since 1996, and has co-ordinated a strategic partnership between the West of Norway and North of Scotland. |
 Guoda Burokienė |
G. Suprikaitė- Burokienė was born in the little town Ukmergė, on 02.01.1970 . In 1988 she has graduated J. Jablonskis secondary school in Kaunas and in 1995 graduated Technological University in Kaunas. Starting 2000 she is working in Lithuanian Camber of Agriculture - in the area of rural development. She was author of several training curricula in rural development and community movement. Since 2000 to 2004 the was the member of the board in in the FAO of the United Nations Working Party on Women and family in Rural Development .From 2004 she became the chairperson of Lithuanian rural community union( LRCU). During the last 10 years she managed several national and international projects in the field of rural development. As expert in strategic planning and project management she also assisted rural communities in the capacity building for Leader approach. Today she works as a director of rural development division. Is a member of staring commities near MOA, work in the area of strategic planning, programming, EU LEADER Program and EU Structural Funds. As a chairperson of LRCU she is responsible for community policies, international cooperation within this platform and etc. During her professional carrier she participated in several study programs in USA, Austria, Spain, Ireland and others. Her main field of expertise is the strategic planning in rural development - programming, implementation, evaluation, monitoring of rural development programs, the EU Program LEADER and EU Structural Funds, but she also has capacity to work in the area of rural development policy. |
 Goran Šoster |
Goran Šoster was born in Maribor - Slovenia, on 11.5.1961. In 1980 he finished High School in Ljutomer and in 1986 he graduated on the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Maribor in Slovenia. From 1986 to 1989 he worked at the Municipality Ljutomer in analytical economic research and planning of local development and building up information system of local community. Since 1989 to 1998 he worked at the Mikrokozmos Ltd. as director. Group Mikrokozmos was well known as the pioneering group of organic agriculture in Slovenia. Since 2003 to 2007 he was the president of Association of Organic Farmers of Eastern Slovenia. During that time he gained experience in Project management, Eco tourism, Organic agriculture, Research in Social and Economic sphere and Integrated Rural Development. In the time of big political changes in the Eastern Europe in late 80. and early 90. he was one of the leading persons, acting as the alternative movement leader in Eastern Slovenia. Since 1998 to present he is Director of the Prlekija Development Agency. During this time he gathered experience in Strategic planning, Rural Resource Management, Regional and Local Development, Ecology, Sustainable Tourism, Local Food Supply Systems, Evaluation and assesment of the cross border projects and Entrepreneurship. In the time of being director of Prlekija Development Agency his main occupation was coordination of many cross - border projects. Since early 90. he started with the projects of Integrated Rural Development in his area, which changed later in the LEADER initiatives. Now he is the Manager of Local Action Group Prlekija in Eastern Slovenia. In 2003 he was one of the initiators of the Slovenian Rural Development Network. Last two years he is acting as the president of that association, representing it in the European initiatives Prepare, ERA and ERCA. During his professional carrier he participated in several study programs in USA, Germany, Great Britain and others. He speaks fluent English, German, Croatian and Serbian, Slovenian is his mother language. With his reach experience and good language communication, he was actively involved in many international projects in Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Holland, Italy, Belarus, Turkey and Macedonia. |
 Inga Krekele |
Inga Krekele was born in Southern part of Latvia in Daugavpils, on 02.10.1977. In 1995 she has graduated from Secondary School in Daugavpils and in 2000 from the Social Technology Institute as a lawyer. In 1996 - 2000 she worked at Daugavpils Regional Enterprise Support Centre as a secretary and later business consultant. She was trainer in several training courses for business startups and client care service. She also has experience working in state revenue department and Ministry of Transport. Since 2003 she is working in Daugavpils District partnership. She managed several local and regional projects in the field of rural development and related fields. She also assisted rural communities in region in the capacity building for LEADER approach. Today she works a coordinator in Local action group; she has experience in managing international project in the field of forming rural policies During her professional carrier she participated in several study programs and LEADER contact point conferences all around the Europe. She is a member of Latvian Rural Forum since its establishment in 2005. Since 2007 she is the board member of European Rural Alliance representing Latvian Rural Forum there. |
© SIA "4TRES"
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.’This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.