Speakers

Angelika Tamásová is a climate risk and adaptation expert at the European Environment Agency, leading analyses of progress towards climate resilience under the European Climate Law. With a background as a policy advisor at the Slovak Ministry of Environment, she brings experience from local, national, and European levels in adaptation policy, assessment, capacity building, and international cooperation. She is passionate about helping countries build resilience and thrives on connecting experts, ideas, and lessons across borders to foster shared learning and progress. Originally from Slovakia and part of the Hungarian minority, she now lives in Denmark.

Lilla Duics-Korosecz works at the HungaroMet Hungarian Meteorological Service at the Climate Research Department as a meteorological developer. Her work involves conducting urban climatological studies for the larger towns of Hungary, such as Budapest and Szeged. Her interests are also mostly based on urban climatology and climate modelling.

Iva Brejzová works at the Ministry of Interior-Directorate General of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, focusing on civil protection, EU-funded projects, and international cooperation and humanitarian aid. Her areas of interest include resilience building, cross-border crisis management, and capacity development of fire rescue services.

Gábor Kiss works at the HungaroMet Hungarian Meteorological Service Nonprofit Ltd. at the National Adaptation Centre Unit as a climate policy expert. His work primarily involves drafting and reviewing climate policy documents as part of calls and performing background institutional tasks.

Anett Kocsis works at the National Adaptation Centre as a senior climate policy officer. Her area of interests is nature-based solutions as adaptation tools to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Attila Ádám Nagy completed his disaster management studies at the National University of Public Service and also holds a law degree. He has been serving at the Vas County Disaster Management Directorate for twelve years and currently holds a team leader position.

David Thomas is a consultant in South West England, specializing in building catchment resilience and improving water management across agricultural landscapes. He has served as a Senior Land Advisor for the past 6 years, working closely with landowners to enhance land management, water quality, and habitat provision. Prior to this, he worked with Rivers Trusts in the UK, focusing on the management and improvement of the riparian zone. For the past 3 years, David has been designing wetland creation, river restoration, and natural flood management schemes, overseeing the entire process from consultation and design to delivery and monitoring. By utilizing drones and surface water models, he leads efforts to identify the most appropriate locations for and types of nature-based solutions, aiming to maximize restoration potential in hydrological function, flood risk reduction, and habitat resilience against extreme events such as drought and flood.

Szilvia Ádám PhD is a member of the freshwater team of WWF-CEE and also works as an expert for WWF-Hungary. Their mission is to protect and restore river ecosystems in the Danube basin.

Krisztián Mészáros is the catchment coordinator of the Püspökszilágy catchment area, where he works on implementing natural water retention measures and coordinating cooperation between local stakeholders within the LIFE LOGOS4WATERS project. Alongside his professional role, he is a nature conservation engineering student. His dissertation focuses on the difficulties and challenges of implementing natural water retention solutions.

Erika Juhász is a research fellow of the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, her projects are focusing on the ecological impacts and human-nature conflicts related to the Eurasian beaver.

Anna Mandorli has an academic background in governance, urban regeneration, and social innovation in climate change. Her research focuses on participatory and transformative processes and practices for inclusive climate adaptation.

Vera Tekken’s academic background is in sustainability science and geography, with research focusing on climate change adaptation, resource efficiency, and sustainable development. She is particularly interested in interdisciplinary approaches, knowledge exchange, and fostering collaborations across related fields.

Tímea Jaschitzné Cserni graduated as a geographer in 2009 specializing in regional and urban development at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest. She worked at VÁTI as an urban planner, contributing to urban-rural research and the Climate Friendly Cities Handbook. She is currently working at Lechner Nonprofit Ltd., where she has managed several international projects on data harmonization. Her current professional interests include digitalization and participatory planning approaches to the management of functional urban areas, with particular focus on the organization of public services, green infrastructure, and business infrastructure.

Olaya is a Science Communicator with experience in health sciences, social studies, and epidemiology. She has worked on research projects related to the health needs of migrant populations, disability and community inclusion, cancer, knowledge valorisation, and climate change, among others. Her areas of interest and expertise include social participation and citizen science, as well as the development of museum and audiovisual narratives with an inclusive approach.

László Mrekva has dedicated his professional career to diligently advocating for the critical importance of water and environmental sustainability in both national and international contexts. This commitment has served as a significant motivation for him to emphasise the relevance and multifaceted nature of his field. He recognises the myriad threats posed by water and environmental pollution, the scarcity of fresh water, the inadequacy of both qualitative and quantitative research, the increased flooding risks exacerbated by climate change, and the deficiencies in water resource management -all of which endanger human well-being. Currently, he is engaged in doctoral research aimed at systematically exploring various aspects of land use and urban flood risk, with the overarching goal of identifying effective strategies for resilient management in these domains.

Heli Karjalainen has worked in tourism in Salla for 21 years, the last 13 of them with the Visit Salla Organization, focusing on marketing, communications, and development. For her and others in Salla, environmental issues and sustainable development are not only vital for maintaining the tourism industry but also a matter of caring for their home and ensuring its well-being.

György Laki has been the mayor of the municipality of Kajárpéc for 19 years. During his university years, he studied biology and chemistry. He is one of the founders of the Hungarian Climate Alliance and has been the vice president of the organization since its establishment 15 years ago. Last year, he was also elected to the board of the European Climate Alliance. He has been a member of the Győr and Region Waste Management Council for 5 years, which is responsible for the transport and processing of the everyday waste of nearly 240,000 people in the region’s 112 settlements. As mayor, his municipality Kajárpéc was awarded the European Climate Star in 2021. The municipality earned this award primarily for its work in greenfield management and shaping experience-based attitudes.

Mónika Németh graduated as an expert in international relations, specialising in EU policies and funding schemes. She has planned and managed funding programmes in public administration and designed multiple transnational projects focusing on sustainable urban and rural development. She has turned this experience into a community-building endeavour, bringing together like-minded professionals to mainstream Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Hungary in both policy and practice through TeAM Hub.

Csaba Vaszkó is a geographer by degree. He works as an individual expert at the interface of climate change, freshwater and natural resource management. He is a practitioner with a strong interest in building good relationships between land and water users, policy makers, businesses, local communities and the science sector. He is a representative of the Bihari (Bihor)–Kis-Sárrét Catchment Community.

Barbara Petra Bezegh is a certified biological engineer and economist with over 15 years of experience in environmental protection projects. She has extensive professional expertise ranging from project preparation through management to implementation. In recent years, she has primarily been involved in leading LIFE environment and nature conservation projects. Currently, she works at HungaroMet Nonprofit Ltd. as the project manager of LIFE IP HungAIRy, a project focused on air quality protection.

Fruzsina Markó is a staff member of the Municipality of Bátya and the catchment coordinator of the lowland pilot area of the LIFE LOGOS 4 WATERS project. She was responsible for the local planning and implementation of nature-based water retention interventions, as well as organizing the Multi-stakeholder Catchment Forum (MCF). Her professional focus lies in sustainable urban development, landscape-level water management, and participatory planning processes involving local communities and decision-makers.

Mária Csikai is a senior project manager based in the Municipality of Zugló district of Budapest, where she primarily initiates and manages grants related to sustainability and green development. She has been working on green projects for decades, initially in the civil sector, then in her own company, and now in the public sector. While the implementation of projects and their impact are her primary focus, she has also coordinated the preparation of numerous policy documents, strategies, and action plans throughout her career. The involvement of stakeholders and the public in green issues is not only a great inspiration to her but also essential for achieving meaningful results.

Graduated from the Urban School of Sciences Po Paris, Emese Décsi is currently working in the Green Office of Hegyvidék Municipality, Budapest. In her work, she focuses on climate adaptation solutions in public spaces and on data-based climate vulnerability and risk assessment.

Ramóna Fajkuszné Kovács has been serving as a local government representative in her village, Bezi, since 2019, with a focus on community-building events and preserving or inventing traditions. She is actively involved in funding programs, as well as regional and international connections, event planning, and promotion. In her personal life, she works as an interpreter and language teacher.

Karmela Maren, an Architect and Urban Planner, works as the Assistant Head of Department for Urban Planning and Green Policies for the City of Pula. With a deep commitment to creating sustainable and resilient urban environments, she strongly advocates for the comprehensive integration of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). She is committed to integrating NBS principles across all levels of urban development—from strategic policy and spatial planning to project design and practical realization—with the primary aim of fostering ecological, social, and economic benefits.

Antonija Babić is an economist with more than a decade of experience in EU-funded projects within the public sector. Since 2011, she has been engaged in preparing and implementing European projects, and she currently serves as Head of the Unit for the Development of EU-funded Projects at the City of Pula. Her work focuses on securing financial mechanisms that support local development and improve quality of life. She is particularly dedicated to sustainable urban transformation, integrating European funding instruments to advance resilience and long-term strategic goals.

Ferenc Réder obtained his university degrees at the Technical University of Budapest, earning a BSc in Chemical Engineering and an MSc in Bioengineering. He studied wastewater treatment and completed his thesis at the University of Wageningen. For a period of 22 years, he worked as a primary school teacher in the countryside. He also completed a quality management post-graduate course at the University of Economics. In 2015, he began his current role as a Strategy Officer at the Managing Authority for Environmental Operational Programs (now the National Development Centre). He later graduated as a development policy advisor from the University of Public Service and attended a two-year course on International Water Diplomacy. In addition to his official role, he supports civil society through charitable work. He collaborates with local and national NGOs such as the Water Shed Initiative, Water Coalition, Association for the Protection of the Creation, Water Guardians, and Beaver Believers. He also organizes river walks in cooperation with local municipalities.