Meet our team
Pierre Abou-Aad
IT Manager
Vlera Bajraktari
Junior Project Manager, European Capital of Democracy
Sarah Brunner
Community Assistant Manager
Helfried Carl
Founder and Managing Partner
Marta Fraschetti
Junior Project Manager, European Capital of Democracy
Birgit Führer
Head of Finance & Operations, HR Manager
Martina Fürrutter
Head of Advisory
Elene Gagnidze
Project Officer, European Capital of Democracy
Jürgen Gangoly
Founder
Dunja Ganser
Senior Consultant
Miriam Hargašová
Head of Awards and Project Manager, European Capital of Democracy
Christina Helf
Platform Director and Senior Consultant
Patricia Kahane
Founder
Fatima Kirsch
Communications Manager, European Capital of Democracy
Sabrina Maria Lehner
Event Manager
Sulaiman Mahmoud
Office Manager
Mouna Massaoudi
Communication Assistant
Ivan Neirotti
Project Manager, European Capital of Democracy
Sabine Palatin
Organisational Coordinator
Veronika Schiftner
Project Manager, Advisory Team
Stefan Sindelar
CEO, European Capital of Democracy
Edward Strasser
CEO and Co-founder
Laura Thomas
European City Network Manager, European Capital of Democracy
Graham Wetherall-Grujić
Senior Researcher
Denica Yotova
Head of Communications
Josef Zehetner
Senior Consultant, Advisory Team
Tijana Zherajikj
Call and Fundraising Coordinator, European Capital of Democracy
Elke Zuckermann
Founder
Tribute
Doron (Ronny) Zuckermann was one of the founders of The Innovation in Politics Institute. An entrepreneur, management professional and senior strategist for corporate and communications development, with expertise of over 45 years, he has worked primarily in Western, Eastern and Central Europe as well as in North America, in production, public relations and advertising, the arts and music industries as well as management, e-government and e-marketing, financial services, healthcare and medical procurement.
On 18 August 2025, our co-founder, partner, colleague, inspirer, and mentor, Ronny Zuckermann, passed away. This is his final interview — a reminder of his brilliant mind, witty sense of humour, and unwavering realism about life.