FELLOWS
Sally Abu Bakr (L|A|L.1) - Palestine
Sally Abu Bakr is a cultural policy expert and senior municipal leader with over two decades of experience in cultural management, strategic planning, and international cultural cooperation. Since 2015, she has served as Director of the Cultural Department at Ramallah Municipality. She played a central role in formulating Ramallah’s Cultural Policy Strategy and managing major cultural infrastructure projects, including the Ramallah City Museum and the Shireen Abu Akleh Media Museum. Abu Bakr previously headed the Culture and Art Unit at the Municipality, coordinating high-profile initiatives such as the Qalandiya International Biennale and the Wein A Ramallah public space festival.
Marlon Burton (L|A|L.1) - United Kindgom
Marlon Burton is an agent at leadring UK artist agency, ATC Live with eight years of experience with an international roster, which includes acts like: Karpe, MATA, Drax Project, Reuben James, Danielle Ponder, PLK, and Charlotte OC. He joined ATC to help develop their Urban & Contemporary division with the main focus on Rap, Drill, Grime, RnB, Jazz and Soul.
Ula Buyuly (L|A|L.1) - Poland
Ula Buyuly is a sociologist, leadership educator, and career coach at Artist in Bloom, an agency supporting growth and innovation in the creative industries. She specializes in competency development, creative team dynamics, and empathy-based leadership. As a certified Harrison Assessments practitioner, she helps artists and cultural professionals unlock their strengths and lead with purpose. Ula has collaborated with partners such as Music Export Poland, Narodowe Centrum Kultury, Keychange, Different Sounds Festival, and EMMA. She currently leads Music Week Poland: Upskilling Programme!—a national initiative helping artists and managers navigate the showcase ecosystem with confidence and strategy.
Paty Carrera (L|A|L.1) - Mexico / Spain
Paty Carrera is the President of the Spanish Speaking Music Supervision Association (ASM). She has been deeply involved in music supervision, consulting, and licensing for audiovisual productions for platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and HBO. To safeguard the interests of creators, Carrera has dedicated her professional life to the world of copyright. She also collaborates closely with music producer Phil Vinall and manages matters for artists like Beto Cuevas, Ely Guerra, Enjambre, and Pato Machete. Carrera’s experience translates in her contribution to workshops, panels, and educational programs that she has developed in Colombia, Chile, Poland, Canada, Spain, and México.
Rachel Cartier (L|A|L.1) - France
Rachel Cartier is a cultural engineering consultant, curator, and creative director with 20 years of experience. As former Head of Music at Deezer, Cartier led editorial strategy and curation, and worked with artists such as Angèle, Rosalía, and Jul. Recognized among the 100 Women of Culture in France, she chaired MEWEM, Europe’s mentorship program for women and gender minority entrepreneurs in the music industry, and served on CNM strategic committees for gender equality. In 2024, she conducted a research mission in Asia on the geopolitical role of cultural industries. As founder of Halcyon, she advises institutions, businesses, and governments on cultural and creative projects.
Rosana Corbacho (L|A|L.1) - Spain
Rosana Corbacho is a clinical and humanistic psychologist specializing in the music industry, with over 15 years of experience. Corbacho has collaborated with organizations such as Spotify, Believe, Live Nation, and Berklee. She has also spoken at major festivals including Primavera Sound, Reeperbahn, ADE, and BIME—where she received the Keychange Inspiration Award in 2022. She is the founder of M.I. Therapy, a specialized clinical team focused on the physical and mental health of professionals in music, the arts, and creative industries. Her work has been featured in El País, Cosmopolitan, and RNE, and she has contributed to mental health initiatives across Europe, Latin America, and New Zealand.
Joe Frankland (L|A|L.1) - UK
Joe Frankland is CEO at PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading independent charitable funder of new music and talent development. Frankland joined PRS Foundation in 2014 as Industry Funds Manager. In 2015, he moved into the Senior Grants & Programmes Manager role, where he worked strategically to plan and manage pioneering grant-making and partnership programmes, and in 2019, he was appointed CEO. Since 2000, the PRS Foundation has given more than £50 million to over 9,000 new music initiatives. The PRS Foundation founded the Women Make Music fund, co-founded global gender equality initiative, Keychange and most recently launched the POWER UP initiative to tackle anti-Black racism in music.
Mila Georgieva (L|A|L.1) - Bulgaria
Mila Georgieva is a cultural manager dedicated to the promotion and internationalisation of the Bulgarian music scene across Europe and beyond. She is the co-founder and Head Producer of SoAlive Music Conference (SAMC), the leading music industry event in Sofia. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Bulgarian Music Association (BMA), where she oversees international activities and the Project Manager for MOST – The Bridge for Balkan Music. In 2023, Mila founded the Tales of Sinemoria Foundation, a cultural organisation focused on regional development through arts programming. She is also a board member of the European Music Council and has worked with the A to JazZ Festival.
Aysha Hussain (L|A|L.1) - UK / Germany
Aysha Hussain, originally from East London, is a freelancer in the creative world and is based between London and Berlin. Hussain currently works in the film and music industries in various capacities – from writing assignments and copy editing to working on and developing inclusive recruitment and training strategies. In her current role at Keychange as Research Manager, Hussain works on developing systems for pledge signatories whilst overseeing various other aspects of the Keychange Leaders project. With a lived experience and consciousness of diversity and inclusion at the core of whatever she does, Hussain's work with Keychange and all other work has naturally aligned with this, alongside her love for the arts.
Justyna Jochym (L|A|L.1) - Poland / Australia
Justyna Jochym is the Chief Executive of Festival City Adelaide – the peak body for South Australia’s festivals and events – which works to ensure that Adelaide and South Australia are (inter)nationally recognised for delivering the world’s best festival experience. Prior to this role, she led international cooperation and development at the Krakow Festival Office in Poland, spearheaded new strategies to expand international education for the City of Krakow for the Jagiellonian University. She serves as a board director for many organizations, including the Wyatt Trust, South Australian Tourism Commission, and the Tourism Industry Council South Australia. She is a member of the national Strategic Workforce Advisory Group for the Arts as well as the South Australian Creative Industries, Arts, Finance, Technology and Business Industry Skills Council.
Karolina Juzwa (L|A|L.1) - Poland
Karolina Juzwa is a cultural manager, coordinator of Wytwornia Foundation, and President of the Europe Jazz Network. She is the co-curator of the Summer Jazz Academy Festival, and is the curator of Intl Jazz Platform, an educational programme for professional jazz artists that has taken place annually in Łódź since 2013. Since 2021, the platform has expanded internationally, with editions in Oslo, Lyon, and Amsterdam.. She is also the co-creator and co-leader of the Creative Europe project Better Live, developed with 11 European partners. The project aims to introduce environmental responsibility into the music sector and to foster more sustainable models of international artistic mobility across Europe.
Tamara Kamińska (L|A|L.1) - Poland
Tamara Kamińska has been associated with CCI for over 14 years. As a program director of one of the most significant cultural institutions in Poland, Tamara was responsible for preparing and producing important music events (including WOMEX’17). Tamara is also the author of Katowice's winning application to join The UNESCO Creative Cities Network. She was responsible for the implementation of the entire "Katowice City of Music" program. Since 2018 she has been a member of the steering committee of UCCN. Currently, Tamara is the director of Music Export Poland, the advisor to the Board of the Society of Authors ZAiKS and coordinator of the Europeana Music Exporters Exchange network. As an independent consultant for the development of creative industries, she has been cooperating with a number of cities across the world.
Frank Kimenai (L|A|L.1) - Netherlands / Belgium
Frank Kimenai is a researcher and senior consultant at KEA. He specializes in the music sector, but has a broad knowledge on Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) in general – especially in sustainability and resilience. Next to his work at KEA, he conducts PhD research on the resilience of music ecosystems at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Within this research, Kimenai is currently focusing on future proofing the music sector as a complex system, with a particular interest in systemic transitions and the role of grassroots initiatives in creating more fair, equitable, sustainable, and resilient futures.
Karol Kościński (L|A|L.1) - Poland
Karol Kościński is an attorney at law and author of articles on media law, copyright, and evolution of digital media. Since 2024, he has been CEO of ZAiKS, the biggest collective management organization in Central Eastern Europe. Between 2012 and 2018, he was responsible for preparation of domestic legislation in the field of copyright and media law in Poland, acting as the Director of the Department of Intellectual Property and Media in the Polish Ministry of Culture. He also represented Poland in the negotiations of copyright and media law within the EU Council and acted as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee of Copyright and Related Rights in WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).
Jaanika Lillemaa (L|A|L.1) - Estonia
Jaanika Lillemaa brings together expertise from both the cultural and education sectors. Her professional experience includes leading international projects at Music Estonia, managing international tours for the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, coordinating Estonia's official EU Council Presidency cultural programme in Brussels, as well as heading cultural and audiovisual cooperation at the French Institute in Estonia. Today, Lillemaa serves as an Adviser for EU and international cooperation at the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, focusing on building international partnerships in the field of education and supporting the global reach of Estonian education services.
Neus López (L|A|L.1) - Spain / Germany
Neus López has over 23 years experience in the field of music export. Between 2002 and 2015, Lopez was the Head of the Berlin office of Catalan!Arts. After joining Initiative Musik in 2018, as Head of Export, López developed and implemented three funding programmes specific for export, as well as several export co-operations with key events and showcase festivals. As part of its GERMAN MUSIC EXPORT activities, Initiative Musik is also representing Germany in european projects like ESNS Exchange or the European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE), where López has been a board member since 2021 and vice-president since 2024.
Ondiso Madete (L|A|L.1) - Kenya / Finland
Ondi is a multi-disciplinary storyteller from Kenya based in Finland, exploring patterns, cycles, connection and identity through sounds, words, movement and images.
Darek Mazzone (L|A|L.1) - Poland / USA
Darek Mazzone is a DJ, filmmaker, and cultural producer. A longtime host at Seattle’s KEXP and co-founder of SAMA: Music & Art, he spotlights sacred and diasporic music through performances, films, and cultural exchange projects in the USA, Poland, and Portugal. Originally from Poland, Darek has led initiatives for Microsoft and other technology firms, including building startup ecosystems in Asia and developing collaborative platforms for artists. He has also worked with UNHCR, supporting youth in Jordanian refugee camps through education and creative empowerment. Through SAMA and Tashkent Park Creative, he continues to champion cross-cultural connection and a polyphonic world—one where all worlds can thrive.
Dr. Lutz Möller (L|A|L.1) - Germany
Dr. Lutz Möller has worked at the German Commission for UNESCO since 2004 and has been the Deputy Secretary-General since 2015. He coordinates the Commission’s policy advice and its international cooperation, with focus on UNESCO’s international law. Currently, one of his most important initiatives is Fair Culture. He holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics.
Luiza Moroz (L|A|L.1) - Ukraine / Belgium
Luiza Moroz is the Policy Adviser at Culture Action Europe, a cultural network that brings together 280 cultural organisations across Europe. She focuses on topics such as EU funding for culture, working conditions of artists, and artistic freedom in the European Union's policy context. Moroz previously worked at the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Centre for Cultural Research. She has also worked on European integration in culture and completed a traineeship at the European Commission. As a policy analyst, she has helped introduce the concept of creative industries to the governmental agenda in Ukraine and establish the sector’s analytical and statistical framework.
Dr. Keith Nurse (L|A|L.1) - Trinidad and Tobago
Dr. Keith Nurse is President of the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago. He serves as an expert member of the UN Committee for Development Policy and the UNESCO Institute of Statistics. He is a former Senior Economist and Advisor on Structural Policies and Innovation at the OECD Development Centre, Paris and former World Trade Organization Chair at the University of the West Indies. He has served as a consultant to several governments and international organizations and has published on a broad range of topics including trade policy, innovation governance, sustainable development, intellectual property and the creative economy.
Emma Mbeke Nzioka (L|A|L.1) - Kenya
Emma Mbeke Nzioka, aka Coco Em, is a multidisciplinary artist and DJ from Nairobi, Kenya. She has curated a three-day Boiler Room event, was the artistic director at the 13th edition of the Norient Festival in Bern, and has performed in over 27 cities worldwide. Dubbed “the hardest hustling DJ” by Okay Africa, Coco Em uses her platform and the Pass Pass initiative, an African Artist led advocacy organization challenging unfair travel restrictions, to highlight systemic inequalities in outlets such as Pan African Music, The Guardian, and the BBC. Following her successful EP "Kilumi," Coco Em is currently working on her debut album to be released at the end of 2025 with InFiné music.
Sophia Sagaradze (L|A|L.1) - Georgia / Denmark
Sophia Sagaradze is a sound artist, composer, and project leader from Georgia, currently based in Denmark. She holds a master’s degree in Electronic Composition (DIEM) from the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, and a bachelor’s degree in Classical Composition from Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Currently, Sophia works at ROSA as a Project Leader for the Musikhjælp Scenesetup that work with festivals across Denmark. Since August 2022, Sophia has been a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus/Aalborg, where she teaches courses: Composition, Interactive Projects, Programming and Multichannel Setup, and Sound Installations. She is also the founder and leader of Aarhus sound Association(ALF), that aims to create a hub for creative ideas and provides a sustainable environment for work in electronic composition, sound art, installations, interactive art, and surround sound systems.
Anupama Sekhar (L|A|L.1) - India / UAE
Anupama Sekhar is an arts manager specialising in transnational cultural relations. She has worked extensively with the music sector, most recently facilitating the Music Connect workshop—an initiative to connect Asian music professionals—presented by Abu Dhabi Creative City of Music at the Culture Summit (Abu Dhabi, 2024). Between 2009 and 2021, through her work at the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), she set up mobility and collaboration grants for the music sector and commissioned sectoral studies such as Contemporary Music: Tuning into Bangladesh. Anupama contributed to the drafting of the Fair Culture Charter—an initiative launched in 2024 by the German Commission for UNESCO to promote equitable cultural relations
Dev Sherlock (L|A|L.1) - USA
Dev Sherlock is the Director of the SXSW Music Festival. As part of his role, he is responsible for artists and showcase presenters from the EU, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Recognized as the world's premier music showcasing event, and featuring more than 1,000 artists from 60+ countries, SXSW brings together the global music community alongside the film and tech industries for a week of networking and live showcases in Austin, Texas. Sherlock’s background also includes music journalism, film supervision, and broadcasting.
Helen Sildna (L|A|L.1) - Estonia
Helen Sildna is Founder and Head of Tallinn Music Week and Station Narva festivals. She worked at the Baltics’ biggest concert agency BDG (currently LiveNation) as an international talent booker and she established her own music promotion company Shiftworks in 2008. In 2018, Shiftworks launched the Station Narva festival in the easternmost Estonian city Narva, concurrently initiating Narva’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture in 2024. Sildna is a founding board member of Music Estonia, and was previously a member of former President Toomas Hendrik Ilves’ Think Tank. In 2022 Sildna was awarded the Budapest Ritmo Award for her contribution to enhance collaboration within the Central-Eastern European music community.
Virgo Sillamaa (L|A|L.1) - Estonia / Belgium
Virgo Sillamaa is a music policy researcher, educator and consultant from Estonia, currently based in Brussels. With 25 years of experience in the music sector, he is currently the Research Coordinator of EMEE, European Music Exporters Exchange network, and a board member at the Estonian Authors’ Society. Sillamaa is regularly engaged in project development and implementation, advising initiatives and organisations within the music ecosystem, such as coordinating research in “Europe in Synch” and “Better Live” projects. He is a junior lecturer of Creative Project Management at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy and also gives guest lectures and workshops on music and cultural policy.
Michaël Spanu (L|A|L.1) - France / Mexico
Michaël Spanu is a researcher and independent consultant specializing in cultural policy and the creative industries. Spanu holds a PhD in sociology and focuses on the intersections between culture, place, and the economy, with particular expertise in mechanisms such as tax credits, export strategies, and creative cities. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Manchester and regularly collaborates with cultural institutions, local governments, and consulting firms internationally.
Franziska Stambke (L|A|L.1) - Germany / Belgium
Franziska Stambke is a communications professional based in Brussels. She oversees the communications and PR efforts for Liveurope, a pan-European platform that enables concert venues to book European bands and collaborate across borders. Backed by the EU’s Creative Europe programme, Liveurope plays a key role in strengthening the visibility and mobility of Europe’s diverse music scene. Stambke is passionate about hope-based communication, connecting people through music, and supporting emerging artists. She previously worked with EUNIC, EU National Institutes for Culture, promoting cultural exchange and European values.
Jarek Szubrycht (L|A|L.1) - Poland
Jarek Szubrycht is the artistic director of Music Week Poland, Head of Communications at Mystic Festival. He is a journalist of Gazeta Wyborcza, the biggest daily newspaper in Poland, and a radio host at Polish Radio 3. He was the creator and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Magnetofonowa,” a music magazine dedicated to Polish music of all genres, and the author of several books and thousands of music articles.
Balázs Weyer (L|A|L.1) - Hungary
Balázs Weyer is an ethnomusicologist and director of Hangveto, a world music production company in Hungary and the larger region. He is curating several festivals, including Budapest Ritmo. He is the lead expert of Creative Europe project 'MOST' and is representing the city of Veszprem in the UNESCO Cities of Music network. He is a WOMEX Samurai (2014, 2020) and a member of the World Music Charts Europe jury. He is also a producer and music consultant of movie and TV soundtracks, a documentary maker, a music journalist and the chairman of Music Hungary, the music industry association of his homeland. He is a European Capitals of Culture and Unesco Cities of Music consultant for cities on cultural development projects.