Office
We are a small international team of professionals headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Do you have a question? Are you interested in partnering with us or would you like to know more about our membership? Feel free to contact us at office[at]encc.eu. You are also welcome to come visit us in Rue des Alexiens 16B, 1000 Brussels - just let us know beforehand.
Please note that the office is currently not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Sara Turra
Coordinator
Sara has a background in international and diplomatic sciences and long experience in the coordination of international networks, and in the management of programs, projects, and teams.
Sara manages the office, oversees operations, and acts as a link between the Board of Directors and the staff.
Nico Messiaen
Administration and logistics officer
Nico's professional experience spans roles such as barista, organic farmer, and web developer. He also founded a platform that showcases cultural events, and worked as an event manager at La Fonderie museum in Brussels.
Nico's role is to ensure that all office operations run smoothly and effectively.
Irene Fici
Communications and publications officer
Educated in communication and cultural management, Irene has built professional expertise in cultural diplomacy and programme management during her time at the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels. Moved by an interest in intercultural dialogue and community building, she is involved in local socio-cultural initiatives at the Brussels level.
Irene curates our public image and voice across channels, and facilitates the activities of our working group on digital ethics.
Lucille Griffon
Membership officer
Lucille has a background in political science, with specific expertise in gender equality and anti-discrimination policies. She has experience in coordination and membership-based networks, and a particular interest in arts and culture, specifically when it comes to food.
Lucille's role is to foster sustained dialogue with our members, and to extend our presence into areas we don't yet reach.
Ingrid Danckaerts
Capacity building manager
Ingrid has a background in education and socio-cultural work. She has extensive experience in international youth work and local community development. She has worked for several international networks while organising a variety of local cultural events.
Ingrid is in charge of planning and delivering our flagship training programmes, such as Lights On and Incubator, and also helps with some of our cooperation projects.
Julia Kasten
Policy and advocacy officer
Julia is a political scientist and art historian with experience in bridging politics and culture in both the institutional and the private sector. She has worked for the CULT Committee at the European Parliament, is involved in local cultural projects, and is currently writing a PhD dissertation on the impact of culture on democracy.
Julia consults with our members and the broader ENCC community to ensure that the voices of the socio-cultural sector are heard at the EU policy level.
Michaela Charisi
Research and project officer
Michaela has a background in international and European relations and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in cultural studies at KU Leuven. She has worked with NGOs across Europe on cultural diplomacy initiatives and has experience managing European projects, particularly in the cultural and creative sectors.
Michaela manages a number of EU projects and research initiatives, and is responsible for finding new cooperation opportunities.
Ruth Artiles
Policy and advocacy officer
Educated in decolonial peacebuilding and international relations, Ruth has previously worked at INTERPOL, the Spanish Embassy in London, and the European Commission. Her experiences at SOAS University and the Cultural Relations Platform, as well as her activism and volunteering, further solidified her expertise in authentically sustainable peacebuilding, focusing on culture as method.
Ruth consults with our members and the broader ENCC community to ensure that the voices of the socio-cultural sector are heard at the EU policy level.