Ignazio Cocchiere is a Policy officer in the Sport Unit of the European Commission’s department for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (DG EAC). He joined the Commission in 2018 and his main areas of responsibilities are the development of dual career in sport, the organisation and implementation of the European Week of Sport and #BeActive Awards. 

Prior to joining the Sport Unit, Ignazio has worked as Accredited Assistant in the European Parliament gathering experience in different fields with a specific focus on proposals discussed in Education and Culture (CULT) committee.  

He played fifteen years as professional football player in Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, combining his career with his studies and work in the EU institutions. 

A graduate of Political Science from the Universities of Sofia (BG) and York (UK), Irena Guidikova has been working at the Council of Europe since 1994. Her carrier has taken her from youth policy and research, though the future of democracy in Europe, to cultural policy and inclusion and anti-discrimination. Her work involved producing standards on e-governance and e-voting, party financing and internet literacy, safeguarding diversity via film funding, and multi-level policies for intercultural integration of migrants and refugees. She has also been policy advisor in the Private Office of the Secretary General, the coordinator of the World Forum for Democracy (www.world-forum-democracy.org) and has lead the Inclusion and Anti-discrimination programmes of the Council of Europe, dealing with countering hate speech, LGBTI equality, migrant inclusion and minority rights. She is currently Head of the Children’s rights and Sport Values Department.

Jakob Forssmed was born in 1974. He lives in Sollentuna, is married and has three children.

Educational background

• Studies equivalent to a Degree of Master in Political
• Science, University of Gothenburg
• Social sciences programme, Sandagymnasiet (upper secondary school)
• High School (Honorary diploma) Ripley High School, West Virginia

Positions and assignments

• Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health
• Member, Parliamentary Review Commission (SOU 2019:46)
• Member, Surplus Target Committee (SOU 2016:67)
• First Vice-Chair, Christian Democrats
• Member of the Riksdag
• Deputy Group Leader, Christian Democrats
• Economic policy spokesperson, Christian Democrats
• State Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office
• Chief of Staff, Party Executive Staff, Christian Democrats
• Member of the Riksdag
• Chair, Young Christian Democrats
• Political Secretary, Christian Democrats
• Ombudsman, Young Christian Democrats