Luciano Di Fonzo is the Deputy Head of Sport Unit at the European Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Before his current position, he spent 20 years in the Education sector as programme manager within the Jean Monnet Programme and the Lifelong Learning Programme. He was also general secretary of ECSA (European Community Studies Associations) a network of academics specialised in the field of European integration studies. He holds a degree in Political Science at the University "La Sapienza" in Rome and two Masters on EU law and politics.  

Mariya Gabriel is the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, Youth and Sport. Under her leadership, the new Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and the cultural strand of Creative Europe programmes (2021-2027) are being implemented. Her main priorities are excellence in research, innovation and education (ERA, EEA, EIA); tackling the R&I divide in Europe; Europe as a leader in strategic innovation areas through the digital and green transition, with a particular attention for young people and regions. “No one left behind” and “Think out of the box” are her mottos.

Between 2017 and 2019, Mariya Gabriel was European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society. She proposed the new Digital Europe programme, worked on EU Strategy on AI, disinformation online, cybersecurity and launched the EuroHPC strategy. She has extensively engaged with external EU partners to enhance digital cooperation, in particular with the Western Balkans and Africa. She was elected as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2009, 2014 and 2019. Mariya Gabriel is First Vice-President of the European People’s Party (EPP), and, since 2012, Vice-President of EPP Women.

Mark Cutajar was born on the 6th August, 1971. Graduated as Mathematics and Physics teacher in 1994. Later he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Sport Organization and Management. He was an established journalist for twenty years winner of three television awards and being the first commentator in Maltese history to comment live a World Cup Final in Paris 1998.Mark occupied important senior roles in sport, gaining extensive knowledge in theadministrative field. President of a local Waterpolo club and a Team Manager of a local Premier football club, both clubs managed to win prestigious honors on the Island. Appointed Director of Sport of the Malta Olympic Committee in 2009, period when Malta got the best ever results away from the island. He participated as official In London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He acted as chef de mission during Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and served in the technical commission of the Games of Small States of Europe He represented Malta in DG Meetings and is responsible for major sports reforms that were happening in the entity. Led the SportMalta team during the Presidency of the council where Malta got consensus on a new Work Plan for Sport. In 2015 he was appointed as European Representative on the Commonwealth Advisory Board for Sport.As from 2013, he was instrumental for the transformation and growth of the Maltese Sport Council to SportMalta. The entity, during these years managed to be recognized locally and in the international scene, winning recently the #BeActive Workplace Award.