Youth Heritage Days: despoblación, juventud y patrimonio cultural

Alberto Castán Chocarro
Professor at University of Zaragoza (Spain)

Associate Professor in the History of Art Department at the University of Zaragoza. He specializes in contemporary art, and his research has focused on the relationship between art and political and cultural identity, travel as an experience of foreign artists in Spain and the image of the country they disseminated, and contemporary women artists. He has also participated in initiatives related to the management of cultural heritage. 

Since 2023, he has been co-PI of the Vestigium reference research group of which he has been a member since 2004. He has also participated in national research projects, published four monographs, several papers in academic journals, book chapters and exhibition catalogues.

Sorina Neacșu
President ESACH, Europa Nostra Council Member, Executive Director Heritage for the Future Cultural Association, Cultural Manager, Romania

Cultural manager with a passion for engaging youth in cultural heritage. With a strong background in heritage management and the NGO sector, she has developed expertise in youth and volunteer engagement, museum education, project coordination, and art history. She is dedicated to fostering youth-led initiatives that enhance awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, ensuring its relevance for future generations. Committed to making heritage more accessible and visible, Sorina actively promotes the role of young people in safeguarding and advocating for cultural heritage. Since December 2020, she has been a driving force in the European Heritage Youth Ambassadors Programme as part of the ESACH (www.esach.org) coordination committee and now serves as the President of the network. She also represents the Cultural Association «Patrimoniu pentru Viitor» (www.patrimoniu-viitor.ro) and, as of October 2024, has joined the Europa Nostra Council, reinforcing her commitment to youth engagement in heritage preservation and advocacy.

Jasna Popović
Coordinator of Youth Activity in European Heritage Hub, ESACH Secretary, PhDc in International Law, Serbia/Spain

Graduated from Law in Belgrade and holds two masters – one in International public law and another in Human Rights and now is a Ph.D. candidate at UC3M, Madrid, researching the link between cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.

She is a freelance cultural practitioner and she is collaborating with Hispania Nostra, where she oversees youth involvement, digital transformation in heritage and EU-funded projects, and she is working as Coordinator of youth activities for European Heritage Hub pilot-project. She is also very active in ESACH, where she has volunteered as Secretary since September 2022.

Héctor Aliaga de Miguel
Architect, UNA Europa PhD(c) and researcher in cultural heritage and urban peripheries (CUMET project), Spain

PhD candidate in Geography at Complutense University of Madrid (2021-2026); he holds an interuniversity Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century: Management and Research from UCM and UPM (2019), and a degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (2017). His research is framed within the UNA Europa joint PhD programme in Cultural Heritage UNA-HER-DOC, in co-tutorship with the Department of Architecture of Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. The thesis focuses on the role of Cultural Heritage for the sustainability and urban regeneration of peripheral areas in large cities, regarding the processes of heritagisation and values appropriation by society.

In addition, he has worked in different international research projects on territorial and sustainable development through Cultural Heritage and Cultural Tourism, including social participation and digital transition within the European Commission initiatives Interreg, Horizon and JPI, such as Interreg Mediterranean Herit-Data, H-2020 IMPACTOUR, H-2020 TExTOUR and JPI-CUMET. He also participates in international committees and networks of scientific dissemination and enhancement of Cultural Heritage, such as ICOMOS, involved in the World Heritage Observatory; ESACH, thanks to the European Heritage Youth Ambassadors programme; and Europa Nostra, as a member of the New European Bauhaus taskforce.

Serena Meloni
Local development agent - cooperation area at LAG Sulcis Iglesiente Capoterra e Campidano di Cagliari, Italy

Local development agent – cooperation expert at the GAL Sulcis Iglesiente Capoterra e Campidano di Cagliari, Local Action Group of South-West Sardinia, which manages European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds, ESIFs) for the sustainable development of the territory involved. I am in charge of the animation of local actors and cooperation projects, in order to foster the development of projects consistent with the actions envisaged by the LAG’s Strategy and Action Plan.

I graduated in languages (BA) from the University of Cagliari and hold a Master’s degree in International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage from the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna. I obtained a first-level Master’s diploma in “World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development” from the University of Turin and the Polytechnic University of Turin.

I gained experience in European planning and international cooperation during previous internships and work experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international cooperation in Barcelona, Berlin and Turin.

Elif Aydin
PhD(c), Research and Administrative Assistant (European Heritage Hub Project), ESACH Coordination Committee Member, EN Tr Program Coordinator, Türkiye/Belgium

Elif Aydın is a dedicated urban planner and cultural heritage professional. Currently, she works at the HERKUL Institute of KU Leuven, focusing on European Heritage HUB project. She also moderates the Istanbul Citizens’ Council’s Working Group on Urban Culture and Cultural Heritage, where she actively promotes participatory urban culture and raises awareness about cultural heritage. As Communications Manager at ESACH, she oversees content creation for events and calls, coordinates the “Journey of Heritage: Cultural Narratives” blog series, manages the organisation’s digital presence, and promotes awareness of cultural heritage. Elif’s background includes a valuable internship at Europa Nostra, where she contributed to youth involvement in cultural heritage management, as well as earlier experiences at Studio Redaelli Speranza in Milan and various Turkish municipalities. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Urban & Cultural Studies at Istanbul Technical University while conducting her research at KU Leuven as an international scholar.

Yorgos Mertzanides
Architect (intMSc), MA Semiotics Culture and Communication, MSc student in Protection, Conservation and Restoration of cultural monuments, Greece

Yorgos Mertzanides, born 1993. Freelance architect, facility development consultant of ALMI S.A. and currrently Msc student in “Protection, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Monuments”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Previous studies in “Architecture” (int. MSc) and “Semiotics, Culture and Communication” (MA) in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Hochschule Kaiserslautern, Germany on an Erasmus+ scholarship. Participation or contribution in architectural competitions with distinctions (Sarlitza Pallas, Lesvos, Greece, Metro Station Akadimia, Athens, Greece). Participation in initiatives for the protection of rural heritage. Research interest in rural architectural heritage and architectural semiotics with publications in relevant conferences. Europa Nostra Youth Member.

Pravali Vangeti
Climate Heritage Network, Youth forum, India/France

Cultural professional specializing in the intersection of culture, policy, and international relations. She is a founding co-convener of the Climate Heritage Network Youth Forum (2021–2024) and a member of the Climate Heritage Network Steering Committee (2022–present).

With a strong focus on education and capacity building for youth in heritage, Pravali has contributed and led the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme (2019–2023) and currently coordinates a global project on foodways as intangible cultural heritage (2024–present). She has actively engaged in cultural policy and sustainability at the European level, through her work at ENCATC (2024) and has contributed to international cultural relations initiatives at organizations such as ESACH, Europa Nostra, the Asia-Europe Foundation, the Global Cultural Relations Programme, and IFACCA.

Pravali holds an MBA and a Master’s in Arts and Cultural Management (France) as well as a Bachelor’s in Design (India).

Shangyun Shen
Project Officer, Fondation des Sciences du Patrimoine, China/France

As a Project Officer at the Fondation des Sciences du Patrimoine, France, I help coordinate  international collaborations, including the secretariat of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage (JPI CH). My role involves managing strategic initiatives, such as transnational calls for research proposals, facilitating cross-border partnerships, and overseeing digital platforms like HeritageResearch-Hub.eu. I also contribute to key policy documents, including the Joint White Paper on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change: New Challenges and Perspectives for Research.

With multiple Master’s degrees in Sustainable Heritage Management and Religious Studies from KU Leuven, Panthéon-Sorbonne, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Università degli Studi di Padova, I bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the evolving field of heritage science. My past research has focused on minority heritage, religious heritage, and intercultural dialogue.

Prior to my current role, I worked with institutions such as the French Ministry of Culture, Future for Religious Heritage (FRH), and the Center for Arab-West Understanding, contributing to heritage research, policy development, and stakeholder engagement across Europe and the Middle East.

Henar Maíllo Valdés
Founder of Leizea and European Studies student, Spain/France

Student of European Studies specializing in Political Science at Paris Sorbonne. She has long been involved in efforts to include the environmental perspective in different fields. In 2021 she founded Leizea, a youth collective focused on raising awareness on climate change along with equality and mental health. Through its platform, youth actively research and inform on these topics. At its core, the project aims to tackle today’s greatest problems through intersectionality which is why the ecological and social merge together.

Simona Bravaglieri
Post-Doc Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor, Italy

Research Fellow at Ca’ Foscari University and Lecturer in heritage anthropology at the University of Bologna. Her research focuses on cultural heritage and sustainability, critical heritage studies, sustainable tourism, active dissonance and resilience in communities in case of conflict or disaster. She has a PhD from the Politecnico di Milano in Conservation of the Architectural Heritage with a thesis entitled: ‘The heritage of the Cold War: identification, mapping and preservation of decommissioned military buildings and sites in Italy (1947-1989)’. She has carried out exchange periods in multidisciplinary contexts at Uppsala Universitet Campus Gotland, University of York, National Technical University of Athens and Chalmers Technical University. Part of the editorial staff of the scientific journal ‘ANANKE’, founded by Marco Dezzi Bardeschi. Among her most recent publications is ‘Heritage itineraries and the ‘rest state’ at Europe’s Cold War-era Ground-launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) sites’ in Landscape Research (2023) with John Schofield.

Manal Ginzarly
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, Belgium

Marie Curie postdoctoral fellow at the University of Liège in Belgium. Her research lies at the intersection of sustainable urban development, urban governance, heritage management, and climate change. She approaches the city as a living heritage and is particularly interested in the notion of everyday heritage, grassroots heritage conservation practices, and the contribution of cultural heritage to community resilience. Her work also focuses on developing methodological approaches that leverage social media to foster civic engagement in heritage management and to provide deeper insights into everyday landscapes and the diversity of heritage places and values.

Georgia Evans
Senior Editorial Officer, Europeana, The UK/The Netherlands

Senior Editorial Officer at the Europeana Foundation, and a participant in the European Heritage Hub project. In her role, she leads on editorial aimed at professionals and non-formal professionals across the common European data space for cultural heritage, creates and and aligns communications that meet the aims and the needs of stakeholders, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Europeana Pro website. Before working at Europeana, Georgia worked in the higher education sector in the UK. She has a BA degree in English Language and Literature, and an MA in Early Modern Studies.

Theodoros Alexandridis
Researcher (EU Projects), Greece

Spatial & Urban Planner with a strong focus on European programs, cultural heritage, and sustainable development. He has experience working with EU-funded projects, managing research, and coordinating international collaborations.

Currently, he is actively involved in research projects with Tero PC and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, contributing to initiatives like Interreg Europe "DEPART", European Urban Initiative “NatUR-W” and the project “GoBike”, focusing on urban planning, sustainability, and heritage preservation.

His previous experience at the Publications Office of the European Union (Blue Book Traineeship) strengthened his data analysis / visualization, business intelligence, and strategic planning skills, particularly in European policy contexts. His background also includes roles in customer support, urban planning, and census coordination, showing his ability to adapt across different sectors.

Passionate about cultural heritage, he has worked on projects related to heritage conservation, tourism development, and adaptive reuse of historical sites, contributing through publications and conferences. Skilled in GIS, CAD, Power BI, and data-driven urban planning, he enjoys applying technology to create smarter, more resilient cities.

Fluent in Greek (native) and English (C2 level), with basic knowledge of French, Theodoros thrives in collaborative, international environments where he can combine research, planning, and European policy expertise.

Theodora Rontzova
Project officer, KU Leuven, Belgium

project officer at KU Leuven, currently working on IMPULSE, a Horizon Europe project centered around the creative (re)use of digital cultural heritage. She holds a BA in Philology and Linguistics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens as well as an MA in European Studies from KU Leuven, with a major in European Diversity and Cultural Policy and a minor in European History. She is currently pursuing an Advanced Master in Cultural Anthropology and Development at KU Leuven, as well as an LLB (in distance) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In the past, she gained professional experience from the National Library of Greece, the Centre of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Granada as well as FARO, the Flemish Institute for Cultural Heritage. Her particular interests revolve around digitization practices in the cultural sector, and the intersection of cultural heritage with law and politics.

Irene Reyes Suero
MA student, University Paris Sorbonne, Editor, ESACH, Spain/France

Irene is pursuing a Master’s in International, European, and Comparative Law at Université Panthéon-Sorbonne. She has a background in legal and international affairs, having gained experience at UNESCO, INTERPOL, and the Spanish Ministry of External Affairs and Cooperation. Passionate about cultural heritage, european policies and international cooperation, she is an editor at ESACH, where she contributes to discussions on youth involvement in heritage preservation.

Gioele Racca
Expert in Built Environment, Culture and Heritage, ICLEI Europe) Italy/Germany

Serves as an Expert at ICLEI Europe’s Office, where he focuses on integrating cultural heritage preservation with sustainable urban development. He is dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange in culture-driven transformation, emphasising the importance of stakeholder engagement and leveraging inclusive and participatory approaches in urban development initiatives. His expertise aligns closely with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, where he contributes to the development of the Toolbox. His work is driven by a strong commitment to international collaboration, social responsibility, and cultural sustainability.

Unige Bagdi
Programmes Manager (ESACH), MSc in Heritage Studies (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Hungary/The Netherlands

She is a proactive and enthusiastic heritage professional with a background in art history and heritage studies. Passionate about contemporary heritage reuse strategies and spatial development, she strives to balance preservation with the evolving needs of modern society. Throughout her academic journey, she has developed a deep understanding of participatory heritage management and contemporary preservation practices. In addition, she has gained valuable practical experience in event organization and program coordination through internships volunteer works across various cultural institutions. Currently, she serves as Programme Manager in the Events Team at ESACH, where she organizes quarterly events for young professionals and heritage students. Her work is fueled by a strong interest in emerging trends in cultural heritage, particularly adaptive reuse, critical heritage theories, and participatory strategies. She is committed to ensuring that cultural heritage remains both relevant and accessible, especially for future generations.

Milan Končar
MA historian, curator historian, Serbia

Master historian and curator with extensive experience in education, museum practice, and project management. Specialized in historical research, archival work, and cultural heritage preservation, with a strong passion for making history accessible to wider audiences. As a history teacher, I am dedicated to inspiring students through interactive and critical learning, fostering a deeper understanding of the past.

My professional experience extends beyond education into museum and archival work, where I curate exhibitions, manage historical collections, and develop projects that highlight cultural heritage. In addition to my work in history, I am also one of the pioneers of Teqball in Serbia, actively contributing to the development of this emerging sport as a certified international referee. My leadership extends to chess, where I serve as the president of the chess club «Kraljev Gambit,» promoting chess as a strategic and intellectual pursuit.

Beyond professional engagements, I find great fulfillment in preserving oral history through conversations with older generations, ensuring their stories and experiences are recorded for future generations. Motivated by a passion for history, curatorship, and sports innovation, I continuously seek opportunities to contribute to cultural, educational, and community-driven projects.

Marcos Larraz Rincón
Investigator at Institute of Heritage and Humanities of the University of Zaragoza, Spain

I am an Art Historian with a Master’s Degree in Hispanic Cultures and Identities, and I work as a Researcher at the Institute of Heritage and Humanities (IPH) of the University of Zaragoza, where I am also developing my PhD tesis.

I’ve been part of the International Research Project “GAP: Graffiti Art in Prison”, granted by the European Commission (Program: ERASMUS+KA-2), carrying out different training and research stays at the Università degli Studi di Palermo, the Universität zu Köln and the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut.

Within the Rural Mobility Program of the UNITA – Universitas Montium Alliance, in 2021 I made an internship in the Italian town of Ostana (Piedmont), in collaboration with the Università degli Studi di Torino and the VISO A VISO Cooperative, developing the project “Living Library of the Alps”.

Sorina Neacșu
President ESACH, Europa Nostra Council Member, Executive Director Heritage for the Future Cultural Association, Cultural Manager, Romania

Cultural manager with a passion for engaging youth in cultural heritage. With a strong background in heritage management and the NGO sector, she has developed expertise in youth and volunteer engagement, museum education, project coordination, and art history. She is dedicated to fostering youth-led initiatives that enhance awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, ensuring its relevance for future generations. Committed to making heritage more accessible and visible, Sorina actively promotes the role of young people in safeguarding and advocating for cultural heritage. Since December 2020, she has been a driving force in the European Heritage Youth Ambassadors Programme as part of the ESACH (www.esach.org) coordination committee and now serves as the President of the network. She also represents the Cultural Association «Patrimoniu pentru Viitor» (www.patrimoniu-viitor.ro) and, as of October 2024, has joined the Europa Nostra Council, reinforcing her commitment to youth engagement in heritage preservation and advocacy.

Léa Guillemant
Editor-in-Chief, ESACH, France

Dedicated to advancing cultural policy to drive positive change. Her research focuses on cultural development, creative industries, culture for peacebuilding, cultural diversity, and heritage protection within historical and geopolitical contexts. She also explores cultural rights, memory, and the transmission of culture over time.

With expertise in international development cooperation, Léa specializes in cultural heritage programs, bringing proficiency in project cycle management, policy development, and advocacy. She also serves as the editor-in-chief of ESACH.

Juan Carlos Barrientos García
Coordinator of Educational Programme, European Heritage Volunteers, Researcher in Identity and Heritage Studies, Bauhaus University Weimar, Honduras/Germany

Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and is a heritage researcher, legal expert, and educator. He holds a Master’s in World Heritage Studies from Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg in Germany, awarded with distinction, and a degree in International Law from Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana in Honduras. Currently, he serves as the Coordinator for the Educational Programme at European Heritage Volunteers, developing international training courses on heritage conservation. He is also a researcher and PhD Candidate at Bauhaus University Weimar within the DFG research group «Identity and Heritage,» where he applies decolonial theory to examine identity constructions in postcolonial societies through museum narratives in their postcolonial context.

Ljubica Vlahović
Technical Associate in Museum of Yugoslavia, MA student in Anthropology, Serbia

Ethnologist and anthropologist specializing in Yugoslav migrant workers in Western Europe and their representation in pop culture. As an expert associate at the Museum of Yugoslavia, she develops educational programs, conducts workshops, and manages social media to promote cultural heritage. Her work involves engaging diverse audiences, including children and students, in exploring Yugoslav history and heritage. Previously, she coordinated cultural initiatives at the Alternative Cultural Center “Začin,” supporting marginalized communities. A graduate of the University of Belgrade, she brings expertise in education, digital marketing, and communication, with a strong focus on preserving and interpreting cultural heritage.

Emilia Sánchez González
Doctoral Researcher at University of Luxembourg, Mexico/Luxembourg

Heritage, arts, and culture specialist with international experience working in museums, universities, and NGOs. She holds an M.A. from the UNESCO program in World Heritage Studies at BTU-Cottbus. In 2022, Emilia received the first Emerging Professionals Network research grant from the U.S. National Committee of ICOMOS. In 2023, she was a European Heritage Youth Ambassador for ESACH-Europa Nostra. She is currently a PhD Candidate at the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C2DH) of the University of Luxembourg, where she is investigating the international tour of the landmark photographic exhibition «The Family of Man.»