Marija Adela Gjorgjioska PhD is founder and Director of ARETE. Adela is a social scientist, with an international and interdisciplinary career. She has worked in med-tech innovation, international development and academia (in the UK, Italy and Macedonia). She has a doctoral degree in Social Psychology and masters degrees in International Development Management and Conflict Studies. Contact: adela@aretenet.org

Ana Tomicic PhD is Program Director at ARETE (based in Zagreb). Ana worked at the Institute for Global Prosperity (UCL) as a postdoctoral research associate. She has experience working on interdisciplinary projects at Sapienza University of Rome, at the University of Geneva and Masaryk University. Contact: ana@aretenet.org

Klimentina Gjorgjioska is Community Engagement Manager at ARETE. She has been actively involved in the civil society sector in Macedonia, working for 5 years for organizations focused on youth participation, human rights and inter-ethnic relations. Previously, Klimentina was program assistant at Youth Alliance – Krusevo, a youth focused organization. She also worked for Roma SOS, an NGO focused on Roma minority rights. She has an MA in Policy Studies and a BA in Political Sciences at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. Contact: klimentina@aretenet.org

Simona Kabranova is Project Assistant at Arete. She supports the implementation of the Horizon Europe project FEAST which aims to catalyse Europe’s just transition to sustainable food systems. She is a student at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food at Saint Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, majoring in Plant Protection – Phytomedicine. She is passionate about working with people, personal development, ecology and improving everyday life through activism.

Dimitar Gorgieski is Green Innovations Manager at Arete. He is responsible for identifying and/or developing innovations (including, products, processes, techniques) which avoid or reduce environmental harm and contribute to a sustainable environment through the development of ecological improvements. He has experience working in manufacturing, robotics and sustainable furniture design.

Petra Carman PhD is an independent researcher in social psychology with interests ranging from human-nature relationship and eco-villages, prefigurative politics and social change. She has experience in community living and developing alternative higher education programs. Currently, Petra is holding the position of convener of the ALT’s Masters of Arts in Holistic Sustainability.