About Us
CRES – Centre for Research and European Studies – Future Business is a newly formed European non-profit Association founded by ten Organisations from 8 different Countries (DE, ES, EL, IT, MT, PT, SE, RU) with valuable experience and specific expertise for an innovative development perspective of “future business”. It includes several actors (e.g. public and private Universities, business, school, etc.) from across Europe who are joining forces to develop and implement studies, research and European projects in the field of human resources management, education and training, ICT, social inclusion and Quality Assurance in order to enhance and valorise the professional network of its Members and thus promoting active citizenship across Europe.
Executive Committee
Meetings – at least four/year (also online)
Mario Spatafora
President
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Prof. Mario Spatafora is the General Secretary of Effebi Association and the European Projects Coordinator within EFFEBI Association, responsible for identifying project ideas and appropriate Partnerships. He has been Professor – by the Department of Training Sciences at the University Roma Tre – in organisational development with a specific course on the European instruments for the long-life learning (EQF/ECVET/EQARF). Previously, after a brief working experience in the Study Department of the European Commission in Luxembourg, he worked for ABI – the Italian Banking Association – and was in charge of the General Secretariat and then of the Organisational Development and Human Resources Department.
Josep Soler Alberti
Vice-President
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Josep SOLER-ALBERTÍ, CEO, IEF; Founder and Chairman EFPA 2010-2018, Executive director EFPA Spain
Is CEO of IEF http://www.iefweb.org , the leading Spanish banking and financial trainer; founder in 2000, Chairman since 2010 to 2018 and Board member of the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA) http://www.efpa-eu.org/. and Executive director of EFPA Spain http://www.efpa.es/, at present the largest Spanish professional association in the financial sector with over 30,000 full certified members. Josep is a leading promoter of financial literacy in Spain through the coordination of EFEC http://www.efec.cat/ .
Josep acts as independent director of several money management firms –TreaCapital http://www.treacapital.com/es/index.php , Mediolanum Gestión, Mediolanum Pensiones, etc, and manages as well his own firm of financial advice and planning.
He is at present member of the CWG of the Investor Protection and Intermediaries Standing Committee of ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) https://www.esma.europa.eu/
He is a regular contributor at several economic newspapers, as well as frequent lecturer at seminars and conferences.
He holds a BSc in Economics (Barcelona University), a BSc in business administration and an MBA at ESADE, and a research Diploma at the London School of Economics (LSE).
George Petrou
Vice-President
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Mr. George Petrou, qualified in Financial Planning, Development and Management of vocational training programmes. His qualifications include the development of training materials and tools while he holds extensive experience in learning, teaching, training or youth work and personal development. He holds a master’s degree in Adult Education and he has followed seminars and post-graduate specialisations in subjects such as: training and consultative support and open & distance training for groups at risk of exclusion, diversity, integration and gender equality. He has a long experience in managing and co-ordinating EU projects mainly in the area of Lifelong Learning, local development, youth, vulnerable social groups and employment. In representing “DIMITRA”, he has participated in a wide range of networks, organisations and Board of Directors.
Volker Wittberg
Vice-President
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Prof. Dr. Volker Wittberg has been Professor of SME Management at the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM), Bielefeld, since 2001, and is Prorector for Research and Development at this HEI.
As visiting professor at the University of Gloucestershire, he is responsible for the extra-occupational doctoral programs offered in cooperation with this British university.
At the same time, since 2010 he has stood before the National Centre for Red Tape Reduction (NZBA), where he has carried out numerous research projects in the field of Better Regulation, among others, on behalf of – and with the support of – various federal ministries.
In 2014, he also took over the management of the FHM-based Centre for Sustainable Governance (CSG).
Alessia Spatafora
Managing Director
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Graduated from the University “Roma Tre” in Architecture, in 2006. She attended Postgraduate Specialization at the “Specializing School for Environmental and Cultural Heritage” at the University of Roma “La Sapienza” on the protection, safeguard, reuse, and valorization of Europe’s cultural heritage.
She has been working for several years in the field of restoration, maintenance, and architectural study of historic buildings and cultural heritage, in Italy and abroad.
Today, she is involved in the management of several European Projects as Project Manager within EFFEBI Association and as Managing Director within CRES-fb. She is responsible for designing, monitoring, communication and research activities in several European and international funding projects in the field of lifelong learning (Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership/Capacity building; Horizon 2020), especially in relation to European Framework and National Qualifications Framework (EQF); certification of competences and Quality Assurance, ECVET; collaboration between education and business environment.
General Secretariat
c/o Effebi Association in Rome (IT)
Benedetta Orlandi Contucci
Treasurer
Diana Zimelli
Project Manager
Martina Padua
Project Manager Junior
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Benedetta Orlandi Contucci is working Finance & Banking Organisational and HR Development Association (Effebi Association) since 2001.
She is Responsible of the General Secretariat and Secretary of the Board of Directors and of the General Assembly of Members.
She worked previously as a parliamentary assistant to a Member of the Chamber of Deputies.
She hold a BC’s in Romance languages and Literature (Friedrich-Wilhelm Universität in Bonn, Germany).
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Graduated in Art History and Cultural Heritage Management. With over two years of experience, she specialised in Europlanning, focusing on the writing and implementation of Erasmus+ projects.
During her professional career, she has developed specific skills in Erasmus+ project management. She acquired a solid understanding of the guidelines and requirements for accessing European funding in the education and training sector.
Her main role was to develop competitive project proposals, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, educational experts, teachers and partner organisations. In addition, he carefully supervised the implementation phases of projects, coordinating activities, monitoring progress and ensuring deadlines were met.
Her commitment to culture and her belief in the importance of education and international mobility for the personal and professional advancement of young people motivate her to contribute to the creation of successful projects that promote education, culture and knowledge exchange within the European community.
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Graduated in International and European Law at University La Sapienza of Rome. Passionate about international cooperation and social issues she is currently involved in the implementation of European Projects as a Junior PMO.
She is skilled with previous engagement in NGOs and research, wanting to reach European goals.Her major interests are migration, sustainability and LGBTQ rights, fundamental themes that she aims at pursuing via international and European cooperation.
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