Secretariat

Michele Bozzano joined the EUFORGEN Programme in 2002 and in 2015 he was appointed as the coordinator.

He developed technical and scientific outputs including reports, technical guidelines, distribution maps, conservation strategies and the EUFGIS Information System. Michele co-authored the Forest Genetic Resources Training Guide, a new approach that aims to make teaching and learning about issues related to forest genetic resources easy and engaging.

Contact: Michele.Bozzano(at)efi.int

Anna-Maria Farsakoglou joined the EUFORGEN Secretariat in March 2020 to provide scientific and technical support to the Programme and associated projects. Originally from Greece, Anna-Maria is a forest geneticist dedicated to the conservation of forest genetic resources. She holds a BSc in Forestry and Natural Environment (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), a MSc in Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis (University of Edinburgh) and a PhD in Forest Genetics (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). She has participated in several European efforts, such as the GenTree project.

Contact: AnnaMaria.Farsakoglou(at)efi.int

Sarah joined the EUFORGEN Secretariat in July 2022 as Communications Specialist. She leads communication and dissemination activities in European Commission-funded projects and for EFI’s Mediterranean Network. Originally from the United Kingdom, she has been working at EFI’s Mediterranean Facility for 10 years, with previous broad experience in project management for NGOs in various locations around the world. She has a bachelor’s degree in French and Hispanic Studies and a postgraduate degree in Secondary Education.

Contact: sarah.adams(at)efi.int

Lidwina joined EUFORGEN in September 2020, as Administrative Officer. Based in Barcelona, she ensures smooth day-to-day administrative and financial operations. Lidwina is originally from the Netherlands but lived in Italy for a great part of her life. Lidwina had already worked for EUFORGEN for several years (2001-2008) while also handling the administrative management of the Secretariat of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) (2000-2020). Lidwina has a diploma in Financial and Management Accounting from the Open University, UK.

Contact: lidwina.koop(at)efi.int

Gerard Fernández joined the EUFORGEN team in July 2022 to support the unit's communication and dissemination activities. He works as communications officer for EFI's Mediterranean Facility. Originally from Spain, he holds a degree in Journalism and Media from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), as well as a master's degree in International Relations from the Pompeu Fabra University (IBEI-UPF). Before joining EFI, he worked as a press and social media assistant for EU institutions, multinational companies and research and higher education centres.

Contact: gerard.fernandez(at)efi.int

María González Delgado joined EUFORGEN in June 2025 to provide the unit with communication activities support. She is part of EFI’s Mediterranean Facility as Communications Officer. With a background in socio-environmental communication and degrees in World Heritage Conservation and Environmental Ethics, she brings experience in science communication, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement. She has worked with organizations like WWF and The Rainforest Alliance, and is passionate about inclusive narratives that connect people, culture, and ecosystems

Contact: maria.gonzalez(at)efi.int

Mercedes Caron joined the EUFORGEN Secretariat in May 2026 to provide scientific and technical support to the Programme and associated projects. She is a researcher at the European Forest Institute’s Mediterranean Facility (EFIMED), working at the interface between science and policy on forest-related issues. Originally from Argentina, she is a forest ecologist specialising in the impacts of climate change on forest dynamics, regeneration processes, and biodiversity conservation. She holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences (Forest and Nature Management) and has conducted research on vegetation responses to global change in European, Mediterranean and subtropical forest systems. 

Gabriela Moscardini joined EUFORGEN in May 2026 to support the team in strengthening the programme’s visibility, outreach, and digital presence. With a background in communications, journalism, and audience engagement, she has worked with international organizations on strategic communication initiatives, particularly in the fields of human rights and humanitarian aid. Throughout her career, Gabriela has contributed to communicating complex and sensitive topics to diverse global audiences through accessible and impactful storytelling.