Annette Klinkert

city2science, Germany

Dr Annette Klinkert is Founder and CEO of city2science, an organisation dedicated to strengthening collaboration between universities, cities and society through public engagement, science communication and institutional transformation. She works with universities, European networks, including European University Alliances, cities and research organisations across Europe. Her work supports institutions in designing and implementing strategies that connect academia more closely with stakeholders from policy, business and civil society. From 2024 to 2025, Annette served as Managing Director of the European University Alliance COLOURS, uniting nine regional universities across Europe. From 2016 to 2025, she was Executive Director of the European Science Engagement Association (EUSEA), coordinating an international community of universities, research organisations and science engagement professionals. Drawing on experience at the intersection of academia, international collaboration and urban development, her work today focuses on leadership in complex collaborative environments, institutional change, public engagement and knowledge-based regional innovation. She is particularly interested in how people and institutions navigate transformation when established structures, roles and leadership models no longer fully match the challenges they face.

: annette-klinkert

Bruna Vives Prat

Independent Senior Advisor Higher Education and Research, Spain

Bruna Vives is an independent strategic advisor with 25 years of leadership experience in research and higher education, specialising in institutional development, operational excellence, and EU funding strategy. She previously served as Secretary General of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) and Managing Director of the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG). Bridging strategy and operations, she aligns governance, people, and purpose to drive systemic transformation, and serves as an expert evaluator for the European Commission.

: bruna-vives