Board Members

Martin Beck EURACTIV
Commercially driven business leader with a track record of scaling operations and boosting financial performance. Experienced across media, events, and data-driven sectors, with a focus on growth, team leadership, and new market development.
Sharon Spooner EPPA
EU policy expert and strategist with board-level experience and a 30-year career across consultancy, media, and corporate affairs. Actively involved in initiatives to reform UK politics and strengthen EU engagement, and serves on several high-level policy groups.
Thierry Leroy Secrétaire Général / Secretary General Europe MédiaLab
Secretary General of Europe MediaLab, overseeing finance, operations, HR, and public funding projects. Formerly Director of Public Projects and Finance at EURACTIV, he brings extensive experience in EU-funded initiatives and also supports other organisations as a consultant or volunteer.
Eva Simekova CIVITTA Slovakia
Associate Partner at Civitta, a leading consultancy in Central and Eastern Europe for entrepreneurship and tech commercialisation. She has 15 years of experience supporting startups, advising on investment, and developing business and governance structures.
David Mekkaoui Former EurActiv CEO, Future Europe MédiaLab Managing Director
Passionate about technology and AI, David Mekkaoui is committed to equal opportunities and digital inclusion. Former CEO of Euractiv and current leader of All Digital, he brings extensive experience in organisational transformation, innovation, and strategic leadership, and serves on several European boards.
Daniel Knapp AB Europe
Dr Daniel Knapp is Chief Economist at IAB Europe with over 15 years of international experience in media, advertising, and data analysis. He also advises on AI and digital strategy, holding senior roles at Twins Digital and Ecuiti, and earned his PhD from the London School of Economics.
Christophe Leclercq Executive Chair Europe MédiaLab
Digital media and governance expert with a background in corporate strategy and public policy. Founder of EURACTIV and head of Europe’s MediaLab, he advises on media innovation and holds several board roles across European institutions.
Gilles Vanderpooten Reporters d’Espoirs
Entrepreneur and media expert focused on using media, CSR, and philanthropy to drive positive change. General Manager of Reporters d’Espoirs and co-founder of sustainability initiatives, he also advises on ESG strategy and is a published author and speaker.
Lyndsey Jones Associate consultant, strategist and coach WAN-IFRA
Lyndsey Jones is the founder of iCalami, a consultancy specialising in agile change management and business transformation. She advises clients like FT Strategies and WAN-IFRA, drawing on her experience leading digital growth at the Financial Times and serving on several boards.
Cătălina Dumbrăveanu Project Manager VUB
Cătălina Dumbrăveanu is an experienced European project manager, currently leading a cross-border media innovation programme while pursuing doctoral research. She has managed teams across non-profits, start-ups, and EU initiatives, with a strong passion for political communication and citizen participation.
Radovan Geist EURACTIV Slovakia
Radovan Geist is the co-founder and publisher of EurActiv.sk and a regular commentator on EU affairs in Slovak media. He teaches political science at Comenius University and holds a PhD, with studies spanning Slovakia, India, and the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Karolina Zbytniewska EURACTIV Poland
Karolina Zbytniewska is an analyst and public expert in European and international affairs, specialising in media, disinformation, and key sociopolitical issues. CEO and Chief Editor of EURACTIV.pl for over a decade, she is also a lecturer, speaker, and Marie Curie PhD fellow dedicated to promoting informed public discourse.

Europe MédiaLab Team

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Christophe Leclercq, Executive Chairman

Christophe Leclercq is a French media entrepreneur, first founding of EURACTIV Media Network, now chairing the think-do-tank Europe MédiaLab. Mr Leclercq was on the EU’s High-Level Expert Group on disinformation, and is now on the Advisory Council of EDMO (European Digital Media Observatory). Before his media career, he was strategy consultant with McKinsey and then EU competition official.

Also a commentator on media policy and strategy, Mr Leclercq wrote several opinion articles in French and English, often co-signed with European  stakeholders and policy leaders, and addressed high-level events.

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Thierry Leroy, Finance & Admin – Public Project management

As Secretary General of Europe MediaLab for several years, he manages the Foundation: finance, administration, operations and human resources. He is also responsible for preparing applications for public funding and managing project implementation.

He was Director of Public Projects and Finance at EURACTIV Media Network until 2023 and has extensive experience of financial management and EU-funded projects. In this sector, he also works for other organisations as a consultant or volunteer.

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Aliaksandr Babiy, Programme Coordinator

Aliaks is the Coordinator of the “Maison du MédiaLab” programme, but also contributes to the organisation’s public relations. A College of Europe graduate, he possesses expertise in the EU Eastern neighbourhood and experience working in the EEAS and research institutes. Speaking several European languages allows Aliaks to better communicate the mission and build stronger partnerships.

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Mélie Carcenac, Communication & Event manager

Mélie Carcenac leads communications and events at Europe MédiaLab, enhancing the visibility and impact of programmes such as Maison du MédiaLab. She coordinates weekly updates, monthly networking events, and biannual high-level conferences, Stars4Media Day attended by EU Commissioners, MEPs, and leading media professionals. Her work strengthens engagement across partners, media, and policymakers, supporting the organisation’s mission to foster innovation and collaboration in European journalism.

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Maria-Elisa Podaru, Communication Assistant

Elisa supports Europe MédiaLab’s communication strategy by creating content for social media and promoting the organisation’s key objectives. She also helps improve the website and assists Mélie Carcenac with event planning.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Bucharest and is completing a Master’s in Advertising and Digital Communication. Her previous roles in various organisations and institutions, including the European Parliament, have strengthened her communication skills and EU knowledge.