WORTH Community

Nelly is a business developer based in the City of Borås, Sweden. Coordinator of the European Textile Collectivities Association (ACTE) and Founder of the Creative Cluster Innovation Hub Väst.

Founded in 1991, ACTE is a network of around 30 municipalities around Europe, representing a population of about 2.000.000 inhabitants. Cities and territories associated have in common a model of business development related to the textile and fashion sectors. The network also counts on membership by institutions related to the textile industry in 10 countries across Europe.

ACTE’s mission is to carry the European textile, clothing, leather, footwear, and fashion accessories industries into the future, while preserving the interests of its members – both territorial collectivities and adherent organisations.

Creative Cluster is a forum where people from the creative and cultural industries meet and discuss new forms of collaboration. She represented the Borås Stad Business Development Unit. The work started 2012 with the first goal to formalise this forum in creating an association 2014. Now creative cluster is a successful association with more than 70 partners and members.

Leslie is a graduate of the RCA and a co-founder of the groundbreaking online education company, The Digital Fashion Group. Founded in 2020, it is a European-led collaboration between fashion academics and industry innovators. Working with industry leaders to equip fashion education, professionals and brands with the relevant skills, mindset, and strategies for tomorrow’s workplace

As Head of Fashion at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) and a member of the AMFI board for over 14 years, Leslie was responsible for the redevelopment of the international curricula focusing on digitalization and sustainability in fashion. And previously, as a design director and entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience in the fashion industry, he worked for such companies as Dunhill, Stefanel, Byblos, Burberry, and Liberty.

Leslie is an EU expert for the creative industries, an experienced UK external examiner and reviewer of degree courses in fashion at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and was for many years an Executive Board member of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI) and a trustee of the UK Graduate Fashion Foundation. Leslie is a regular keynote speaker at major fashion education and creative conferences.

Smaranda Ignat is a multifaceted entrepreneur, esteemed trainer, and business consultant with a passion for innovation coaching and mentoring. Drawing on her diverse background in human resources, business administration, and real estate, Smaranda has honed the art of connecting people with opportunities, fostering valuable relationships with clients, investors, and international ecosystems for the startups and companies she collaborates with.

Amidst the rapid advancements in technology and digital transformation that impact our lives, Smaranda firmly believes in the intrinsic value of human touch, effective communication, and empathy. Her innate ability to thrive in challenging environments, where problems await solutions, crises demand survival, and obstacles need overcoming, sets her apart as a dynamic and resourceful professional.

With a keen eye for identifying opportunities and the expertise to steer through complex situations, Smaranda Ignat continues to leave a significant impact on the entrepreneurial landscape. Her dedication to helping others navigate the evolving business landscape and succeed in their endeavors underscores her role as an invaluable mentor and advisor to both traditional business organizations and innovative tech startups.

“Made in Cluj” was born out of the necessity to support Cluj county (Romania) local small manufacturers to better reach new customers. Through MadeInCluj.ro, an online marketplace aggregating Cluj based manufacturers, innovative technology and service providers, the initiative is creating both short supply chains for the benefit of the local economy, and also opening new national and international markets for the local manufacturers.

MadeInCluj.ro is emerging as a catalyst for local manufacturers, innovative technology and service providers with growth potential in the local economic sector, increasing the resilience and sustainability of the local economy and creating innovation.

In the long term, the purpose of the platform is to change the behaviour of customers, making them more aware of the benefit of buying from local manufacturers, help the manufacturers in the process of developing new products and support them in gaining access to new markets, through innovation and collaboration. As a regional brand, “Made in Cluj” will also help create a product identity that attracts consumers and stands for quality.

Amaliia Iusufova is the project manager for PPV Knowledge Networks and also the business development manager for a startup grid/furniture and lighting company owned by PPV Knowledge Networks and Hochu rayu design bureau. Grid/furniture and lighting items are designed in the form of electricity grids for those who appreciate items with character.

PPV Knowledge Networks is an economic development agency established in 2008 in Lviv (Western Ukraine). Their mission is to develop businesses that deliver high-value to the economy and create knowledge-based business networks. They develop entrepreneurs from both cultural and creative industries. They also run conferences regarding industrial design Creative Economy Days, training seminars and programmes, conduct studies of this growing sector and invest in promising start-ups. They deliver local and regional cross-sector economic development projects and collaborate with business, local authorities and international organizations with a strong focus on green economy and creative economy. They have over 50 implemented projects in their portfolio.

Amaliia has more than 5 years of experience in cultural events management, organising a large range of events.

Dr Biljana Jović was born in Belgrade, Serbia and graduated as an engineer of forestry – landscape architecture, with postgraduate studies – masters of science degree and doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade in the scientific field descriptive geometry and geometry of architectural form which has a dual character: scientific and artistic. Master of science degree (2006) and Doctor of Technical Sciences (2012) for architecture and urban planning. Her PhD thesis is titled: Geometrical education in domain of visualization and experimental designs using virtual technology, at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade defended in 2012. It deals with the study of geometry and graphics, through education. She is the Founder of creative platform “Workshop Geometry” at the Faculty of Forestry. In her work she deals with geometry, graphics, new technologies and interventions in space. Specialization at the University of Technology in Austria. Scholar of the Austrian Ministry of Education and Science. In her work, she combines the approach of landscape architects as well as engineers and an artistic approach to geometric principles finds beauty and expression. Researcher category T2 on the projects of Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade. Participant in several international projects. Co-author of two projects of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia in 2015 dealing with contemporary art. Since 2012, organizes the exhibitions of student works of students of the Faculty of Forestry, Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture. A member of the Serbian Association for Geometry and Graphics (SUGIG) and the International Association for Geometry and Graphics (International Society for Geometry and Graphics – ISGG). BALTGRAF 2013 – Conference on Geometry and Graphics of the Baltic countries, reviewer and member of the Program Committee, Riga, Latvia. Reviewer at international conferences for geometry and graphics (ISGG) 2014 Innsbruck, Austria, ICGG 2016 – Beijing, China and ICGG2018 Milano, Italy. Member of Scientific Board of APLIMAT 2019, Bratislava.

Finalist on Asian Design Modeling Contest Tokyo Japan ADMC 2017. Participant and Technical Session Chair on Asian Forum on Graphic Science AFGS 2017 Tokyo Japan August 2017.

Cumulus + Grantee Rovaniemi 2019, Finland. International Reviewer Board member on this Conference.

Currently on position Deputy Chair for Landscape Planning and Design and Head of Master Studies at the Department for Landscape Architecture and horticulture and Deputy of Head of master studies for all four Departments at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade.

#emotions #ecology #green #happiness #heart

INTERVIEW

WORTH Interview

Pirjo is a design professional and facilitator, working at the intersection of design and material sciences. She has been developing interdisciplinary CHEMARTS collaboration between chemical engineering and design at the Aalto University since 2011, focusing especially on the teaching and research of bio-based materials. She has been part of a team exploring new cellulosic textile fibers and textile production through biotechnology. Before her career in academia, she worked for the Scandinavian textile industry as a designer and design manager and gained experience also as an entrepreneur and consultant for creative industries. She is constantly looking for new ways to combine design with science, technology, and business.

Janos Keresnyei was born in Pécs, Hungary, and has a diverse educational background that includes teaching, journalism, PR economics, TV and film production, film commissioning, intellectual property management, and economics (MBA, MSc).

He is presently the intangible asset auditor of their consulting company, Kerko Média Kft, after 25 years of media management in local TV and radio stations. He co-founded the Creative Industries Cluster in Hungary and currently serves as its president.

Janos has extensive knowledge of intellectual assets and intangible wealth management, including technology evaluation, due diligence of innovation, risk analysis, intellectual asset identification and valuation, value proposition, business model development, lean-startup, seed management, and knowledge and technology transfer. Janos is also a coach in many EASME, EIT, and EIC programmes and is recognised as a specialist in intellectual asset management. He works as a creative sector consultant at the Pécs Municipal Art Council in Hungary.

Niko Klansek is a seasoned investor, mentor, and serial entrepreneur with a rich tradition of entrepreneurship. From a young age, he cultivated a passion for business innovation, nurtured by a family heritage of entrepreneurial endeavors. Over the years, Niko has co-founded several successful startups, generating impressive results, including two lucrative exits. His keen eye for business opportunities has also led him to invest in a diverse array of startups and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), amplifying their success stories. Before stepping into the entrepreneurial world, Niko was an accomplished basketball player, where he honed his competitive spirit by winning multiple national championships in Slovenia. He further applied his leadership skills as the president of a professional basketball club. At present, Niko is a founding member of Kenmare DAO, an investment fund specializing in early-stage Web3 and blockchain projects. His entrepreneurial spirit extends into the formation of the BizMe organization, a global platform aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and empowering budding entrepreneurs across borders. Beyond his professional pursuits, Niko is fueled by a love for sports, travel, art, and horticulture, particularly growing tropical plants from pit to fruit. His journey has taken him across continents; living, studying, and working in various cultural environments of the EU, USA, and Asia, each enriching his global perspective and influence.