Inclusive futures: uniting communities for lasting change

Katarina Ivanković Knežević is the Director for Social Rights and Inclusion at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Since her appointment, she has focused on modernising social protection systems and fostering greater social and labour inclusion across the EU. In her position, Ivanković Knežević plays a significant role in implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, specifically targeting disability rights, social inclusion and workforce equality. Prior to joining the European Commission, Ivanković Knežević served as State Secretary in Croatia’s Ministry of Labor and Pension Systems. Her career spans over two decades, focusing on human rights, gender equality, and social policy innovation – establishing her as a prominent advocate for inclusive and sustainable social systems throughout Europe. 

Anne founded ReDI School, a vocational training programme that teaches programming and tech skills to migrants and seeks to fill vacancies in the German IT job market. With five schools throughout Germany and Denmark, ReDI hosts 1,000 students per semester, 65% of which are women and girls. She also founded the Berlin Peace Innovation Lab, which focuses on technology’s role in facilitating emerging and measurable social change towards global peace. Prior to this, Anne spent two years in Japan, researching open social innovation, and received the prestigious Rotary Peace Fellowship. She previously worked as a corporate social responsibility consultant, during which time Anne developed and implemented Samsung Electronics’ award-winning corporate social responsibility strategy for Scandinavia.

Irene Tinagli currently chairs the European Parliament’s new Special Committee on Housing, tasked with mapping housing needs, analysing existing policies across the EU and collaborating with member states, cities and regions to develop solutions. An economist by training, she previously served as Chair of the European Parliament Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee during her last mandate. Before coming to Brussels, Tinagli was a member of the Italian Parliament, where she completed a five-year mandate focused primarily on economic and labour policies. She also taught Management and Organisation Design at Carlos III University in Madrid. Before entering politics, Tinagli worked as a consultant for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the European Commission and several regional and national European governments on innovation and economic development. She has been a columnist for the Italian newspaper La Stampa and is a published author.

With over 25 years of experience in corporate social responsibility, public affairs and communications, Wouter Vermeulen has extensive knowledge of working directly with government, private sector and not-for profit organisations. Within the Coca-Cola Company, he currently holds the role of Senior Director of Sustainability, responsible for driving the corporate sustainability agenda in Europe. Wouter started his career as spokesperson to the Belgian Minister for SME’s and Agriculture, André Bourgeois, and State Secretary for Development Cooperation, Réginald Moreels.