Team members European Patients´ Forum (EPF), Belgium

Estefania is EPF’s Communications & Outreach Officer. Previously she has worked at the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation in activities to promote social sciences integration and behavioural change in the Horizon research programmes. She has also worked as a Health Policy Researcher at Hanover Communications, a consultancy. Estefania has previously worked in the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Estefania holds an MSc in Mental Health Studies from King’s College London, and a joint Bachelor in Cognition and International Relations from Amsterdam University College.

Juan joined EPF in January 2021. As Policy Assistant, he is in charge of regularly monitoring of intelligence and updates on policy developments, carrying out background research for EPF’s policy briefs and position statements, and assisting the policy team on membership issues. He has a background in European policies and public affairs. Prior to joining the EPF, he has worked for other Brussels-based policy organizations, the European Medicines Agency, and for the Spanish diplomatic corps. Juan holds an MA degree in European Studies obtained at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden).

Kaisa Immonen is EPF´s Director of Policy. She holds a Master´s degree in International Relations and Conflict Resolution from the University of Kent at Canterbury in the UK and a Bachelor´s degree in International Relations from the University of Tampere in Finland. At EPF, she oversees the policy portfolio and is specifically in charge for topics around patient empowerment, Cross Border Health Care Directive, regulatory aspects of medicines development, ethics, pricing and reimbursement. Since December 2016, she is Co-Chair of the European Medicines Agency’s Patients and Consumers’ Working Party.

Lyudmil Ninov is EPF´s Senior Programme Officer. He joined EPF in April 2017. His focus is mainly on the PRO-STEP tender project, Summer Training for Young Patients Advocates 2017 & 2018, Horizon 2020 projects proposals/calls, COMPAR-EU and CHRODIS projects and providing support to other EPF projects and team members.  Lyudmil Ninov holds a Bachelor´s degree in European Studies from the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in Bulgaria and a Master´s degree in European Studies from the University of Maastricht, the Netherlands. Prior to joining EPF, Lyudmil Ninov has spent most of his professional time working in the health care sector for the International Diabetes Federation’s head office in Brussels, managing various diabetes-related international projects, such as WINGS (project on gestational diabetes) and IDF Diabetes Aware Cities.

Valentina Strammiello is EPF´s Programme Manager. She joined EPF in late January 2013. She holds a Bachelor´s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in European Studies. She oversees the EPF project portfolio and Youth Strategy. She represents EPF in HTA-related activities and in the European Health Parliament initiative. Before joining EPF, Valentina Strammiello has had a long collaboration with the CIPI Network and has worked as freelance OSINT analyst on Security and Energy issues. Self-trained in website management and web 2.0 applications, she is among the founders of ecpa2.0 (European Center for Public Affairs 2.0), a forum of young professionals.