EUAA State of Asylum Conference

Nina Gregori,  Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) 

Nina Gregori is the Executive Director of the EUAA, based in Malta. She took over her duties on 16 June 2019.

Ms. Gregori previously worked at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia for over 20 years, occupying the Senior Management post of Director General (or Deputy Director General) for over a decade, responsible for asylum, migration, integration and internal administrative affairs. She was actively involved in the drafting of Slovenian positions for dossiers on migration, asylum, the Schengen area and visas for the relevant working bodies of the European Union since 1999. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2008 she chaired the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA), in which she was also a national delegate until becoming the Executive Director of EUAA.

Ms. Gregori has participated in more than 120 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial meetings as leader (in the absence of the Minister) or as a member of the Slovenian delegation, and has been a member of the Slovenian delegation in meetings of the European Council. Ms Gregori also served as a national delegate in the Expert Working Group Migration at the OECD and as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

Long a member of the Slovenian Interdepartmental Commission on Human Rights, she was a permanent member of various delegations of Slovenia in procedures and instruments of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Ms. Gregori has been actively involved in the development and work of EASO/EUAA since its beginning. She was a member of the Agency’s Management Board from 2015 until taking up her duties as the Executive Director.

She has a University degree in Political Science from the University of Ljubljana.

Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta

Notary Myriam Spiteri Debono is the eleventh President of the Republic of Malta, approved unanimously by the House of Representatives by virtue of a Parliamentary Resolution passed on the 27th of March 2024.

Myriam Spiteri Debono was born and lived her childhood in the island of Gozo, where up to secondary level she was educated at state schools. She attended the University of Malta, from where she graduated with Honours in English Literature and Linguistics and as a Notary Public. She was one of the very first female Notaries on the islands. Myriam Spiteri Debono was Chairperson of the Cooperatives Board, and she served as a member of the Gender Equality Commission when this commission was first set up. During her membership of this commission, she was especially active on the sub-committee dealing with complaints regarding discrimination and/or harassment.

During her membership of this commission, she was especially active on the sub-committee dealing with complaints regarding discrimination and/or harassment. Myriam Spiteri Debono was also Chairperson of the Press Ethics Commission, for the first three years of its existence.

She was instrumental in drafting its first body of rules of procedure and bylaws. She started participating in the political sphere when, as a student, she was a founder member of the Socialist Students Union. As a member of the Malta Labour Party; for 16 consecutive years, she was elected by the General Conference of the party as a member of the party’s executive committee. She also served as Secretary General and President of the Labour Women’s League for many years.

As President of the Labour Women’s League and as Speaker, she participated in numerous conferences abroad and, various times, she was nominated by the participants to preside over the conference.

From 2009 to 2024, she was a member of the selection board entrusted with recommendations for the award of Republic Day Honours.

Myriam Spiteri Debono was a practicing notary. She is married to Anthony Spiteri Debono, the mother of three children, Elena, George and Maria Kristina, and the grandmother of four grandchildren, Alexandra, Paul, Pippa and Beppe. 

Magnus Brunner (Video Message), Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, European Commission

Magnus Brunner is an Austrian politician of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) who has been serving as European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration since December 2024. Previously, he served as Austria's finance minister from 2021 until 2024 in the government of Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

Brunner was a member of the Federal Council for the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) from 1 May 2009 until 6 January 2020.

He served as state secretary (Staatssekretär) in the Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology in the government of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

Following the 2024 European elections, the Austrian government nominated Brunner as the country's European Commissioner serving under President Ursula von der Leyen.

Brunner studied jurisprudence at the University of Innsbruck, the University of Vienna (Dr. iur.) and King's College London (LLM).

Moderator: Ali Aslan, Moderator, TV Presenter and Journalist 

Ali Aslan is an internationally renowned TV presenter, moderator and journalist with a global career spanning over 20 years, including at CNN in Washington DC, ABC News in New York and Deutsche Welle TV in Berlin.

A highly-acclaimed global moderator and Master of Ceremonies, Aslan brings his vast experience and distinctive expertise to some of the world’s most significant events, whether it’s high-level international conferences or exclusive summits.

Throughout his career, Aslan has interviewed and shared the stage with numerous world leaders, heads of state, CEOs and celebrities, including former US President Bill Clinton, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, King Felipe of Spain, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Philanthropist Melinda Gates and Hollywood Star Sharon Stone.

Aslan holds master’s degrees in International Affairs and Journalism from Columbia University in New York as well as a bachelor’s degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Makis Voridis, Minister of Migration & Asylum (Greece) 

Makis Voridis was born in 1964 in Athens. He is an Athens College alumnus and holds a law degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). He has a Master of Laws from the University of London (UCL), specializing in International Commercial Law and the Philosophy of Law. He is fluent in English and French.

He is married to paediatrician Danae Michelakou, with whom he has a son and a daughter.

In September 2007, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Attica electoral district for the first time and has been re-elected continuously ever since.

From 2010 to 2014, he served as the parliamentary representative of New Democracy. He has held various ministerial positions, including Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks in 2011, Minister of Health in 2014, and Minister of Agricultural Development and Food in 2019. In 2021, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, a position he held until April 2023. From June 2023 to March 2025, he served as Minister of State at the Presidency of the Government.

On March 15, 2025, he was appointed Minister of Migration and Asylum. He has also served as Chairman of the Committee on Counter-Terrorism of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Mari Rantanen, Minister of the Interior (Finland) 

Mari Rantanen was born on 29 March 1976 in Lappeenranta. She lives in Helsinki with her spouse and daughter.

Rantanen is trained as a police officer, paramedic, nurse and practical nurse.

Rantanen first entered Parliament in 2019. Since then, she has served in the Administration Committee, the Transport and Communications Committee, the Legal Affairs Committee and the Intelligence Oversight Committee. Rantanen chaired the Administration Committee 2022-2023. She has been a member of Helsinki City Council since 2017.

Mari Rantanen has been a Member of the Government since June 2023 working as Minister of the Interior of Finland.

Work, health, and safety are important to Rantanen, and she wants to work for a safer and better Finland. 

Andi Mahila, Deputy Minister of Interior (Albania) 

Mr Mahila was born in 1970 and lives in Tirana. He comes from a long experience in the Diplomatic Service and Secret Intelligence Service.

In 1998, Mr Mahila started his career as a diplomatic representative at the Albanian Embassy in Athens. He has served as a Consul for eight years, responsible for consular and legal affairs. He also represented the State Intelligence Service between the two countries. During his career, he stood out for his treatment and coverage of Albanian emigration affairs, national security, and interstate collaboration.

Following the successful completion of his mission in Athens, Mr Mahila assumed various leadership positions in the Albanian State Intelligence Service, including the Analysis Department. He then served as an Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, demonstrating his adeptness in managing relations with the Parliament.

In addition, during his career, he has been the executive director of several companies in the private sector.

Since December 2020, Mr Mahila has been the Deputy Minister of the Interior. 
His responsibility, among others, is also the areas of migration, asylum, and border management.

He completed a Bachelor’s and Master's degree in Law at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Law, and holds the title of Lawyer.

He is married and has a daughter.

Michael Spindelegger, Director General, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) 

Mr. Michael Spindelegger has extensive experience in international relations through his work in the Federal Government of the Republic of Austria. From 2008 to 2013 he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and from 2013 to 2014 as Minister of Finance. Additionally, he was Vice Chancellor and leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) from 2011 to 2014. In January 2016 he was appointed Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). 

Ward Lutin, Head of Asylum Knowledge Centre, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)

Since 2020 Ward Lutin is Head of the Asylum Knowledge Centre at the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA). The Centre is responsible for developing a wide knowledge base on asylum in the EU+, by collecting, processing and analysing information and trends; fostering cooperation between authorities in the field of asylum and reception; producing a variety of knowledge products; developing guidance and tools that promote convergence in the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS); and monitoring the practical implementation of the CEAS in Member States.  

Previous roles at the EUAA (and its predecessor EASO) since 2012 include COI and Documentation Officer, Head of Information and Analysis Unit and Head of Department of Operations.  

In 2009-2012, Ward worked as Programme Officer at Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees (IGC) in Geneva. In 2000-2009, he served as Protection Officer, COI Officer, Senior Protection Officer and International Relations Officer in the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons in Brussels. 

Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Programme, Egmont Institute 

Jean-Louis De Brouwer is Director of the European Affairs Programme at the Egmont Institute.

He joined the Institute in October 2019, after retiring from the European Commission where, as a director, he was successively in charge of immigration, asylum, visas and border policies (DG Justice and Home Affairs), the implementation of the EU2020 agenda and employment policies (DG Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion) and humanitarian aid operations and policies (DG European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations).

He holds a Master’s Degree in Law, Sociology and Public Administration/International Relations from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL). Before joining the European Commission, he held different positions in the Belgian civil service (Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs) and was Director General of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences.

He teaches Public Law, Political Science and EU Politics at the Saint Louis University of Brussels (USL-B) and the Catholic University of Mons (FUCAM). He is a lecturer in International Relations Theories and on “An Area of Freedom, Security and Justice” respectively at the UCL and the USL-B. He is also in charge of a course on Immigration and Humanitarian Policy at the College of Europe of the Parma University.

Moderator: Lilian Tsourdi, Professor and Jean Monnet Chair in European Migration Law and Governance, Law Faculty of Maastricht University 

Lilian is Professor and Jean Monnet Chair in European Migration Law and Governance at the Law Faculty of Maastricht University and the Maastricht Centre for European Law. Her research lies at the intersection of EU Law, Public International Law, and public policy/administration with a focus on human rights, asylum, migration, and governance theories.

Lilian is currently (2025-2029) PI of the SoftEn (Soft Enforcement of EU Migration Law) project supported by a European Research Council Starting Grant, as well as WP leader in the ongoing (2023-2026) collective Horizon Europe ENSURED project on global governance and the EU's role in defending multilateralism. Previously, Lilian received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship by the European Commission and VENI and Hestia grants by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Lilian is also the joint Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Refugee Law (OUP) and an Editorial Board member of the Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law (Sage). She is Deputy Coordinator of the Academic Network for Legal Studies on Immigration and Asylum in Europe, the ‘Odysseus Network’. In addition, she co-chairs with UNHCR the European Academic Refugee Interdisciplinary Network (EARIN), established in the framework of the UN Global Compact on Refugees.

Nina Gregori, Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) 

Biography.

Lukas Gehrke, Director of the Global Office in Brussels, International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

Lukas Gehrke is the Director of the IOM Global Office in Brussels. Mr Gehrke leads IOM’s efforts to strengthen partnerships and enhance engagement at the EU level. He brings over 20 years of experience in migration and protection issues, most recently serving as Deputy Director General and Director of Policy, Research & Strategy at ICMPD.

Mr Gehrke has held several senior leadership positions where he led in policy engagement, capacity building, and resource mobilisation, while fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders. As a profound expert in the European and international migration debate, he has cultivated a wide network of decision-makers, including government representatives, international organizations, civil society, diaspora groups, and academia across Europe and beyond. For over two decades, Lukas has been dedicated to improving migration policy through innovation and collaboration, successfully leading numerous teams and fostering a culture of teamwork.

He holds a degree in Law from the University of Vienna and a Master’s in Public International Law from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Philippe Leclerc, Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe, UNHCR

Philippe Leclerc is the Europe Bureau Director of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 2 October 2023.

He graduated in International Law in Paris in 1986 and served as Cultural Attaché for the Embassy of France in Tirana, Albania (1987-1988). He has been working for UNHCR since 1990 in various positions throughout the world. He has been in charge of protection of refugees in Cameroon (1990-1992), in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Serbia (1993), in Slovenia (1994-1995), in Brussels (1996), in Geneva UNHCR Headquarters as the Head of the Liaison Office for Switzerland and Liechtenstein(1996-2000), then in charge of the organization of the first Ministerial Meeting of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees held in the context of the Global Consultations on the protection of refugees on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention (2001).

He was Assistant Chief of Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan (2002-2003), Head of the Statelessness Unit within the Division of International Protection at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva (2004-2008), and Deputy-Representative in Damascus, Syria (2008-2010). He also participated to many emergency missions to the field, the last of which was in the Central African Republic from December 2013 to February 2014. He was the Representative in France (2010-2015) and in Greece (2015-2020). He lastly served as the Representative in Türkiye between January 2021 – September 2023, before his assignment as UNHCR Europe Bureau Director.

Kim Freidberg, Director of Home Affairs, Council of the European Union 

Mr. Kim Freidberg studied Political Science/Economics at Stanford University with a focus on the former Soviet Union, and worked several years in the Commission on projects in Russia before carrying out privatisation projects in the private sector, based in Berlin.  

He joined the Council in 1999 and spent more than ten years working in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy, including as Head of Cabinet of the EUSR in North Macedonia (2003-2004) and of the UN Special Representative in Kosovo (2004-2007), in the last job working on transition issues from the UN to the EU. Mr. Freidberg then managed the Europe Sector in the CPCC for planning and conduct of EU civilian missions (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Georgia), then took over the job of Head of Unit for the ATHENA mechanism (financing of EU military operations).  

He then worked for several years as Head of the Staffing/Mobility Unit before becoming one of two directors for External Relations in the Council.  

From September 2018 to December 2021, his remit covered the Balkans, Turkey, the East, N. Africa, plus migration and other crisis issues through the Council crisis mechanism.

Since 1st of January 2022, Mr Freidberg is Director for Home Affairs, at the Directorate-General Justice and Home Affairs of the Council.

Beate Gminder, Acting Director-General, DG Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), European Commission

Ms Beate Gminder heads the DG Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) of the European Commission as acting Director-General. She oversees the implementation of the European Pact for Migration and Asylum, the safeguarding of an open and fully functioning Schengen area of free movement and the further strengthening of internal security in the EU.

Ms Gminder also continues in her function as Deputy Director-General of DG HOME and as Head of the Task Force Migration Management. As such, she has been leading the efforts of the European Commission and its agencies to support Member States operationally in migration challenges, particularly in Greece and Cyprus but also in view of the Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Ms Gminder is a career official of the European Commission, with various postings in communication jobs including as spokesperson for food safety and consumer protection and adviser to Commissioners. Directly before taking on the post in DG HOME, first as Director in 2018 and then Deputy Director-General in 2020, she worked as Secretary General of the European Ombudsman.

Moderator: Hugo Brady, Senior Strategic Advisor, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) 

Hugo Brady is a senior strategic advisor at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Previously, he served in the cabinet of Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, as speechwriter and home affairs adviser. He was cabinet lead on some aspects of Brexit (NI), as well as relations with Ireland.  

Formerly, he was a senior associate analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies and, from May 2013-May 2015, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics. He was also senior research fellow with the Centre for European Reform, specialising in EU institutions, justice and home affairs, and Britain's European debate. From 2010-2014, Mr Brady served as the CER's first representative in Brussels. Prior to becoming a senior fellow, he also worked at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Institute for International and European Affairs in Ireland.

Evelina Gudzinskaitė, Chairperson of the Management Board, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) 

Ms Evelina Gudzinskaitė has been leading the Migration Department under the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior since 2016. In November 2023, the EUAA Management Board elected Ms Gudzinskaitė as its new Chair whilst she has been Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board since March 2023. Between 2014 and 2015, Ms Gudzinskaitė was occupying the position of Manager of the Division of Law and International Cooperation within the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. From 2012 since 2014 Ms Gudzinskaitė had the position of Justice and Home Affairs Counsellor with the Permanent Representation of Republic of Lithuania to the EU and her main tasks where representing Lithuania’s interests, negotiating on legal acts and political documents. Ms Gudzinskaitė also chaired several working groups and represented the Council during Lithuania’s Presidency to the EU Council back in 2013. Between 2008 and 2012, Ms Gudzinskaitė held the position of the Lithuanian National Contact Point as a legal expert within the European Migration Network.

In 2015, Ms Gudzinskaitė graduated from her Masters at the University of Vilnius, Faculty of Law and is fluent in Lithuanian (native), English, French, Russian (fluent), Spanish and German. She received the Honorary badge of the Lithuanian Business Confederation for implementing modern solutions in migration management (2023).

Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar, Deputy Executive Director (EUAA) and Former Chair of the Management Boards of the EUAA and EASO

Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from University of Lund, Sweden, and has 25  years of experience in the field of human rights and migration.

Mr Ribbenvik Cassar served as Director for Legal Affairs of the Swedish Migration Agency (SMA) between 2008 and 2013 responsible for internal jurisprudence. From 2013 to 2016 he was Director of Operations and Deputy Director General responsible for managing and improving standards of performance within the operation of the SMA. He served as acting Director General of the SMA September 2016-May 2017 and Director General from 2017 - 2023.

Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar was also a member of the Management Board of EUAA, representing Sweden since 2013 and served as deputy Chairperson of the Board since 2019. He became the Chair of the Management Board in 2021 until 2023.

David Costello, Former Chairperson of the Management Board of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)

Dr David Costello is a former Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the EASO Management Board. He has served as Ireland’s Refugee Applications Commissioner and Chief International Protection Officer with responsibility for the processing of international protection applications. He also held senior positions in the Department of Justice including as Head of Asylum and Migration policy development (domestic, EU and legislative aspects). He holds degrees at graduate and post- graduate level from the University of Dublin (Trinity College) and the National University of Ireland.  

Robert Visser, Former Executive Director of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)

Dr Robert Visser served as Secretary General of the Council of State of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 2016 to 2021, following his tenure as the first Executive Director of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) from 2011 to 2015. Before that, he held the position of Director-General for Legislation, International Affairs, and Migration at the Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands from 2003 to 2010.

Earlier in his career, Dr Visser served as Deputy Secretary-General and Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister at the Ministry of General Affairs and Prime Minister’s Office from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that, he was a Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister between 1986 and 1997. His earlier roles included serving as Assistant Secretary to the Council of Ministers (1983–1986) and working as a Diplomat at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Madrid (1982–1983).

Dr Visser earned a PhD in Law from the University of Leiden in 2008. He previously obtained Master’s degrees in History and Law from the University of Groningen in 1981 and 1980, respectively, and attended the Diplomatic School of the Netherlands in 1981.

He has contributed significantly to scholarly discussions, notably authoring a Handbook on Constitutional Law and publishing extensively on European affairs, constitutional law, and government organization.

Wolfgang Taucher, Former Chairperson of the Management Board of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)

Mr. Wolfgang Taucher is currently Deputy Director General of Directorate General I “Central Administration“ and Head of Directorate “HR and Organisation“ at the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, a position he has held since 2022. From 2019 to 2022, he served as Deputy Director General of “Migration and International Affairs" and Head of Directorate “Asylum and Return" at the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. Between 2019 and 2020, he was Deputy Chief of Cabinet and Specialist Adviser for “Migration“ in the Cabinet of the Federal Minister of the Interior. Previously, from 2014 to 2018, Mr. Taucher was Director of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum. From 1996 to 2014, he held the position of Director of the Federal Asylum Office. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Legal Adviser at the Caritas Central Office in Vienna from 1988 to 1996. In 1994, he served as an Associated Legal Officer at UNHCR Vienna. In addition to his professional roles, Mr. Taucher served as Chairman of the Management Board of the EU Asylum Agency (EASO) from 2013 to 2018.