Dr. Isaac Sheps is educated within Industrial Engineering and Management; he holds an MBA and a PhD in Economic Cybernetics (from the Academy of Economic Studies – Bucharest). Mr. Isaac Sheps is a known expert in Quality Management published several papers in this field and held numerous lectures on the topic. For the last 16 years Dr. Isaac Sheps is member of the international committee ISO/TC176, responsible for preparing the ISO 9000 family of standards, as an expert.

Prior to this Dr. Isaac Sheps hold the following positions:

• From 1 January 2006 until 1 March 2008 – CEO of Carlsberg Serbia.
• From 1 March 2007 Dr. Isaac Sheps was appointed as CEO of Carlsberg South East Europe covering 7 countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and at the same time CEO of Carlsberg Croatia, and  Carlsberg-Serbia (From 1 March 2009 hold only the position of CEO Carlsberg SEE).
• From 1 May 2004 until 1 Jan 2009 Dr. Isaac Sheps was Chairman of the Board of Carlsberg-Bulgaria, Carlsberg-Serbia and Carlsberg-Croatia.
• From Dec. 1998 until May 2004 Dr. Isaac Sheps was President of United Romanian Breweries (Tuborg Romania), a position he held for five years.
• Before these positions, in the beer industry, Dr. Isaac Sheps hold several top management positions in the Electronic and Electro-optic Industry.

Virginia Maracine PhD is Professor of Operational Research, Risk Management and Business Logistics, and since 2008 elected Vice-Dean within the Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics (www.csie.ase.ro/ Prezentare/Default.aspx?view=5), the Bucharest University of Economics - BUE (Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest - ASE) (www.ase.ro).
She graduated the Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics in 1990, and since then she jointed the academic community in the Bucharest University of Economics as Junior Assistant Professor. She received her PhD degree in 1997 at the Bucharest University of Economics for the PhD thesis entitled “Companies’ Decisions under Uncertain Economic Environment”. She teaches for the students in the undergraduate program and for the students at master program in the Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics at BUE.
Professor Maracine’s scientific activity is consisting in over one hundred articles, papers presented at international conferences and monographs, 16 national researches grants both as a program director and as a team member, and 14 books in the fields such as: Operational Research, Managerial Decisions, Economic Dynamics, Financial Market and Portfolios Management, Knowledge
Management. From the middle of 2007 she has coordinated 9 investment projects funded by the EU Structural Funds in Romania.
She is member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the “Economic Computation and Economic Cybernetics Studies and Research”, the leading journal in the field of economic modeling from Romania published by the Bucharest University of Economics (www.ecocyb.ase.ro).
Her research activity is materialized both in national and international grants in areas of genetic algorithms, agent intelligence, virtual enterprise, and knowledge ecosystems. For the most of them she was the program financial director or leading applicant (in the last ten years: 13 national academic researches grants – funded by the Romanian Education and Research Ministry, 3 international projects funded by private companies, numerous applications for EU research funds).
She is one of the founders and also the treasurer of the Business Logistics Foundation (Romania – UK, 1993-1998). She has been member of the Program and Organizing Committees and also Chairman, Scientific reviewer and Scientific Committee member for several national and international
congresses, such as SIGEF, GITMA, ECKM, ICEC, IE, etc. She was visiting professor at Austrian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence, University of Bologna - Computer Science Department, University of Milano - Bicocca - Department of Computer Science, Systems and Communication, and also University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and University of Wisconsin – Madison - USA.
Professor Virginia Maracine is a member of the Excellency Research Center ECO-INFOSOC (Modeling and Informatization of the Economic and Social Processes) coordinated by the Economic Informatics Department of the BUE. Within this research centre, her researches are focused now on the use of intelligent agents in the design and operation of dynamic virtual organizations, in particular in the virtual network hospitals. On these topics, she developed lately international cooperation with fellow researchers from UK, Italy, Austria, Poland, France and USA. For her research activity she was awarded four times for the last nine years.
Currently, at the Bucharest University of Economics ASE she is managing also the social program „The Academy of Hope” (http://www.ase.ro/studioul-tv/index.asp - Arhiva - Academia SpErantei), addressed to the children and elderly people from the foster homes.
This year, on the behalf of the Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics she is dealing with the academic issues related to the 6th edition of the Bucharest Summer University under the topics “Risk and Security in the Global World”.

 

Ioan Mircea Paşcu is a Romanian politician, a Member of the European Parliament and a former Minister of Defense in the Adrian Năstase cabinet. He is also a member of the Strategic Advisors Group.
Ioan Mircea Paşcu has obtained a diploma in Commerce and Foreign Trade, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest (1971).  Also, he has a PhD in Political Science, Institute of Political Science (1980).
The professional activity:

• 1971-1986: Research Fellow, Dept. of International Relations, The Institute of Political Sciences, Bucharest, (doing research mainly on international security  matters)
• 1986-1989: Lecturer, Chair of International Relations, The Academy for Social-Political Studies, Bucharest, (teaching a general course on international relations)
• 31.12.1989 to 1.07.1990: Member of the Foreign Policy Commission of the Council of the National Salvation Front, Bucharest,(body coordinating Romanian foreign policy after the revolution)
• 9.02.1990 to 15.05.1990: Member of the Provisional Council for National Unity (the pre-Parliament, legislator)
• 1.07.1990 to 1.10.1992: Presidential Counsellor, Head of the Foreign Policy Direction, The Department for Political Analysis, Presidency of Romania (advising the President on foreign policy matters

Mr. Cătălin PREDOIU was appointed Minister of Justice in March 2008. He is a lawyer, doctor summa cum laudae in commercial law, the author and co-author of numerous specialized publications. 
The proffesional activity of Mr. Cătălin Predoiu was acknowledged by prestigious scientific fora from Romania. Thus, he has been conferred the Simion Bărnuţiu award by the Romanian Academyfor the work Trade companies (2003), as well as I.L. Georgescu award by the Union of Jurists from Romania.
Between October 2009 and December 2009, Mr. Cătălin Predoiu held the position of interim Minister of Foreign Affairs.  

Lieutenant General Teodor FRUNZETI, PhD is a professor and PhD coordinator within the National Defence University in Bucharest. He holds a doctoral degree in Military Art and Science and one in Political Sciences. He is a full member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists and an Honorary Member of the American-Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He is author/co-author/coordinator of 27 books, 14 chapters in books/specialty handbooks/courses, 8 local research-development projects, 94 articles/studies published in national and/or international specialty reviews, 32 articles/studies published in volumes of nationally recognized scientific events in Romania and abroad, head of project/ scientific responsible/member in 8 grant research-development projects, 59 communications, applications and complex specialty exercises. He is president/vice-president/member of editorial board for several specialized military and security reviews.

His area of expertise is the following: military operations, national and international security, international relations, geopolitics and geostrategy, NATO operations and European Security and Defence Policy

 

Boris Ecker joined the International Staff of NATO in October 2008. Since then, he has worked as a Program Coordinator in the Public Diplomacy Division where he is responsible for the coordination of NATO`s public outreach activities in Bulgaria and Romania. Before joining NATO, he worked as a consultant at the United Nations Information Service Vienna and as a Program Coordinator for the Slovak Foreign Policy Association. He graduated in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. His expertise includes European security and transatlantic relations.

Liviu MURESAN is the founder and the Executive President of the EURISC Foundation - European Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management (1995)
He graduated courses of the Defence College NATO GFO (Rome), of the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Defense Nationale (Paris), of the Center for Civil-Military Relations (Monterey).
He held several positions in the governmental structures: Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister, Senior Adviser to the Romanian Government, Senior Adviser to the Interior Minister, High Representative of the Romanian Government of the Anti-Corruption Initiative of the Pact of Stability (SPAI) and of the Combating Organized Crime Initiative (SPOC).
He was Director of the Romanian Agency for setting up the regional SECI Center for Combating Transborder Organized Crime, and as the Deputy Director of the National Defence College he was the first civilian appointed in command position in the Romanian Army (1993-1994).
He was a member of the Romania Parliament, leader of the Majority (1990-1991) and the Deputy Chief of the Romanian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
He is Executive President of the Euro-Atlantic Council Romania – Casa NATO, EURODEFENCE Romania and Association des Anciens Auditeurs de l’IHEDN (Paris).
He is an Associate Professor with the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest - where he got his Ph.D. in Economics (1978) - he published numerous articles and publications on the issues of international security, instability management, international public relations and he was a note speaker and the chair of sessions in international conferences held in over 30 countries.
Since 2007, he is member of European Security Research and Innovation Forum (ESRIF), contributing to the development of a “Joint Security Research Agenda” (European Commission).
He received the National Order “Star of Romania” – Class Officer (2000).

 

Claudiu Degeratu is currently Project Director at the EURISC Foundation for NATO & EU security and defense programs. Previously he was the Head of Pol-Mil Section to the Romanian Permanent Delegation to NATO and Political Director for Defense and Planning Policy in the Ministry of Defense.
He is graduated in Sociology at the University of Bucharest and holds a MA in social sciences and globalization at the University of Amsterdam. He graduated the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the National Defense College in Romania.
He holds a broad experience in defense policy studies, security studies, sociology of international relations and international negotiations.

Retired as Brigade General from Army active service at the end of 2005 he join the EURISC Foundation team in 2006. He is acting full time as Project Director leading and coordinating all ongoing EURISC projects for security policy and defence issues, critical infrastructures protection, homeland security, terrorism and organised crime, small arms and light weapons control, security culture, security research and international relations.
He holds a PhD in Military Science, M.Sc. in Chemical Technology and professional qualifications in computer skills. He also graduated The Royal College of Defence Studies, UK, The Romanian College of Defence Studies as well series of command and joint staff officer courses organised by NATO for senior rank officers. 
He holds a broad experience at command level, from Company to Army Corps and training area as well, serving for more than 18 years, as assistant professor and lecturer at the National Defence University.

 

Adrian Katz  MSc,  is specialized in power systems policies.  MSc in Electrical Engineering by graduating in 1990 the Bucharest Polytechnic University, he is working as power system operation engineer in National Dispatch of Israel since 1995.   In his position he was involved in many tasks and challenges of power systems operational activities related to supervision and planning, system analyses, risks prediction and evaluation, processes planning and emergency situations preparation.  Since 2001, as a Certified Microsoft Developer, he is also involved in special Information Technology projects developing activities (development, coordination or consulting).
Since 2004 he is responsible with the training of high-qualified personnel (national dispatchers, operational managers, engineers, etc.)  and execution of emergency drills on power system simulator.

Anca Paliu Dragu graduated in Finance and Banking from the Bucharest University of Economics - ASE, in Economics and International Business from the George Washington University, Washington DC, USA, and in Public Policy and European Integration from National School of Political Studies, Bucharest. Mrs. Paliu Dragu has been an economist at the IMF office since 2001. Prior to that she was an economist of the National Bank of Romania, Refinancing and Open Market Operation Department, and Regulation Department, which she joined in 1996.

Brigadier General Adriean PÂRLOG, PhD is a professor at Lucian Blaga University, in Sibiu. He holds a doctoral degree in Military Science. He is member of admission committees for the postgraduate military intelligence course, member of graduation committees for the National Defense College courses, lecturer and professor in charge with graduation projects for postgraduate military intelligence courses. He is also guest professor at NATO Senior Executive Master Course, organized by the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Bucharest and associated professor at the National Defense University.
He is author/co-author of 6 books/manuals/ specialty handbooks/ 4 courses and more de 75 local articles.

His area of expertise is the following:

• intelligence;
• theory of information;
• business intelligence;
• modeling and simulating economic and social processes.

 

Mr. Cristian Bichi is the Head of the Financial Crisis Management Unit established within the National Bank of Romania in April 2009. He has worked for almost twenty years with the Romanian central bank in areas related to prudential regulation and supervision. Mr. Bichi has o strong research interest in deposit protection, being the author of the first legal text establishing a limited deposit guarantee scheme in Romania, adopted in 1996. His recent professional positions include Advisor to the Governor and Deputy Director of the Financial Stability Department.  Mr. Bichi has published various articles on issues concerning deposit insurance and well as Romanian and EU regulatory framework. He   holds a PhD degree from the Romanian Academy’s National Institute of Economic Research.

Mrs. Lucretia Paunescu joined the National Bank of Romania in 1991, as economist in the Bucharest Branch. She was promoted in the NBR headquarters-Supervision Department in 1994. Since then, she held positions increasing in seniority and starting with 1998 she is the head of division in this department, being in charge with the coordination of the activity of both off-site and on-site prudential supervision of several numbers of credit institutions.   
Mrs. Lucretia Paunescu graduated The Bucharest Academy for Economic Studies in 1988 and has a Master degree in European Community Law (2008). She also attended several training programs organized by Central Banks or International Financial Institutions and she was member of M&A working group at the level of the Committee of European Banking Supervisors.  

Sifeng Liu PhD, BA degree in mathematics, MS in economics, and PhD in systems engineering. He is a distinguished professor and dean of College of Economics and Management of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Dr. Liu’s main research activities are in grey systems theory and regional technical innovation management. He has directed more than 50 projects at the national, provincial, and ministerial levels, has participated in international collaboration projects. He has published over 200 research papers and 16 books.
Dr. Liu serves as a member of the evaluation committee of Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), a member of the standing committee for teaching guide of the Ministry of Education, China, an expert on soft science at the Ministry of Science and Technology, China, the chair of the Technical Committee of the IEEE SMC on Grey Systems, the president of Grey Systems Society of China (GSSC), a vice president of Chinese Society for Optimization, Overall Planning and Economic Mathematics (CSOOPEM), the editor-in-chief of Grey Systems: Theory and Application (Emerald, UK), a member of the editorial board of over 10 professional journals, including “The Journal of Grey System (UK),” “Scientific Inquiry (USA)”, “Journal of Grey System (Taiwan, China)”, “Chinese Journal of Management Science”, “Systems Theory and Applications”, etc.

 

Cristian Grigoriu is Senior Security Consultant at iSEC, member of
Provision Group, Romania. He has graduated The Military Institute of
Telecommunications with a rank of Lieutenant and holds a BA degree in
Law.
He has worked for Provus (the largest Member Service Provider in Romania)
for the last eight years implementing VISA and Mastercard logical
security requirements.
Currently he works for iSEC helping banks and other financial
organizations to achieve Payment Card Industry Security Standards
compliance.

Ildiko Ioan PhD, is specialized in ecology and geography.  BA degree in Horticulture, MSc  in Management and environmental protection of horticultural supply chains, and PhD in Geography (cum laudae). She is senior lecturer at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics since 1997.  She is member of the Centre d’Etudes du Developpement International et des Mouvements Economiques et Sociaux (CEDIMES) and in the Regional Analysis and Policy Research Centre.
Fields of interest in her research are nature conservation and ecosystem management, environmental policy, corporate environmental performance assessment, sustainable agriculture, and environmental dimension in a variety of sectors. Recent works focused on ecosystem risk measurement methodology, environmental reporting in Romania, and oil industry’s response to environmental pressure. 

 

Bogdan Ion BAZGĂ is the UN - FAO National Correspondent in Romania, Counsellor for European Affairs within Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy General Director of Transnational SEE “TECH FOOD” Project: „Solutions and Interventions for the Technological Transfer and Innovation of the Agro-Food Sector in South – East Regions”and National Coordinator – for the United Nations “High Level Panel Experts - HLPE ” of FAO.

He is an Official Representative of Romania in the COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION for:

• Coordination Working Group FAO of the United Nations
• Coordination Working Group for PROBA (Commodities) - International Treaty’s and Agreements, EU Negotiation Teem. 

and Romanian Official Representative in the OECD / Committee  for Agriculture – CoAg.

In 2010, the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture – FAO awarded Mr. Bogdan BAZGA with the FAO Medal “World Food Day 2009 -   Achieving food security in times of crisis” in recognition of his activity done in Romania for comprehensive, catalytic initiative and diplomatic activity.

He is currently a PhD student at The Bucharest University of Economics ASE.

In 2008, he graduated at the Romanian National College of Defence within “Carol I” National Defence University –Bucharest the Postgraduate Course for National Security & International Relations.

Mr. Bogdan BAZGĂ has a Master Degree in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Bucharest – Faculty of Political Sciences with experience in “Management of negotiations in UN Organization & UN Agencies, Special techniques for negotiations in International Relations”, and is a Member of the „Academy of Political Science” in New York, (from 2008).

Mr. Bogdan BAZGĂ graduated in 2005 the “Diplomatic Academy” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, section International Law and International Relations and he also obtained the “Graduation Certificate for Young Romanian Diplomats” following the postgraduate course held by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Study Centre of Strasbourg and France Embassy in Romania - Decisional Process in European Union Institutions.

Mr. Bogdan BAZGĂ also graduated in 2004 the Postgraduate course Community Law and International Relations at “Nicolae Titulescu” University (Faculty of Law and International Relations).

In 1996, he graduated the Technical University of Construction Bucharest
(Faculty of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Protection) with a Master Degree in Hydro Informatics.