The Secretariat
The Secretariat of SOLIDAR is based in Brussels and is responsible for our network’s joint campaigns and advocacy at the EU level.
You can reach out to the Secretariat by phone during office hours
(9:30 – 18:00) at +32 (0)2 479 33 72
Leadership
Mikael Leyi
Secretary General
Mikael Leyi has been leading SOLIDAR since May 2020. He is a political scientist with a broad professional background, both in terms of competences and geography: he has previously worked as part of the labour movement in Sweden in the field of international development cooperation, in various roles at the Olof Palme International Centre (a member organisation of SOLIDAR). He has also worked with European and international organisations of the trade union and popular education movements, as well as with the institutions of the European Union, the OSCE and the UN.
Social Rights in Europe Team
Carlos Roldan
European Social Policy Coordinator
Carlos leads the organization’s social affairs strategy. With a background in social psychology and linguistic studies and over 15 years in the NGO sector, Carlos manages the Social Rights in Europe team, oversees EU-funded projects and programs, and ensures policy coordination within policy areas. He represents SOLIDAR externally, leveraging his extensive experience in intercultural education, global citizenship, international cooperation, migration, and social inclusion.
Martina Corti
Social Affairs Policy Officer
Martina contributes to the advocacy work of SOLIDAR in the field of social affairs, with a focus on employment policy, social protection and social rights. In these areas, she liaises with the members for ad hoc activities, including the Social Rights Monitor. Martina also coordinates SOLIDAR’s contribution to the CIVICUS Monitor project and cooperates with the other teams on the topic of civic space and civil dialogue. In this capacity, she represents SOLIDAR in the Board of Civil Society Europe from June 2023.
Julie Martinaud
Social Inclusion Policy Officer
Julie works on migration policy and integration of migrants and supports the work on EU social policy. She coordinates a task force of SOLIDAR members working on migration and inclusion, and represents SOLIDAR in various migration-related spaces. For SOLIDAR, she successfully implemented the Horizon 2020 projects SIRIUS and SprINg on the integration of migrants.
Sarah Zaarour
Just Transition Officer
Sarah coordinates the Just4All project, an EU-funded programme that promotes Just Transition in Europe and while mainly working with the Social Affairs in Europe Team, she supports SOLIDAR works on a socially just green Transition as well as education. She also supports the development of SOLIDAR and SOLIDAR Foundation’s positions in various consultations and processes.
Catarina Guerra
Social Affairs Policy Fellow
Catarina coordinates the Just4All project, an EU-funded programme that promotes Just Transition in Europe and while mainly working with the Social Affairs in Europe Team, she supports SOLIDAR works on a socially just green Transition as well as education. She also supports the development of SOLIDAR and SOLIDAR Foundation’s positions in various consultations and processes.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Barbara Caracciolo
International Cooperation & Sustainable Development Coordinator
Barbara coordinates SOLIDAR’s international cooperation work. This includes the design and the implementation of advocacy strategies to promote fundamental labour rights, counter shrinking space, make the EU policies coherent with the realization of social and environmental justice. Together with the advocacy work, she supervises SOLIDAR international projects and programmes run together with SOLIDAR members and partners in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Alba Gonzalez
International Cooperation Policy Officer
Alba is specialised in capacity building for civil society organisations and in her role she supports members and partners to strengthen cooperation for joint advocacy actions in partner countries. She also contributes to the establishment of a structured dialogue between SOLIDAR members and partners with EU delegations as well as advocates for greater civil society participation in EU regional alliances such as the EU-Africa Partnership.
Lavinia Mazzei
International Cooperation Policy Officer
Lavinia promotes the alliance for social justice and sustainable development of the European and international labour movement and progressive civil society, in line with SOLIDAR’s values. She follows policy processes related to the European Green Deal with a focus on its international dimension and its impact on the Global South. She also coordinates a network of European and international civil society organisations advocating for a global just transition.
SOLIDAR Foundation Team | Inclusive Education & Lifelong Learning and Democratic Participation
Elisa Gambardella
Education and Lifelong Learning Coordinator
Elisa coordinates our members’ advocacy work on Lifelong Learning and Democratic Participation towards the EU institutions, by supervising and implementing the policy and advocacy strategy and managing EU-funded projects and programmes. Together with the policy work and to strengthen our network, she coordinates the development of capacity building activities. On behalf of SOLIDAR Foundation, she has been elected President of the Lifelong Learning Platform in 2023.
Alexandra Matthys
Education and Lifelong Learning Policy Officer
Alexandra supports the development and promotion of SOLIDAR Foundation’s position on the EU’s education and lifelong learning agenda in relevant consultations and processes. She implements and monitors EU-funded projects, produces policy briefings and reports on education and lifelong learning issues, and supports the development of capacity building activities.
Hilmi Tekoglu
Civic Space Policy Officer
Hilmi coordinates SOLIDAR’s work in creating and mobilizing pan-European stakeholder networks and organising a European Civil Society Forum for the Green and Just Transition under the Real Deal project. He is also responsible for SOLIDAR’s work on civic space and participatory democracy, which includes monitoring policy developments, and shrinking civic space in 7 European countries.
Belen Duart Marzo
Education and Lifelong Learning Policy Fellow
Belen supports the Education and Lifelong Learning policy team with activities ranging from policy monitoring, reporting, newsletter writing, event organisation and policy communication.
Just Transition Team
Andrea Casamenti
Just Transition Policy Coordinator
Andrea is responsible for some of SOLIDAR’s external activities in the field of a socially just green transition, including the management of the European Alliance for a Just Transition, and for ensuring the mainstreaming of just transition issues in all of SOLIDAR’s social justice work.
Clara Dassonville
Just Transition Policy Officer
Clara produces policy analyses, statements and reports on climate and social issues, supports strategic policy communications, advocacy and campaigns, and fosters alliances by coordinating a network of progressive policymakers, social partners and civil society organisations.
Communications Team
Giorgia Gusciglio
Communication and Membership Officer
Giorgia manages SOLIDAR’s internal and external communication with relevant stakeholders, supports the policy teams in their advocacy and campaign work, and coordinates the implementation of the communication and membership strategy. She is also the point of reference for SOLIDAR membership matters.
Arnault Vercherin
Communication and Advocacy Fellow
Arnault supports the internal and external communication activities, from stakeholders meetings to social media management, coordinates the monthly general newsletter- and supports the policy teams in advocacy campaigns and policy communication.
Administration, Finance and Human Resources Team
Valerie Garnier
Administration, Finance and Human Resources Coordinator
Valerie leads the finance department, ensuring a budget follow up and implementation of processes. She also contributes to the development of all human resources rules and processes. Valérie has over 20 years of experience in Finance and Economics, leading finance and human resources department, but also managing EU funded projects.
Ajeng Tita Susanto
Administration and Finance Officer
Ajeng plays the role of financial management support, she produces financial forecasts, prepares reports and supporting documents for the donors, and she executes financial transactions and activities. Ajeng has 9 years of experience working in the NGO sector. She graduated in accounting for her bachelor’s degree back in Indonesia and then continued to obtain her master’s degree in International Banking & Financial Management in Paris and in Microfinance at the University of Nancy. Ajeng speaks English, French and her native Indonesian language.
