Matthew Aversano-Dearborn
Co-Founder and Co-Director
Prior to founding Forum ViA with Valentina, Matt gained experience working with organizations in a number of countries on topics ranging from climate change and sustainable development to intercultural dialogue and cultural diplomacy, from foreign and security policy to community development and women’s empowerment. He studied German, Spanish and International Relations in the USA, Spain and Germany.
Contact: matt@forum-via.org
Valentina Aversano-Dearborn
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Valentina has been active in a range of initiatives, projects and organizations focusing on sustainability and environmental issues for more than 15 years. She studied sociology and sustainable regional development in Germany, Italy and France. Alongside with working for ViA, Valentina is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), with a research focus on environmentally, socially and economically sustainable practices in society and economy.
Contact: valentina@forum-via.org
Gregor Danzinger
Project Support & Administration
Gregor studied Environmental and Bioresources Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. He coordinated the research project Regional Futures at the Centre for Global Change and Sustainability with Austrian and international partners, which focused on regional vulnerabilities to climate change in Austria and Germany.
Gregor supports Forum ViA’s work through admin- and project support.
Contact: gregor@forum-via.org
Irene Brettner-Litherland
Project assistance, Team Coordination Vienna & Networking
Irene started as Sustainability Ambassador with us when she decided to set off on a journey to Malaysia sharing her experience of travelling without flying and without using plastic bottles with a Viennese partner class. Since she came back in early 2016, she is part of our team in Vienna. She first studied languages and worked in the UK for several years but on returning to Austria she started working in education. Recently she graduated from the Vienna Master in Human Rights. At Forum ViA she can combine her passion for education and social sustainability.
Contact: irene@forum-via.org
Kerstin Bojar
Public Relations & Project Support
During her studies at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Kerstin specialized in the interface between agriculture and biodiversity. She has gained practical experience in Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain and Austria. In her spare time she is involved in a number of projects dealing with issues related to sustainability. She is particularly interested in alternative agricultural systems.
Kerstin supports the project Choose Your Own Sustainability Adventure in the areas of public relations and is part of ViA’s editorial team.
Contact: kerstin@forum-via.org
Eva Kasprowicz
Project Development Senegal
After studying Philosophy and Rhetoric in Germany, Eva took the opportunity to contribute to the work of ViA in Dakar, Senegal, by assisting in establishing “green-citizen” activites and workshops with national and international partners on-site.
Her passion for the protection of the environment and animals made her engage in several other NGOs previous to her time with ViA. What motivates her most in her engagement, is the chance to create access to knowledge about environmental issues to a broad public and collaborate with others for sustainable development.
Kontakt: eva@forum-via.org
Gudrun Zecha
Project Coordination “Hectar Game”
After completing her degree in Environmental Physics, Gudrun worked as a researcher at the Institute of Waste Management of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna in a number of projects focused on the recycling of electronic waste in Europe and China.
In her project ERDpapiere she is developing a complementary currency that represents the ecological footprint of products, so that those produced in an envrionmentally friendly way will in the future be more affordable than those that damage the environment. With the “Hectar Workshop – Manager in Spaceship Earth” she aims to communicate and interactively explore the concept of the ecological footprint and how we can successfully manage Earth’s resources in a sustainable and fulfilling way.
Contact: gudrun@forum-via.org
Susanna Dellantoni
Projekt Assistance
Susanna studied Environmental and Bio-Resource Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and aims to complete a master’s degree in “Green Care”. She is especially interested in environmental pedagogy and renewable energy and has gained experience in non-profit research institutes. Sustainable projects, as well as animal rights and environmental conservation, are near and dear to her heart.
Contact: susi@forum-via.org
Veronika Kreuzwieser
Education Expert for Austria & Project Assistance
More information about Veronika soon!
Contact: veronika@forum-via.org
Benedikt Weingartner
Project Coordination “World Climate Exercise” & “Hectar Game”
More information about Benedikt soon!
Contact: benedikt@forum-via.org