Aspen Ideas in Action Leadership Forum
Two decades of Aspen Romania Community: Ideas, Action, Impact
1st Edition
May 27 | Bucharest
Institutional Partners: Aspen International Partners & Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), The Aspen Institute U.S.
Jubilee Strategic Partners: BCR, Cencora
In its 20th anniversary year, Aspen Institute Romania hosted in Bucharest, on May 27, the first edition of the Aspen Ideas in Action Leadership Forum.
The Forum was a 1-day event designed to create the space for meaningful conversations around the most impactful initiatives and ideas generated within the Aspen Romania Community over the past 20 years and those shaping the next chapter of the Institute.
The event placed ideas, leadership and impact projects at the center of the conversation, offering the Aspen community a space not only to reflect, but to demonstrate what has been built together over two decades. At the same time, the Forum was the springboard for the initiatives and ideas shaping the next chapter of the Institute.
Blending Aspen Seminar tradition with panel discussions addressing themes of strategic relevance to Aspen Romania and its community (origins and legacy of the Aspen Idea, community impact, vision & impact in public service, values-driven entrepreneurship, empowering the next generation of leaders etc.), workshops and initiatives showcase, the Forum brought reflection and action onto the same stage.
The diverse spaces of dialogue will bring to the participants inspiration, higher awareness of societal challenges and solutions, enhanced leadership skills, and various opportunities of connection within the extended Aspen Community.
The Forum convened a distinguished group of voices from across the Aspen Community – institutional leaders, public officials, and Aspen Fellows whose work reflects the Institute’s two decades of impact in Romania and beyond.
Speakers included:
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Mircea Geoană – President, Aspen Institute Romania
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Todd Breyfogle – Senior Advisor for Humanistic Studies and Practices, The Aspen Institute U.S.
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Ciprian Ciucu – Mayor of Bucharest; Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2008
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George Tuță – Mayor of Bucharest District 1; Aspen Public Service Leadership Program Fellow 2022
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Zoltán Miklós – Member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Aspen Public Service Leadership Program Fellow 2022
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Bogdan Ivan – Member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Aspen Public Service Leadership Program Fellow 2022
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Oleksandr Bereza – Head of Administration of the Central District of Mykolaiv City Council, Ukraine, Aspen Institute Kyiv Alumnus
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Simina Tulbure – Honorary Adviser to the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Aspen Public Service Leadership Program Fellow 2023
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Elliot Gerson – Senior Fellow, The Aspen Institute U.S.; former Executive Vice President responsible for the Institute’s Policy Programs and International Partners
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Ionuț Stanimir – Director of Marketing & Communication, BCR; Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2011
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Andrei Pogonaru – Partner, Central European Financial Services (CEFS) and Silmaril Storage; Aspen Moderator; Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2009
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Cristian Pîrvulescu, General Manager and Founding Partner, Enevo Group, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2009
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Alexandra Bogatu – Founder & CEO, Euforia Retreat & Spa and rezident.ro, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2022
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Ioana Bauer – Chairwoman and President eLiberare, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2016 ○ Project: Project Oi – Social Enterprise, focused on the prevention of human trafficking and the reintegration of vulnerable individuals, initiated together with Claudia Pedersen, Board Member eLiberare and Movement Coach, and Andrei Georgescu, Head of International Programs, Social Innovation Solutions, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellows 2016
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Lucian Dumbrăvieanu – Principal Banker, Manufacturing & Services Sector, CSEE, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2012 ○ Project: Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, focused on the economic empowerment of the Roma entrepreneurs, initiated together with Petrică Dulgheru, Director, REDI International, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2012
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Natalia Sudakova – Co-founder of SEOforMedia agency and NGO, Aspen Institute Kyiv Alumna
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Zsófia Szlamka – Co-Founder, Let’s CEE; Madeleine K. Albright Leadership Awardee of the Aspen Institute Central Europe
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Marco Denari – Head of Real Estate Southern Europe, Partners Group AG, Aspen Institute Italia Fellow
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Margareta Mucibabici (Chesaru) – Independent Advisor & Board Member, UiPath Foundation, Safetech Innovations, Aspen Institute Romania Fellow
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Tudor Mihăilă – Partner, Rosavis, Aspen Junior Seminar Alumnus 2022 & Aspen Romania Member
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Carla Popescu – Social Media Marketing Manager, UN Youth Delegate Programme of Romania, Aspen Junior Seminar Alumna 2025
Moderators of the conversations:
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Costinela Drăgan – Sustainability & CSR Director at Rompetrol, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow, 2015
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Ionuț Stanimir – Director of Marketing & Communication, BCR; Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2011
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Radu Moțoc – Executive Director Techsoup Romania, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2007
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Oana Craioveanu – CEO and Co-founder Impact Hub Bucharest, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow 2012
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Mădălina Mocan – member of ProTECT executive board of directors, Aspen Romania affiliated expert and seminars moderator, Aspen Young Leaders Program Fellow, 2009
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Mihai Cucu-Dumitrescu – Founder of Social Seeds, Aspen Community & Society of Fellows & Alumni Coordinator
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Florentina Dumitru – Executive Director, European Center for Economic Security, Technology and Resilience (ECESTR) & Aspen Romania Alumna
Hosts of the event:
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Ioana Antonescu – Director of Leadership Programs, Aspen Institute Romania
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Mihai Cucu-Dumitrescu – Founder of Social Seeds, Aspen Community & Society of Fellows & Alumni Coordinator