Malta

1993
Degree in Economics and Management University of Messina, Messina (Italy)
Thesis in "Equal opportunities between men and women in the working environment".

1996 Summer Workshop
University of Toronto, CANADA, Toronto (Canada)
“Trade Off Investiment Decisions in the Emerging Economies”.

1997 EU Project Management
Province of Florence, Florence (Italy)
Training programme organised by a company called "Kiosco" and the Province of Florence, Italy.

2001 Workshop
Formez (ISVOR-FIAT), Roma (Italy)
Training programme in Business Process Reengineering.

2004 EU InSpire Programme
Centre for Advanced Land Mapping Services - Italy, Lametia Terme (Italy) Course for Web Gis Developer.

Government Training Programme for Managers
Italian Department for Public Administration, Rome (Italy)
Forum of Italian Municipalities "Strategies for Local Development”.

International Conference
Center of Canadian Heritage and Cultural Studies, Taormina (Italy)
Coordinator of the summer workshops on economy and heritage identity
between Canada and the European Union.

Working Position
Finance & EGovernment & ICT Department Public Manager
City Hall of Rizziconi, Reggio Calabria (Italy)

Working Experience
EU DG NEAR Expert
European Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
Joseph Caristena has been selected as DG NEAR Expert.

EU DG NEAR Expert
European Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
Tirana - Albania
EU Expert Mission at the National Agency for Information Society.

EU DG NEAR Expert
European Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
Podgorica - Montenegro
EU Expert Mission at the Ministry of Innovation & Information Society

EU DG NEAR Expert
European Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
Keynote Speaker at the MCI Management Center (MCI) Innsbruck - Austria in Media & Information Society in the Emergings Economies.

EU DG NEAR Expert
European Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
Toronto - Canada
Meeting at Venice Palace with the member of Canadian Parliament Frank Sorbara.

EU DG NEAR Expert
European Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
Podgorica - Montenegro
Mission on Cybersecurity - “Designing a Predictive Model Framework”.

Cultural Diplomacy
2013 - US Yale University
Joseph Caristena as "Heritage Cultural Broker" leaded the group of Prof. John R. Hale of the Yale University and the "Big Five" universities like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia and Yale, during the cruise ship stop at the Port of Vibo Marina Calabria - Italy.

2013 BMTA "Heritage Cultural Broker "
An Archaeological Italian Trade Fair in the City of Capaccio - Paestum (Campania). Joseph Caristena promoted as “Heritage Cultural Broker” many archaeological sites of Calabria - Italy.

2015
Theatre production at the Politeana theatre of Catanzaro - Calabria (Italy) -
Twinning Programmes with the Municipality of Bethlehem - Palestine with the Mayor Vera Baboun .

Awards & Recognitions
Albania - Tirana
Official recognition from the Agency of the Information Society.

Honours and awards 2004 Italian EGovernment Award Winner 5th Edition
"Top Projects for Digital Citizens - Innovation that creates Value".

Johan van Geijn has a unique track record as a specialist in international corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the world of sports, particularly in football and international development cooperation. With more than 25 years of experience – heading the international programs at the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) since 1998 to build local capacity through football in developing countries and low-income countries. More than 20,000 young volunteer coaches have been able to improve themselves in their local environment through programs developed by Johan.
As founder of the WorldCoaches program, Johan has proven many times how sport can serve as a means for social development. Using football as a catalyst for social cohesion, for the position of girls and women in society, for awareness of communicable diseases, drugs and addictions or clean water.
With the international challenges surrounding migration and refugees, using football as an initiator for programs to tackle youth unemployment in these countries. A range of thematic social challenges where Johan has been able to let football contribute to the approach and often to the solution.

Head of Operations at the Vienna-based Innovation in Politics Institute and CEO of the European Capital of Democracy NPO. Work experience in the non-profit, start-up, business and political field. Leadership skills in managing mixed and networked teams with a focus on developing disruptive products and growing innovative organisations.

Sales, Marketing, Operations and General Manager in EMEA and LATAM with a consistent track in Environment, Industry, Energy, Services and Project Management.  Bilingual in Spanish and Portuguese, fluency in English, medium level in Italian and basic in French.