Global Citizenship

I am founder and Executive Director of Bantani, previously youth-worker, VET teacher and policy maker with Welsh government/European Commission and an international expert in entrepreneurship education and development. Bantani Education is a non-profit based in Belgium and working globally with a mission to transform learning. At the heart is the commitment is equipping young people and adults with transversal skills and mindset needed to be more entrepreneurial in life and work, leading to more learner engagement, active citizenship, employability and self-employment. Our skills work connects across entrepreneurial, digital, sustainability and finance skills development - integrating these in a coherent way across all sectors from pre-school to adult learning. Bantani achieves our vision by bringing extensive policy and practical experience to actions with partners from public, education, civil society and private sector, to research, test and embed high-quality learning practice and policy.

Humanitarian Aid, Relief and Development Expert and Educator from Budapest, Hungary. Chief Executive Director of Hungarian Baptist Aid since 2018, European Coordinator of the Rural Voices 2030 DEAR project since 2024.

Working in EU Public Diplomacy since 2006: as an EU diplomat, press officer, communication manager, EU project team leader and as a strategic communication expert.
Since October 2025, Associate Director of Strategic Communication at the European Policy Center.
Founding staff of the European Endowment for Democracy.
7+ years Damascus and Kyiv.
Active in pan-European political party Volt Europa.
Political Science degrees from Yale, SciencesPo-Paris and Free University-Berlin, and Harvard certificate in "Leadership and Community Organising".
Author of “EU Public Diplomacy in an ever-changing world” (University of Southern California).
uscpublicdiplomacy.org/story/new-cpd-perspectives-eus-public-diplomacy

With experience spanning media in France, equipment finance in Ireland, and executive leadership in Sweden, I bring a strategic and globally informed approach to business management. I am driven by a commitment to sustainable practices, operational excellence, and collaborative leadership. My career has encompassed financial management, lead generation, and the development of cross-departmental partnerships that drive organizational growth. As CEO, I led a talented team to elevate the company through innovation and expertise in luxury event management — delivering exclusive, high-value experiences for an international clientele. Guided by a mission to combine efficiency with creativity, I focus on building sustainable business models rooted in compliance and integrity. Leveraging my multilingual background and deep understanding of multicultural dynamics, I have successfully steered initiatives in procurement, lifecycle management, and client relations that foster long-term value and cross-cultural success.

International Trade Specialist | Educational Consultant | Entrepreneurship & Leadership Speaker.
Passionate about promoting the growth of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses through practical solutions in female empowerment, international trade, and access to global markets.

With over 13 years of experience combining international logistics, consulting, and education, my approach integrates:

✔ Strengthening entrepreneurial mindset and culture:

We provided training for 60+ female entrepreneurs, holding a workshop on introducing business models that sought to strengthen different concepts with the goal of encouraging purpose and introducing methodologies.

We designed the training program Accounting vs. Finance: Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset. Impacting approximately 200 entrepreneurs through the Opportunities Without Borders program.
✔ Leadership & Social Impact:

Ambassador for the international organization Mundo Rural Today. I promote partnership leadership through our Global Development Plan program. I work collaboratively for education and the economy, articulating SDG 8: Decent Work, linking public and private institutions, with SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

I belong to the mentor network of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Magdalena. I have mentored various projects, generating knowledge transfer and management in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

✔ Technical Experience:

Customs and logistics management: Optimization of operations in Free Trade Zones (ZFB Group, Hacienda La Gloria).

Educational Consulting: Development of training content in agile methodologies, applying design thinking.

🔹 "I believe in the power of education and collaboration to transform realities. Today, I help professionals and organizations connect their projects with global opportunities, while promoting equity and social innovation."

I am a senior executive with 20+ years of experience in programme management, trade and investments, with a strong track record in EU- and donor-financed projects. I have worked extensively in Ukraine, the EU and partner countries, implementing programmes that supported democratic transition, institutional strengthening, private sector development and European integration.

As founder and director of EuroExpert, I have led advisory projects under EU4Business, GIZ and other donor initiatives, supporting SMEs, business associations and civil society to access EU markets, improve competitiveness and build cross-border partnerships. I also co-founded the European-Ukrainian Bridge e.V., an NGO with 11 offices across Europe, mobilising civil society and fostering EU-Ukraine integration.

My career includes senior management roles in international companies such as KAEFER and Hilti, where I directed multimillion-euro operations, negotiated investment projects across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and built international teams. I also managed operations of an IT company in the US, leading digital transformation and organisational development.

I am fluent in English, German, Ukrainian and Russian, with working knowledge of Polish and Czech. I am an active member of the Professional Government Association of Ukraine (PGA Ukraine), engaging in governance and policy dialogue. My expertise lies in designing and implementing EU programmes, managing multi-stakeholder processes, and building sustainable partnerships between the EU, Ukraine and neighbouring regions.

I am particularly interested in contributing to projects under DG NEAR and DG INTPA, focusing on trade, investment, digitalisation, civil society support and resilience building in Eastern Partnership and Central Asia countries. My motivation is to bridge business, government and civil society for long-term impact.

Long-term (35+ year) experience in sustainable economic development, climate change, environment in different economic sectors as an institutional development, strategic planning, capacity development, and knowledge management and communication expert in programmes and projects in Asia, Africa and Caribbean. Working in multi-disciplinary teams and for international organisations (ADB, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, UNESCO, AU-NEPAD, IFAD-BSF, UNESCO-IHE, DFID, EC-DG-DEVCO/DG-INTPA, ACP-CTA, CAREC Institute), government and research institutions, universities, NGOs, private sector and (inter)national networks in Asia, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific.
In last two decades advising government institutions, international organisations and civil society organizations and networks in Asia/Pacific and Africa on institutional development, strategic and business planning, capacity development, knowledge and information management, communication, partnerships, use of ICTs, and innovation in different socio-economic sectors.
I have worked with international networks, NGOs, community-based organizations and local communities in the broader context of sustainable development with a focus on poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods, life-long learning, health and education. Before 2000 specifically focused on research and management of fisheries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

For more information on my projects see: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/ruudcrul

KEII