Europe

Georgios Lazakis believes in the power of music and helps young people build their self-confidence. As a rapper, poet, producer and founder of School of HeART Knocks, he brings people together with music, impact programs, workshops, lectures and art. This brought him into the Community Top 100, the list of influential Dutch people.

In 2014, his life took an unexpected turn, forcing him to abruptly step away from music performances. However, these profound changes became the catalyst for founding his own school, School of Heart Knocks, where he and inspiring role models teach young people in an unorthodox way. In a musical TEDx talk, he shares how music became his personal learning journey and how the power of words guided him through it.

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As a multidisciplinary creative and cultural entrepreneur, I have dedicated my career to empowering autodidacts and multi-potential individuals. At HUB168, a 13th-century monastery in the Netherlands, I foster creativity and personal growth through coaching, training, and collaboration. My background in music, theater, and visual arts has shaped my understanding of creativity as both a sanctuary and a tool for transformation. As a Creative Art & Cultural Coach, CLOCK Sector Expert, and Peer Reviewer, I bridge the gap between non-formal learners and the formal sector, advocating for recognition, inclusivity, and innovation in the creative industries.

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János Keresnyei MBA, PDACCI – Creative Industry Developer and Innovator is a creative industry expert, innovation strategist, and business mentor with over 30 years of experience in media, broadcasting, and the cultural and creative industries. His career spans multiple disciplines, including intellectual asset management, EU-funded innovation programs, and startup ecosystem development.

As the president of the Creative Industry Cluster and the Cultural Innovation Competence Centre Association in Pécs, Hungary, he has been a key player in fostering creative entrepreneurship, advocating for cultural innovation, and supporting emerging businesses in the EU. His work has contributed significantly to the development of Hungary’s creative industry policies, including his role in the National Creative Industry Roundtable and his board membership in the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Pécs-Baranya.In addition to his extensive professional engagements, Keresnyei is a recognized CLOCK sector expert and peer reviewer, providing invaluable insights to support the development of cultural and creative industries.  His role as a peer reviewer has involved participating in CLOCK bootcamps worldwide, including a notable project in Riyadh, where he contributed to the advancement of creative industry professionals.

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Klelija Zhivkovikj, born in 1989, is a transdisciplinary artist based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Trained across several design disciplines, her work is a theoretical,
material and experiential inquiry into boundaries, the physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual barriers we create to be able to connect with ourselves, other beings and ecosystems.

In 2021, Studio Private Print published her first artist book “Prototyping tenderness: a personal log of a dying world”, and hosted her solo exhibition by the same name. She was awarded the “Ladislav Barisic” award from AICA Macedonia for her research proposal “Design for resurgence” in 2022.

In 2023 she received the “DENES” award for young visual artists under 35. She has participated in several group exhibitions in North Macedonia and internationally, most notably “The event of a thread: Global narratives in textile” by ifa, “Tapeti” by EVN Sammlung, and “Anarchic bodies: Consent not to be a single being” at the Museum of Contemporary Art – Skopje. Her work is represented in the EVN Sammlung and the Galichnik Colony collection. 

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Manolo Remiddi is a composer, photographer, and AI strategist who helps creative professionals navigate the age of intelligent machines. With over 20 years of experience in music and digital innovation, he explores how technology and human insight can evolve together. His work focuses on using AI for alignment and clarity, not just productivity.

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I am an arts and culture education advisor at Rozet Arnhem the Netherlands, supporting schools in developing cultural visions, programs, and professional growth. I advocate for making invisible skills visible—empowering children and young people to discover their strengths and nurture their talents for lifelong development. As a sector expert and peer reviewer with the CLOCK community, I guide others in their professionalization journeys. My passion for flamenco, with its raw expression and emotion, mirrors how I live and work: with authenticity, creativity, and a drive to help others unlock their potential through the power of arts and culture.

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Cross-disciplinary designer and qualified relational coach. With a background in arts, architecture, counselling and holism, Martina blends design, education, and personal development across the Creative and Cultural Industries. Her creative practice spans graphic design, set and costume design, textiles, architecture, photography, and illustration.Rooted in the performing arts—particularly contemporary dance, ballet, and dance theatre—Martina is currently exploring clowning to bridge visual storytelling and live performance and art therapy tools that connect body, emotion, and imagination.

She facilitates and mentors “young people of all ages” through creative practices, focusing on lifelong learning and soft and life skills for well-being. She also co-authors EU training materials, curates creative and training events. Passionate for empowerment, sustainability, and artistic and cultural expression.

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Michele De Vito is a Project manager with extensive experience in developing and implementing social innovation programmes. Passionate about music, arts and culture from an early age, I have always advocated for access to culture as a human right, promoting the arts through community programmes. My journey started with working as a sound technician and producing cultural events, concerts and festivals in Italy, before moving into my current role as a Learning & Development Manager, first in the UK and now in Spain.

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Nicoletta Cataldo is an accomplished producer and founder of Insolita Film, an innovative cultural hub dedicated to integrating art within business. With extensive experience in film production since 2008, she has worked on various projects abroad while also handling executive productions on Italian territory with companies from the Philippines and the USA. Under her leadership, Insolita Film has become recognized for its creative solutions, and she has developed the CIAK-in Platform, an initiative of Insolita Film that fosters collaboration between artists and entrepreneurs to enhance the cultural landscape.

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Through art I set things in motion. Looking, experiencing or doing the other way around. I give children the secrets of relaxation, I challenge adults to remember the child in them and give it space. I consider myself a professional rebel, because I like to develop methods that also work, even if you didn’t expect it. And above all, I am a mother, my children gave meaning to my vision. It awakened a deeper drive in me to validate myself and not to lose sight of the things that I see are also important.

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Silja is a long-term professional of the creative industries, with strong experience from both the public and private sectors. Her years of working in the music business as entrepreneur, producer, engineer, writer and musician gave her a strong feel for the needs of the sector.

She is active in furthering discussion between policymakers, developers and business leaders in promoting awareness of the widening roles and opportunities of the creative economy. She was leader for Creative Industries Finland (2007-2014), working closely with the Ministries of Education and Culture and Employment and Economy, as well as Nordic and European stakeholders.

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Meet Ximo Peris Casado, our CLOCK Sector Expert and Creative Director responsible for digital assets. With a career in computer animation dating back to 2003, Ximo has played a pivotal role in creating digital assets for monumental events such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the successful FIFA World Cup bids for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. As the Programme Development Lead for the International CLOCK Programme, Ximo brings his extensive expertise to the forefront, ensuring our programmes are cutting-edge and impactful.

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