Tom Arnold currently serves as a Board member of The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN); member, Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition (GloPan); board member, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN); member, Malabo Montpellier Panel; member, Sight and Life Foundation. His previous roles include serving as Ireland’s Special Envoy for Food Systems; Chair, Food Vision 2030 agri-food strategy group; Coordinator, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement; Director General Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA); Chair, Irish Constitutional Convention; CEO, Concern Worldwide; Chair, OECD Committee for Agriculture; Chief Economist and Assistant Secretary General, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM); Administrator, European Commission.

Jochen was involved in the founding of a Food Bank in southern Germany over 25 years ago and has been active with the Tafel ever since. He was on the Board of Tafel Deutschland e.V. (Germany) for 16 years and President for 10 years. In July 2023, he was elected as its Honorary President. He is inspired by his many contacts with volunteers at local food banks and the work that is being done on the ground.

Pedro started to volunteer at the local Banco de Alimentos de Madrid after ending his professional career to help solving the real problems that exist in society. He acts as Deputy Director at Federación Española de Bancos de Alimentos (Spain).

Jef started working as a volunteer at the Fédération Belge des Banques Alimentaires / Belgische Federatie van Voedselbanken after the end of his professional career, motivated to contribute to society with volunteering work and to stay active after retirement, and has been part of it ever since. He is the Managing Director at Fédération Belge des Banques Alimentaires / Belgische Federatie van Voedselbanken (Belgium).

After a Master’s Degree in English and Spanish literatures, Angela moved to Brussels for a traineeship at the European Parliament. Then she worked for Banco Alimentare in Verona and at national level, where she was responsible for liaising with EU institutions. In 2018 she joined FEBA as Secretary General. She currently manages FEBA, promoting its mission and values, providing a point of contact for all stakeholders, and developing opportunities for the benefit of FEBA and its members with international and European institutions and stakeholders.

Balázs was inspired by the work of Banques Alimentaires in France and started food banking activities in Hungary in 2005 to fill the existing gap. He is the President of Magyar Élelmiszerbank Egyesület (Hungary).

Paula first got involved in Food Banking after writing her Master’s thesis on the redistribution of surplus food for social purposes in 2015. She has more than 10 years of experience working with sustainable food systems, including 5 years working as Project Manager at Matsentralen Norge, where she led the development of Norway’s National network of Food Banks. She currently works as Senior Urban Food Systems Officer at EAT, where she contributes to the organisation’s efforts to transform urban environments to provide healthier and more sustainable diets for all.

Technical Architect with extensive experience in the construction sector. He is co-owner of a development and construction company. He has been a member of the Governing Board of the Official College of Surveyors and Technical Architects of Las Palmas. He joins as a volunteer at the Las Palmas Food Bank, where he is currently its President. Since October 2015 he has been a member of the Executive Committee, serving as Vice President from May 2018 until May 2021 when he is elected President of the Federación Española de Bancos de Alimentos.

Lisa Moon is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Global FoodBankingNetwork (GFN), an international nonprofit that supports community-led solutions to dually address hunger and food loss and waste in nearly 50 countries. In 2022, food banks connected by GFN served 32 million people facing hunger. Previously, Lisa served as Vice President of Global Agriculture and Food at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, where she convened stakeholder groups and carried out policy studies related to strengthening food systems globally.  Topics included agricultural development, the intersection of nutrition and chronic disease, the role of girls in rural economies, and the link between agriculture and food and climate change. Lisa holds a Master of Arts degree in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, Political Science, and Spanish from Bradley University.  She sits on the Board of Directors of the European Food Banks Federation, and the Lineage Foundation for Good.  Lisa serves on the Advisory Board for Bradley University’s Office of Global Strategic Initiatives and as a Fellow for the Farm Foundation Roundtable. Lisa lives in Chicago with her husband, Rob, and three young children.

An economist, Ruth Paserman joined the Commission in 1993. She has since worked in a number of services: Eurostat, DG Employment and Social Affairs, DG Competition, DG Enterprise and Industry. She was also member of cabinet of Vice-President Tajani, Vice-President Dombrovskis and deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Thyssen. Since November 2020 she is Director for Funds Programming and Implementation in DG Employment, Social Affairs and inclusion. She is responsible for the legislation, policy development and coordination of implementation of the funds managed by the DG (ESF+, EGF, Invest EU social window), as well as for the social economy and better regulation.

When reaching the end of his professional career and recovering from surgery, a sudden abundance of leisure time turned Jacques towards volunteering at the Banque Alimentaire du Hainaut Occidental et de Mons-Borinage. Initially, he joined the FEBA Board of Directors due to his knowledge and expertise but was also inspired to work with the staff and fellow Board members.