Meet the Secretariat
Paolo Falcioni,
Director-General
Paolo Falcioni has been APPLiA's Director-General since January 2014. In this position he focused on improving the association visibility and effectiveness within Europe and internationally. To that extent, he has been one of the founders of the International Roundtable of Household Appliance Manufacturers Associations (IRHMA) which tackles world-wide issues like sustainability and innovation in a global manner. He served for three year as Chairman of the Coalition for Energy Savings, a multi-stakeholder group aiming at improving energy efficiency in Europe. He is one of the Board members in Smart Energy Europe, smartEn fostering demand side management to help consumers to reap the benefits of the new Energy market. In 2016 he has been nominated member of the REFIT platform as a representative of the stakeholder group. The REFIT Platform brings together the Commission, national authorities and other stakeholders in regular meetings to improve existing EU legislation. Paolo graduated in electronic engineering from University of Ancona, in Italy. He started working in the telecommunication sector and, after that, he worked within the household appliance industry sector where he held positions with growing responsibilities. An Italian national, Paolo also speaks English and French fluently. In his free time, he likes baking homemade delicacies.
paolo.falcioni@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/paolofromfar
Candice Franck,
Office Manager
Candice Franck is APPLiA’s Office Manager. She joined APPLiA in December 2008. She assists the Director General and the Secretariat in administrative and logistical tasks. She manages the office and is the interface with accountants, human resources services, members and external parties/suppliers. Prior to joining APPLiA, Candice worked at the European University Association, GDF Suez International and Bredin Prat Law firm as Personal, Communication and Events Assistant. Candice holds a M.A. in Applied Foreign Languages (English, Portuguese) and Business and Trade from the Paul Valery University, Montpellier, based in France. A Belgian national, Candice also speaks English and has a good grasp of Spanish and Portuguese. She likes quality food (especially truffle) and quality time with family and friends. She has a passion for photography and music. In her free time she enjoys a glass of rosé wine next to the fireplace.
candice.franck@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Candice Richaud,
Corporate Issues Manager
Candice Richaud is APPLiA’s Corporate Issues Manager. She joined APPLiA in July 2008. Candice follows the EU energy and climate 2030 policies and consumer protection affairs. She is also in charge with APPLIA’s National Associations network. Before joining the APPLiA team, she completed internships at the European Commission’s DG for Competition and Interpol. Candice has a specialisation in international law, politics & economics and foreign languages from the Universities of Grenoble & Lille (France). A French national, Candice speaks English as well as some knowledge of Portuguese and German. She enjoys listening to music at any occasion, loves architecture, decoration and travelling around.
candice.richaud@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Anna Rossignoli,
Communication Specialist
Anna Rossignoli is APPLiA’s Communication Specialist. She is part of the team since March 2019. Before joining APPLiA, Anna developed experience as Events Organisation support intern before and as Junior Product Manager after. She also had an experience in an International Communication Agency based in Milan. Anna completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Corporate Communication and Global Markets at the University of Milano-Bicocca and a Master’s Degree in International Relations at the University of Westminster in London. Italian national, she speaks English and she is learning French. During her studies she also studied German. Anna loves watching films, taking photos and writing.
anna.rossignoli@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Federica Lavoro,
Communication
Junior Specialist
Federica Lavoro is APPLiA’s Communication Junior Specialist as from January 2021. Before joining APPLiA, Federica has gained experience in communications and public affairs working as a trainee in international governmental bodies and in Brussels-based associations in the field of sustainability. Prior than this, Federica completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Luiss University in Rome and University of Macau (China) and a Master’s Degree in International Relations at Luiss University in Rome. Originally from Italy, Federica also speaks English and is learning French. In the spare time, Federica loves to take walks, travel, read and taste new food.
federica.lavoro@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Korrina Hegarty,
Environment
Policy Director
Korrina Hegarty is APPLiA’s Environment Policy Director and has been part of the team since 2007. She leads the team working on environmental issues that are relevant for the household appliance sector, including resource efficiency, the circular economy, waste, chemical and materials issues. She has particular expertise in the WEEE Directive having led APPLiA’s advocacy campaign during the last revision of the EU legislation. Korrina also leads APPLiA’s work on the Energy Label and the current revision of the Framework legislation. Korrina holds a degree in European Business Studies from Ulster University (UK) and studied as an Erasmus student at the IAG School of Management from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Prior to joining APPLiA in 2007, she was Head of South East Partners Brussels Office, a UK regional office representing local government interests, and Senior Policy Officer for the Northern Ireland Centre in Brussels. Korrina has solid experience in EU public affairs in Brussels. An Irish national, Korrina also speaks French. In her free time, she enjoys staying fit, discovering new restaurants and laughing with her family and friends.
korrina.hegarty@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Lara Carrier,
Environment & Chemicals Policy Manager
Lara Carrier joined APPLiA in December 2017 and she is one of APPLiA’s Environment and Energy Policy Manager. Lara covers Chemicals and Materials issues at APPLiA and will also give support in other environmental areas as well as energy-related topics. Before joining APPLiA, Lara worked for two years in a European Trade Association representing the industrial minerals sector where she was involved in both product stewardship and environment pools. She then worked as a scientific advisor within a consulting company specialized in Regulatory Affairs and acquired more deep knowledge on REACH-related matters, environmental fate and ecotoxicology subjects. Lara holds a Master in bioscience engineering (Chemicals and Bioindustrial option) from the University of Brussels (ULB, Belgium) and a specialised Master in plant biotechnology from the University of Ghent (UGhent, Belgium). A Belgian national, Lara speaks French, English and Spanish fluently. Lara enjoys travelling, reading novels and going to the gym! She is also involved in volunteering work related to help undocumented workers know their rights in Brussels.
lara.carrier@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Naomi Marc,
Environment
Policy Specialist
Naomi Marc is one of APPLiA’s Environment Policy Specialists and joined the team in October 2018. She holds a BA in political sciences from Université Saint-Louis in Brussels, followed by a MA also in political sciences from Université Libre of Brussels. Belgian national, she speaks fluently French, English and Romanian. She is also a piano player and loves to discover new places to see and to have good food.
naomi.marc@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Matteo Rambaldi,
Energy Policy Director
Matteo Rambaldi is APPLiA’s Energy Policy Director and has been part of the team since 2003. He leads the team working on ecodesign and energy label Regulations, including measures addressing product performance that are relevant for the household appliance sector. He also follows standardisation-related matters. Matteo holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Management from the University of Durham (UK) and a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Bologna (Italy). He also spent one semester at Arhus University (Denmark) and at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium). Prior to joining APPLiA in 2003, he worked for the European Environmental Bureau in Brussels and at the North European Marine Services Ltd in Sunderland (UK). Matteo has solid experience in working on environmental issues, mostly in Brussels. An Italian national, Matteo also speaks English, French and Spanish fluently. He also has a grasp of Dutch and Portuguese. In his free time, Matteo likes preparing a nice Sunday risotto after a basketball game.
matteo.rambaldi@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Giulia Zilla,
Energy & Environment Policy Manager
Giulia Zilla is APPLiA’s Energy & Environment Policy Manager. She is dealing mostly with the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulation for energy-related products. Before joining APPLiA, Giulia developed experience in policy analysis and advocacy while working for a European Trade Association and for an Italian confederation representing Small Middle Enterprises at the European level. She has been focusing her professional career on European energy and environmental policies and on relevant themes such as Circular Economy, Clean Energy and Low-carbon society. Giulia holds a BA in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Milan (Italy) and a MA in Energy and Environmental Change from the University of Westminster (London, UK). She also studied in Norway as an exchange student at the Arctic University of Tromsø. Giulia is Italian, she speaks fluently English and she is learning French; during her stays abroad, she also studied Norwegian and Spanish. She has a great passion for politics and she has been involved in different young political organisations. Giulia is a climber, and loves nature and mountains.
giulia.zilla@applia-europe.eu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/giulia-zilla-b20809123/
Luis Galiano,
Energy Policy Specialist
Luis Galiano is APPLiA’s Energy Policy Specialist. He is focusing his work on Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations for home appliances. Before joining APPLiA, Luis gained professional experience working for the European Commission in Brussels as a Bluebook Trainee dealing with EU energy efficiency policies and in public affairs consulting strengthening the role of SMEs at the regional level in Spain. Luis holds a BA in Economics and a BA in Law, both from the University of Seville (Spain), as well as a MA in European Economic Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium). He has also been an exchange student in SciencesPo Strasbourg (France). Luis comes from the south of Spain and speaks fluently English and French. He is passionate about music and politics, and during his free time he always enjoys playing guitar or hiking in the countryside.
luis.galiano@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Michał Zakrzewski,
Digital and Competitiveness
Policy Director
Michał Zakrzewski is APPLiA’s Digital & Competitiveness Policy Director and has been part of the team since 2008. Michał follows a number of different topics: market surveillance, product safety, standardisation, market research, radio equipment. He managed the Appliance Testing for Energy Label Evaluation (ATLETE) Project and manages the Bilateral Verification Procedure (BVP) for APPLiA. Michał holds a Masters Degree in International Economics and International Relations from the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) in Poland and spent a semester at the Management University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Before joining APPLiA, Michał worked for over four years at APPLiA Polska, the domestic appliance industry’s representation in Poland, following the energy label and e-waste topics. A Polish national, Michał also speaks English and French and has some knowledge of German. In his free time after work, he loves playing with his kids and if he has some more free time, he likes travelling and reading about the history of 20th century Europe.
michal.zakrzewski@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Eoin Kelly,
Digital and Competitiveness
Policy Specialist
Eoin Kelly is APPLiA’s Digital and Competitiveness Policy Specialist. He joined the team in October 2018. Before joining APPLiA, Eoin interned at the European Commission, working in DG DEVCO’s unit dedicated to private sector and trade in developing countries. Eoin studied International Languages and International Political Economy at University College Dublin, and after spending some time working in Spain and South Korea, completed an MSc in International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam. He wrote his thesis on manufacturing decline in developing countries, which he researched in the Philippines. Alongside English, Eoin speaks Spanish, German, Irish and French. When not learning languages he likes to swim, practise yoga and play music.
eoin.kelly@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Yannick Lenaerts,
Data Analytics Specialist
Yannick Lenaerts is APPLiA’s Data Analytics Specialist. He joined the team in February 2020. Yannick studied Political Science at the University of Leuven, Belgium, where he completed an MSc in Comparative and International Politics. He wrote his thesis on the influence of income inequality on individual trade policy preferences. Upon completing his master’s degree, Yannick interned at the De Standaard, working in the newsroom as a journalist and data analyst. Alongside English, Yannick speaks Dutch, French and some Serbian. When not programming or developing websites, he likes to ride his race bike and make good coffee.
yannick.lenaerts@applia-europe.eu
https://twitter.com/APPLiA_europe
Statistical Report – 2019-2020