Past Community Award Shortlisted Nominees

2023 nominees


    Sebastiano Buscaglione

    Senior Network Architect, GÉANT

    About Sebastiano
    Sebastiano has made an impressive contribution in planning and designing the next evolution of the GÉANT pan-European network. His technical acumen and his ability to relay complex issues are paired with his ability to engage successfully with all stakeholders (GÉANT, NRENs, European Commission reporting, as well as a wide breadth of providers in the Telco and network technology marketplace). Sebastiano’s commitment to the GN4-3N project has been unwavering; he is always on top of what is a very wide scope of work to manage, in addition he always maintains a calm disposition, he’s respectful of all views and his subject matter expertise is always assuring.


    Ivana Golub

    Senior Researcher, PSNC

    About Ivana
    For many years already, Ivana has been driving the GÉANT Project Network Services team and helping shape the service portfolio in the most meaningful way. Thanks to her long and extensive experience in network operations and research, she’s always ensuring that the offering is user driven and generates the best value for the GÉANT project and its member organisations. And, most of all, she’s doing all this with great dedication, caring for everyone in her team and promoting diversity. This makes her an invaluable and very respected Work Package leader.


    Sabine Jaume

    Former International and Strategy Director, RENATER

    About Sabine
    For over 28 years, Sabine has been one of the most valuable members of both the European and international community. She had a key role in setting up the French NREN, RENATER, and advocated for GÉANT and European NREN collaboration as we know it now. Over the years, she has been a member of several Boards and Committees (GÉANT Board, GÉANT Community Committee, GÉANT Community Programme and the Programme Committee of TNC20 and TNC21. A strong advocate for NRENs around the world, she was not only involved in the BELLA and AfricaConnect projects, but she kick started and led many initiatives for NRENs in Africa. With her welcoming and supportive disposition, she always goes the extra mile to share her expertise, help newcomers, and support innovation in the community.


    Anastas Mishev

    Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, UKIM and GA representative for MARNET

    About Anastas
    Anastas is a great supporter of the GÉANT regional Southeast Europe (SEE) effort to bridge the digital divide and advocates selflessly for the wider R&E community needs. He combines his technical and scientific knowledge of more than 25 years academic experience with his political acumen to enable an equal and fair access to fundamental services.
    He has been pivotal in the profiling and delivering of the first SEE-USER FORUM in the region involving researchers from the region. Anastas has been a valuable contributor to the implementation of over 30 international projects targeting the development of IT infrastructures for R&E, such as Ni4OS and the GN project in all its iterations since GN3. Despite being a representative from a non EU member state, Anastas has managed to place his institution as member of the Boards of the EOSC Association and EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. Anastas deeply understand the implications of an effective team effort and he is able to deliver sensitive messages in inclusive manners while making himself always available to support all parties.


    Damian Niemir

    Head of Department of Cooperation and Contacts, PSNC

    About Damian
    Over the years, Damian’s longstanding contributions and dedicated work have made him a pillar of our community. He is an active and valued member of the Special Interest Group on Marketing and Communications. He is known in the global community for his abilities to bring events alive with realistic scenarios and interactive soundtracks. His dedication, creativity and vision for the planning and execution of unforgettable events around the world such as CLAW, TNC and many more every year, have had a deep impact on anyone who has ever attended them.
    Damian’s quiet presence and hard work behind the scenes of these events make him a stable, comforting, and indispensable figure of our community.

    2022 nominees


      Sebastiano Buscaglione

      Senior Network Architect, GÉANT

      About Sebastiano
      Sebastiano has made an impressive contribution in planning and designing the next evolution of the GÉANT pan-European network. His technical acumen and his ability to relay complex issues are paired with his ability to engage successfully with all stakeholders (GÉANT, NRENs, European Commission reporting, as well as a wide breadth of providers in the Telco and network technology marketplace). Sebastiano’s commitment to the GN4-3N project has been unwavering; he is always on top of what is a very wide scope of work to manage, in addition he always maintains a calm disposition, he’s respectful of all views and his subject matter expertise is always assuring.


      Tryfon Chiotis

      Head of Project Management Office, GÉANT
      Award Recipient

      About Tryfon
      When Tryfon joined the GÉANT Project Management Office it changed the tone of the GÉANT Projects. Activity Leaders felt supported by someone who really understood their topics. NRENs knew they were dealing with someone who knows both sides of the equation.
      He’s an assiduous, friendly, supportive Project Manager who is admired and appreciated by all those who know him. He has been the essence of the GN project for the last 10 years, and by extension the spirit of the GEANT community. Tryfon's integrity, hard work and quiet humility mean he is a real silent community hero.


      Paul Dekkers

      Wireless Services Specialist, SURF
      Award Recipient

      About Paul
      Paul started out as a technical person, operating large parts of the eduroam infrastructure. Over time, he put immense amount of dedication into the service, not only regarding operations, but also future development and international service governance.
      Lately, when the sad duty of finding a replacement for Miroslav Milinovic's slice of work for the eduroam service came up, Paul did not hesitate and stepped forward to become the eduroam Europe Service Owner.


      Ivana Golub

      Senior Researcher, PSNC

      About Ivana
      For many years already, Ivana has been driving the GÉANT Project Network Services team and helping shape the service portfolio in the most meaningful way. Thanks to her long and extensive experience in network operations and research, she’s always ensuring that the offering is user driven and generates the best value for the GÉANT project and its member organisations. And, most of all, she’s doing all this with great dedication, caring for everyone in her team and promoting diversity. This makes her an invaluable and very respected Work Package leader.


      Garvan McFeeley

      Brokerage Services Manager, HEAnet

      About Garvan
      Brokerage/group procurement had been a HEAnet service for some time before Garvan joined the organisation, but since then it has become one of HEAnet’s primary services and a core reason for new members to join the NREN. His enthusiasm for getting the best deal for education & research extends well beyond Ireland. He has been instrumental in delivering many IaaS providers into the GÉANT Project framework over the last few years. Garvan has worked behind the scenes bringing knowledge and skills at an international level enabling big scale tenders to happen all-over Europe for the first time. Such frameworks have received praise also from outside Europe.

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