Speaker update for the 16th EFDN Conference in Breda

Speaker update for the 16th EFDN Conference in Breda

The European Football for Development Network (EFDN) will host its 16th EFDN ‘Purpose and Sustainability’ Conference as a hybrid event from 8-10 November 2021 in the Rat Verlegh Stadium of NAC Breda, the Netherlands. So far, more than 150 representatives from 50 different football clubs, leagues, and national football associations of 17 European countries subscribed for the congress.

This conference is the perfect platform for organisations of all shapes and sizes to share ideas and develop new concepts. EFDN is excited to meet its members and partners again in person at the largest gathering of Community and Social Responsibility (CSR) experts in European professional football. Participants at the 16th EFDN Conference will discuss challenges occasioned by COVID-19 and share best practices on CSR strategies, fundraising, sustainability, women’s football, anti-discrimination, social inclusion, online safeguarding, physical activity and STEM education. It will be an excellent occasion for your organisation to join these experts and broaden your network on CSR in football.

This news article will give you an impression of some more of the knowledgeable and competent speakers in the fields of Forever Green, the Future of Football Panel, the Municipality of Breda, and Action for Climate Empowerment we have contacted to share their expertise with you:

Rafael Muela Pastor – Real Betis Balompie

Rafael Muela Pastor, General Manager at Real Betis Balompie Foundation is the next confirmed speaker at our 16th EFDN Conference in Breda on 9 & 10 November 2021. 

General Manager at Real Betis Balompie Foundation since 2018, with experience in policy design, institutional coordination and field interventions in Asia, Central America, Europe, and United Nations global events. Specialising in environmental issues, sports, youth employment, social inclusion of vulnerable groups of people, within the framework of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Rafael will be presenting Forever Green at COP26. He will focus on the experience of the Forever Green strategy as a central programme of Real Betis Balompie to fight climate change. He will also elaborate on why and how they started, what has been done so far and what they aim to achieve in the future.

Meinolf Sprink – Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Meinolf Sprink, Management Marketing/Communication at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, will be participating in our Future of Football Panel at our 16th EFDN Conference in Breda on 9 & 10 November 2021. 

Meinolf Sprink is a veteran (63) at Bayer 04 Leverkusen and also serves on the Board of EFDN. Right now he is part of the Board of Management at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He is playing a major role in our club in the dealing with supporters and also the CSR issues which will be topic of the panel discussion.

Meinolf will participate in the panel on the Future of Football and discuss it with other panelists such as Urs Kluser from UEFA Foundation for Children.

Dan Quaars – Municipality of Breda

Dan Quaars, the Alderman Housing and Building, Events and Sport at the Municipality of Breda will welcome participants at our 16th EFDN Conference in Breda on 9 & 10 November 2021. 

Daan Quaars is 42 years old and has been an alderman for more than three years in Breda, the ninth city in the Netherlands. He was born and raised in Breda, was a future councilor and currently responsible for sports, NAC Breda, events, digitization, housing and mobility. Daan Quaars is married, father of three children. His management style is pragmatic and approachable and he has a heart for his city and would like to make Breda a bit more beautiful. And together you can do more than alone. That is why he likes to jump on his bike to hear stories from the city and to connect people to create new things.

Dan will speak at the beginning of the 16th EFDN Conference in Breda to welcome all participants.

Séan McCabe – Bohemian FC

Séan McCabe, Climate Justice Officer at Bohemian FC is the next confirmed speaker at our 16th EFDN Conference in Breda on 9 & 10 November 2021. 

Seán works as Climate Justice Officer at Bohemian Football Club and his goals with the club are to bring people-centred climate action into football. He also serves as Executive Manager of the TASC Climate Justice Centre where he works at both the community level and the international level. Seán previously spent 6 years with the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice. During this time he engaged with the international negotiations leading to the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He published a report “The People’s Transition: Community-led Development for Climate Justice” in November 2020 which is now being implemented in several communities in Ireland, including Phibsborough, home of Bohemian F.C.

Séan McCabe will be presenting on the topic of Action for Climate Empowerment and elaborate on the process from the negotiation table at COP 26 to implementation by football clubs across Europe.

Get your ticket for the 16th EFDN Conference in Breda here.