We gratefully acknowledge all Past Presidents for their invaluable contributions and commitment to advancing architecture in Europe.

Discover the ACE Past Presidents her.

Istelianna Atanassova has a Masters degree in Architecture from the State University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sofia, Bulgaria. She has realised architecture and urban planning projects in Bulgaria, Germany, Italy and Libya among others and has extensive experience in developing and carrying out business plans, project design and expertise, sustainable practices and innovations. 

She served as UIA Region II Vice-President for the 2021-2023 term. During the last UIA term, Ms. Atanassova was a Region II Council Member, Chair of the International Women in Architecture Committee and Member of the ICC Commission.

She is actively engaged with the international Forums for young architects in addition to being a member of the Board of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria and Honorary member of the Georgian Union of Architects.

Eugen Pănescu is an architect and urban planner, co-founder of Planwerk studio (Cluj, Romania). He contributed to the rebirth of public space and the transformation of the planning professional practice in Romania. He guided the Urban Design Studio at the Cluj Architecture Faculty on brownfields transformation.

As a fomer Executive Board member of the Architects Council of Europe and coordinator of the Baukultur thematic area, he followed the European Urban Agenda and the partnerships for culture in the European Heritage Alliance, for the wise re-use and cautious retrofitting of buildings and urban areas. He promotes the holistic approach on heritage through social and economic equity, linking innovative public governance in planning with civic action.

Architect and environmental policy expert, Dr Judit Kimpian is a versatile campaigner for UK and EU policy reform for an equitable net zero built environment. During 20 years in architectural practice, including a decade as Head, then Director of Sustainable Architecture and Research at AHR, she was responsible for the realisation of major international design projects and prominent cross-sector research into net zero architecture and building performance. Her work has informed the development of CIBSE and RIBA technical guidance and culminated in the book Energy|People|Buildings – Making Sustainable Architecture Work (RIBA Publishing 2021).

Judit works as an expert on the EU’s Net Zero Carbon Pilot Cities programme, is a member of the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard Governance Board, chairs the Architects’ Council of Europe’s (ACE) Sustainable Architecture Group, and teaches net zero design and policy at UCL. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and participates in design juries and Citizens Climate Assemblies.

Reto is a committed Swiss architect who runs his own practice in Basel. The size of the office is limited by the demand for quality they try to reach. It has its focus on healthcare design, but is also active in the field of public buildings and housing design, transformations and cultural heritage.

Reto has experience as a participant and/or jury member in Architectural Design Competitions, as a participant and/or jury member. and experience in promoting high quality of architecture in competitions.

Since 2024, he is Member of ACE Executive Board Member and member of the ACE Think Thank.

Carl Bäckstrand is an architect and deputy CEO of White Arkitekter. White is most recognised for visionary examples of sustainable architecture facing the challenges with Climate change, rapid urbanisation and social injustices, such as True Blue in Bergen, Norway and the 100-year Masterplan for the relocation of the City of Kiruna in Sweden’s Arctic north.

Carl is since many years focusing on urban issues with a MA in Architecture at Lund University followed by studies in Landscape architecture at Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen and then Urban Design as a Visiting Scholar at MIT Cambridge MA. Carl’s engagement reaches from masterplans and housing developments to university schemes and cultural center in Sweden, Denmark, UK, Canada and East Africa.

As a Board member of ARQ foundation and Co-Chair of van Alen Council NYC Carl contributes to bringing the business closer to science and building new strategic partnerships and as a speaker at internationally conferences such as Greenbuild and at universities such as Stuttgart School of Architecture.

Diego Zoppi, architect (honours graduate in 1987 -Faculty of Architecture of Genoa). He deals with Planning, Urban Design, Urban regeneration, Restoration and architecture. He signed City frameworks, the project for the National Rowing Center, selected for the 2006 Venice Architecture Biennale, squares, waterfronts and landscape of public spaces sited in Italy, in the Middle East, in the Far East. 

Co-founder of AR&P Architecture with other colleagues, he successfully participates in various Design competitions (Redevelopment of the Genoa-Voltri urban waterfront coming from industrial area – realized, new parking and connection to the Historic city of the Republic of San Marino, numerous New towns around Shanghai (China), restoration of the citadel of Nanjing (China), new Tourist Center in the historic city of Jiu Ji Jiao (China) and projects as Swimming Stadium in Hanoi and Waterfront of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Redevelopment of the center District in Ryadh (Saudi Arabia), Innovation Center Solar Park (Dubai).  Various projects have been published on specialized Magazines (Casabella, Domus …).

He was member of the Board (since 2015 President) in the Provincial Council of Architects of Genoa. Since 2016 he is member of the Italian National Council of Architects, Landscapers, Planners, Conservatories where he coordinates the Department for Urban Planning Research & Development. Since November 2019, he is member of ACE Executive Board and coordinator of the ACE Area 2 ‘Practice of the Profession’.

Elected to the Regional Council of the Order of Architects of Nord-Pas de Calais (France) between from 2013 to 2017, she served as General Secretary.

During her term, she was particularly committed to supporting young, registered architects, fostering a welcoming and educational environment within the institution.She actively participated in several Commissions and Working Groups, driven by a strong and dynamic commitment to advancing our profession. Notably, she contributed to the “Vie Professionnelle” Commission, which focuses on the diversity of our field and the role of women in architecture. Drawing on my professional experience,she also joined the “Design and Build” working group, helping to draft a charter of best practices for these types of contracts. In addition, Elisabeth played a key role in conciliation proceedings.

Elected to the National Council of the Order of Architects from 2017 to 2024, she was particularly engaged in issues of gender equality, legal matters, and the day-to-day functioning of the institution. Actively engaged in international collaboration with the International Union of architects and the Architects Council of Europe, she had the chance to represent the CNOA in work groups dealing with access to the profession, and practice of the profession. At the request of Pavel Martinek, she joined the ACE working group on artificial intelligence a few months ago. After discussions with Borys Czarakcziew, she decided to join the new working group created by Diego Zoppi, based on the former AMADA group, which deals with economic issues related to our profession.

CURRICULUM VITAE:

• French-British dual citizenship

• Architect

• TGMP Architects & Associates Agency

• 128 National Street – 59000 Lille – FRANCE

• Architectuelles Vice President

• 2013-2017: General Secretary of the Order of Architects of the North (France)

• 2017-2024: Member of the National Council of the Order of Architects (France)

• Since 2024: active member of UIA and ACE, Head of CNOA Delegation

In 2004 Architekt Daniel Fügenschuh ZT GmbH- www.fuegenschuh.at has been established in Innsbruck where is operating from since. Originally in 2000 the architect’s studio has been founded in London. In 1996 a first house has been realized right after graduating setting the foundation for all following steps.

Since 2010 he has actively been involved in the work of the architects’ professional representation after chairing an architecture center in Innsbruck for 4 years.

He further improved his practical experience in political strategies and lobbying for architectural policies on EU level during the infringement procedure against the Austrian national professional law. The Austrian Chamber and himself as President of the Architects’ Section of BKZT were very involved in the negotiation process following the judgement in 2019.

Since 2022 he is Member of the ACE Executive Board and actively involved in the ACE Think Thank and the EU-funded project ARCH-E.