Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Board

The members of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Board are recognised experts in fields relevant to the various dimensions addressed by the RURACTIVE project. Together, they form a consultative body that provides strategic guidance and expert advice to support the implementation of the project's specific tasks.

For more information about each of the Board members, please click on the images below

Nikolaos (Nick) ThymakisCurator of Balkan Botanical Garden of Kroussia (member of BGCI)/HAO Demeter

Nikolaos (Nick) Thymakis

Curator of Balkan Botanical Garden of Kroussia (member of BGCI)/HAO Demeter

Biography
Nikolaos is the current Curator of two Botanical Gardens in Greece, members of BGCI and HBGN. He worked in three different Municipalities in the Attica Region between 2000 and 2020, in suburbs of Athens, as Landscape Supervisor and Consultant for Urban Green and EU Programs (LIFE, H2020, Erasmus) and used to be Expert Consultant of Kifissia Flower Show from 2004 to 2012. He also served at the Vocational Education Landscape School (Attica) and the Institute of Agricultural Science.

As Honorary President of the Hellenic Plant Exporters and Importers Association (HEPEXIA) he represents Greece in the European Nursery stock Association (ENA) and the International Association of Plant Producers (AIPH) since 2014. He participated as Landscape Designer (Conceptual) and PM in nine EXPOS of AIPH (B1/C1 Category) with the Hellenic Garden Project, promoting Hellenic Flora and Horticulture. He also worked in Qatar, Turkey, KSA, Cyprus, Holland, Bulgaria, France, S. Korea and Taiwan, promoting self-sustaining "Hellenic Garden" worldwide in terms of Cultural Ecology with his activities and as Landscape Expert, Historic Gardens and Parks Consultant and Palm Specialist. For this reason, he was awarded with “Honorary Distinction” from Panhellenic Association of Landscape Architects.

He has been the Greek member of the Scientific Committee of the European Routes of Historic Gardens and Parks (ERHG) (with the aim of preserving local varieties and historic trees) of the "European Cultural Routes" network since March 2025. His project “Hellenic Olympic Garden” (Nantes, France 2024) “adopted” from the Hellenic Olympic Committee to promote the message for Sustainability on Greece and worldwide.

My motivation to be part of the Board and how I hope to contribute to RURACTIVE
"My aim is to transfer my worldwide experience in organising the works and projects focused on conservation and management about plant species, organic gardening practices and sustainability methods. My vision is to promote landscaping and gardening/farm techniques in relation to biodiversity, climate adaptation, local flora, intangible cultural heritage, and the connection between rural and urban areas as transformation strategy from “just feel good” to “live wisely and engaged with plants and nature”."

Andrea Lorenzini Head of R&D and Policy Unit at MemEx Srl

Andrea Lorenzini

Head of R&D and Policy Unit at MemEx Srl

Biography Andrea Lorenzini is a Senior Transport Engineer at MemEx (Italy) since 2017 where he currently serves as Head of the R&D and Policy Unit. His areas of expertise include passenger and freight transport, transport accessibility, rural and shared mobility services, smart cities, maritime transport and urban logistics.

My motivation to be part of the Board and how I hope to contribute to RURACTIVE
"I am eager to contribute to the MSAB because I believe that rural areas are a vital part of Europe. My main motivation is the opportunity to explore, identify and implement the most effective and innovative transportation solutions and organisational frameworks to improve rural accessibility. Mobility is a cross-cutting enabler for developing comprehensive policies that support prosperous and resilient rural communities."

Lucía López Marco

soon to come