Uppsala, May 20, 2026 – The Council of European BioRegions (CEBR) is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Board leadership for the 2026-2027 mandate, following the elections held during the CEBR Annual Meeting in Sweden, hosted by STUNS Life Science and Stockholm Science City.
The new Board leadership for the 2026-2027 mandate is composed of:
- Hickmah Tagaully, Director, Europe & International at Medicen Paris Region, appointed as President of the Board. Hickmah has been a member of the CEBR Board since 2023 and served as Vice President since 2024.
- Kristina Eskenazi, Chairwoman of the Managing Board at Health and Life Sciences Cluster Bulgaria, appointed as Vice President of the Board. Kristina has served as a CEBR Board Member since 2025.
This new mandate marks an important milestone for CEBR as the association continues to strengthen collaboration among Europe’s regional health and life science ecosystems and reinforces the role of clusters in shaping Europe’s innovation future.
“It is a privilege to take on the presidency of CEBR at a moment when Europe is making decisive choices about its innovation future. Europe’s Life Sciences Strategy, the Biotech Act and the European Competitiveness Fund reflect a strong ambition to build the future through innovation ecosystems, with clusters playing a central role. My ambition is for CEBR to continue growing as a dynamic and collaborative network where regional ecosystems can work together at scale, strengthen their collective voice and contribute to shaping Europe’s innovation priorities”, – Hickmah Tagaully, newly appointed President of the Board.
CEBR also welcomes Petra Kinzlova, CEO at Prague.bio, as a new member of the Board.
CEBR Board Members 2026–2027
- President: Hickmah Tagaully (Director, Europe & International, Medicen Paris)
- Vice President: Kristina Eskenazi (Chairwoman of the Managing Board, Health and Life Sciences Cluster Bulgaria)
- Board Member & Treasurer: Kazimierz Murzyn (Managing Director, Klaster LifeScience Krakow)
- Board Member: Margot Jehle (Project Manager, BioRegio STERN)
- Board Member: Alexis Biton (International Affairs Coordinator, Genopole)
- Board Member: Karen Lindegaard (International Programme Manager, DLS Cluster)
- Board Member: Pablo Zardoya-Laguardia (Business Developer, Human.technology Styria)
- Board Member: Ria Hein (Programme Manager, Brabant Development Agency)
- Board Member: Petra Kinzlova (CEO, Prague.bio)
Change in Board Presidency and Acknowledgements
During the Annual Meeting, CEBR marked the conclusion of Montse Daban’s mandate as President of the Board after six years of leadership and dedication to strengthening collaboration across European life science ecosystems. On behalf of the entire community, CEBR sincerely thanks Montse Daban for her vision, commitment and continuous support, which have been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the network.
CEBR also extends its gratitude to Sauro Vicini, who has stepped down from the Board, for his commitment and valuable contribution over the years.
Closing Statement
As CEBR enters this new chapter, the association reaffirms its commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration, supporting regional innovation ecosystems and contributing to a stronger and more competitive European health and life sciences sector.



