Advisory Board

CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD & PROJECTS ADVISOR

• The Chair of the Advisory Board is responsible for leading the Advisory Board in its actions and efforts to support the Board of the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) in achieving EFG’s mission. The Board Projects Advisor is responsible for leading efforts to secure funding from external sources that promote the mission of EFG.

Dr. Pavlos Tyrologou has built a versatile international career of over 20 years, combining expertise in geology, environmental geotechnical engineering, project management, and expert witness roles. His work spans diverse sectors, including public infrastructure, natural hazards, and environmental management, with significant project contributions worldwide.

He holds a PhD in Environmental Geotechnical Engineering from Imperial College London, complemented by an MSc and BSc in Engineering Geology. His technical expertise includes groundwater, contaminated land, and underground hydrogen storage, while his broader skill set covers business development, strategic planning, governance, and project management methodologies. Since 2017, Dr. Tyrologou has contributed extensively to the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CE.R.T.H), where he has taken leadership roles in EU-funded projects.

Beyond his institutional role, he has shown strong leadership and vision through his 15-year engagement with EFG. For six years, he was a member of the EFG Board as the External Relations Officer. In addition, he has served as the Coordinator of the EFG Panel of Experts on Climate Change and Natural Hazards and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the European Geologist Journal.

GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

• The Board Global Ambassador is responsible for overseeing the GeoAmbassador Programme for EFG, acting as the primary point of contact for organisations and/or individuals from outside Europe seeking information or a relationship with EFG, coordinating activities and advising the EFG institutions (Board, Council, Panels of  Experts, Working Groups, Secretariat, Advisory Board) as pertains to global communications and education, and promoting EFG and geology as a profession, globally.  

Maureen is an ecologist and public affairs expert who began working with EFG in February 2023. As a Professor of Practice with the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Missouri and three decades of working as a scientist in the policy arena, she focuses on executing the EFG mission on a global scale.

Maureen’s focus is promoting Science for Policy and breaking down barriers to evidence-based policymaking by building cross-sector relationships and building organisational capacity that expands collective public affairs/relations in Earth sciences, climate adaptation, and energy transition. Geologists play a vital role in understanding Earth’s past, managing society’s present, and securing humanity’s future, but they can’t do it alone.

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

• The Board Financial Advisor provides advice on financial matters to the Board and Secretariat. 

Mónica is a dynamic, proactive and perseverant person, with over ten years of experience in the field of finance and economics. She has expertise in the analysis of financial statements and reporting. Mónica is a Chartered Controller Analyst (CCA Certificate ®) and holds a Master’s Degree in Management Control.

STUDENT & EARLY CAREER ADVISOR

• The Board Early Career Advisor contributes to promoting the geosciences as a viable and rewarding career path among students and early-career individuals. 

Dr. Susanna Occhipinti is a distinguished geologist and Earth science educator with over four decades of experience. She earned her degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Milan in 1981 and completed her PhD in Earth Science Education at the University of Camerino, focusing on innovative teaching methodologies.

As a licensed geologist since 1984, she has maintained an active professional practice in Valle d’Aosta while serving as an educator from 1985, including as Head Teacher at ISIT Manzetti Aosta (2013-2022). She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Camerino for Geological Sciences and Mineralogy. She received the prestigious 2024 Academy of Lincei Prize Emma Castelnuovo for Science Education and serves as a member of the IUGS Commission on Geoscience Education.

Dr. Occhipinti is the National Head of Italy’s Earth Science Olympiad and successfully organised the international IESO2022 competition in Aosta. Her research focuses on innovative pedagogical approaches in Earth science education and environmental risk awareness. She has authored over 30 scientific publications and serves on editorial boards of international journals, including GeologicaMente and Springer Nature’s SN Social Sciences.

ETHICS ADVISOR

• The Board Ethics Advisor is responsible for addressing all concerns of an ethical nature and promote ethical conduct within the profession.  

Yuliya Zhuk is a geoscientist and geo- and environmental consultant with a strong commitment to ethical practice in the geosciences. She holds a degree in bedrock geology from Uppsala University (Sweden) and currently works at an engineering consultancy, where she contributes to geo- and environmental assessments, as well as policy and regulatory evaluations in infrastructure projects commissioned by Swedish public authorities.

Her experience spans both research and applied consulting, with a particular focus on the societal and environmental impacts of geoscientific work. Fluent in Ukrainian, Swedish, and English, Yuliya brings a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspective to ethical considerations in geoscience.

Her professional interests include critical raw materials, the application of AI in geoscience, and the role of green technologies in the energy transition.