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Executive Committee
PRESIDENT
Gerald Fischer
University studies in world trade. Lives in Vienna where he works in tourism and, since 2001, manages the family liquor and schnaps business. Married and father of a 24 year old son and a 16 year old girl with PH. Founding Member and President of the Austrian PH association.
1st VICE PRESIDENT
Pisana Ferrari
Political Science graduate. Has worked for EU institutions and consultancy firms and then in event management. Lives in Milan. Has a 22 year old daughter. Was diagnosed with PH in 1988, during pregnancy. Underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2002. Founding Member and President of AIPI, Italian PH patient association.
2nd VICE PRESIDENT
Mélanie Gallant-Dewawrin
Studied Law and legal management in Lille. 10 years teaching Law at the University and in a business school. Vice President of HTAP France 1998-2000, President 2000-2007, Managing Director since 2007. Married, one adopted daughter, Hannah, born 2006. Diagnosed with PH at the age of 6 in 1976. Double lung transplantation in 2009. Lives in Beaune, Bourgogne.
SECRETARY
Luisa Sciacca della Scala
University studies in Languages and Foreign Literature. Lives in Rome, is married and mother of three grown up children. President of AMIP Onlus, Italy’s non-profit PH Patients’ Association, since 2008. Founding member of the association in 2000. Has been involved in PH since 1998, when her close friend Maria Pia Proia was diagnosed with the illness and decided to found an association to facilitate other patients to overcome her same difficulties.
VICE SECRETARY
Gergely Meszaros
Graduated economist, tax advisor and lawyer. Most recently engaged by the Hungarian branch office of a global financial institution as Legal Counsel. Married, has a two year old daughter. Lives in Vác, near the capital of Hungary (Budapest). Gergely and his wife are volunteers for PHA Hungary. Gergely became involved in PH through friendship with Eszter Csabuda, founding member and President of the Hungarian association.
TREASURER
Luc Matthysen
Professional experience as Engineer in construction in Middle-East countries and Medical PVC with Solvay. Luc is married to Rosie Matthysen, a PH patient, and they have two married boys, Ben and Lionel. Luc and Rosie founded the French speaking PH association HTAP Belgique asbl (Wallonia, Brussels and German speaking part of Belgium) of which Luc is the current President. Young retiree (early retirement).
DEPUTY TREASURER
Hall Skaara
University degree in Computer Science from Ohio State University. Is also a certified project leader. Worked as a manager for more than 10 years for a large international computer company. Is now retired 50 % from his job in 2005 due to PH. Is married and has two boys, 24 and 19 years old. Founding member of the Norwegian PH Association.
AUDITOR I
Hendrik Ramaker
Had PH from birth but was diagnosed in 1998. Underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2001. Has a full time job, is married and has three children. Was President of the PH-VZW Belgium from 2001 till 2008. Is currently Vice President.
AUDITOR II
Juan Fuertes
Bachelor of Arts, worked for over 14 years in several countries with the International Committee of the Red Cross, specializing in humanitarian interventions related to armed conflict. Coordinator of the Spanish PHA (Asociación Nacional de Hipertensión Pulmonar) since January 2011.
