"Collaborative Pathways to Integrity": learn more about the 2025 European Whistleblowing Conference (Brussels)

This 1-day conference is organised by the European Whistleblowing Institute (EWI), together with the Network of European Integrity and Whistleblowing Authorities (NEIWA), Transparency International (TI), Transparency International Greece, the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN), EDHEC Business School, Georg-August-University Göttingen, the University of Gallway, the DFG-Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and a European Union financing.

It is anchored by the BRIGHT project, which aims to catalyze progressive change in European whistleblowing through research, capacity building, advocacy, and policy dialogue.

• To register (compulsory): follow this link
• To browse the dedicated page on EWI: click here
• To learn more about the BRIGHT project: follow this link
• EDHEC's professor in charge of the BRIGHT project and speaker at this event: Wim Vandekerckhove

Scheduled from 8.45 am on 4 April 2025 at the Residence Palace in Brussels, Belgium, this event brings together high-level officials from the European Union, member state authorities, civil society actors, academics, and integrity officers dedicated to advancing whistleblowing practices across Europe. 

Objectives

The 2025 European Whistleblowing Conference aims at:

- Understanding Current Landscape: explore the current state of whistleblowing in Europe.

- Empowering Stakeholders: gain valuable tools and research-backed strategies to enhance whistleblowing practices.

- Building Bridges Through Dialogue: foster a unique, collaborative dialogue among national authorities, civil society, policy-makers, legal experts, trade unions, media, and whistleblowers to strengthen integrity across Europe.

- Showcasing Innovations: dynamic sessions showcasing successful case studies and an innovative integrity tool to build a culture of transparency and accountability

Detailed programme

08.45 - 09.00 | Welcome

Dr. Vigjilenca Abazi, Co-founder & Executive Director, European Whistleblowing Institute

09.00 - 09.30 | Keynote

TBC

09:30 - 11.00 | The State of Whistleblowing in the European Union

Ms. Zuzana Dlugošová | President, Whistleblower Protection Office, Slovakia & Vice-Chair NEIWA

Ms. Anna Myers | Director, Whistleblowing International Network

Ms Georgia Georgiadou | Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission

Ms Anna-Kristiina Mikkonen | MP, Finland and Rapporteur, Council of Europe

Moderated by Dr. Dimitrios Kafteranis | Co-Founder & Research Director, EWI

11:00 - 11:30 | Break

11:30 - 13:00 | Challenges in Whistleblowing Practice

Pr. Kate Kenny | Professor of Business and Society, University of Galway

Ms. Marie Terracol | Whistleblower Protection Lead, Transparency International

Mr Joan Llinares Gómez | former Director, Agency Anti-Fraud and Corruption Valencia, Spain

Mr Benedek Jávor | Head of Representation of Budapest to the EU, former Member of the European Parliament

Moderated by Mr. Bruno Galizzi | Co-founder & Policy Director, EWI

13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch Break

14:00 - 15:30 | Enforcing Whistleblower Protection

Mr. Kristian Leko | Attorney and Partner, R&L Law Firm

Ms. Christel Mercadé Piqueras | European Commission

Ms. Laura Valli | Board member, National Anticorruption Authority, Italy & Chair NEIWA

Moderated by Dr. Lauren Kierans | Co-founder & Education Director, EWI

15:30 - 17.00 | Enhancing Whistleblowing Competencies

Pr. Wim Vandekerckhove | Professor of Business Ethics, EDHEC Business School

Ms. Samantha Feinstein | Attorney and Director, Government Accountability Project

Ms. Monika Kalinauskienė | Office of the Prosecutor General, Lithuania & Board Member NEIWA

Mr. Angelos Kaskanis | TI Greece

Moderated by Dr. Simon Gerdemann | Head of Chair, University of Gothenburg & EWI Fellow 

17:00 - 18:00 | Ceremony Lewis Thesis Award & Closing Reception