Our People

The IVAA consists of a secretariat, based in Brussels, and a board of directors.

Photographs, titles, and further information on IVAA staff and board members are available below. Click on a photograph to go directly to the relevant biography.

IVAA’s statutes are available here, in English [pdf] and German [pdf].

IVAA Secretariat

Elisa Baldini

Secretary General

Brussels,Belgium


Elisa Baldini joined IVAA in June 2018. She is a specialist in EU Advocacy, who holds a Masters in International Relations and an Executive Masters in EU Project Management. She has previously worked for the Christian Blind Mission, Plan International and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, in roles focusing on the health and education sectors as well as on the EU budget. From 2011 to 2014, Elisa was a member of the European Network Action for Global Health.

Lora Ivanova

Communications Adviser

Brussels,Belgium


Lora Ivanova joined IVAA in mid-2019. Lora holds a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Vienna and a MSc degree in Communications Science and Journalism from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Lora has extensive experience in the coordination and management of communications projects. Her independent consultancy activities include clients from the civil society and private sector across Europe. Notably, Lora has been working as a Communications expert in the anthroposophic field for the past four years through the European Alliance of Initiatives for Applied Anthroposophy (ELIANT).

Janka Szoke

Advocacy Officer

Brussels,,Belgium


Janka Szoke works as Advocacy Officer at IVAA, and joined the IVAA Secretariat in February 2019 as part-time Advocacy Assistant. She is a human behavior analyst (BA) with training in social sciences (MSc), who holds the European Certificate in the Anthropology of Social Dynamics and Development. Previously she worked as an international research fellow in Indonesia with the Social Development and Welfare Department at the Universitas Gadjah Mada and was an assistant for Testido/Bodytime, a non-profit organization in Hungary.

Isabelle Salameh

Beirut,Lebanon


Isabelle Salameh joined IVAA in 2023. Isabelle holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health and Development Sciences from the University of Balamand and a Master's in Public Health, with a Health Management and Policies concentration, from the American University of Beirut. She has extensive experience in communications, policy, and research, thanks to her previous work in several National, Regional, and International Non-Governmental Organizations, from the Middle East and North Africa Regions; in these organisations she managed the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the communication strategies.

Elisa Baldini

Secretary General

Brussels,Belgium


Elisa Baldini joined IVAA in June 2018. She is a specialist in EU Advocacy, who holds a Masters in International Relations and an Executive Masters in EU Project Management. She has previously worked for the Christian Blind Mission, Plan International and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, in roles focusing on the health and education sectors as well as on the EU budget. From 2011 to 2014, Elisa was a member of the European Network Action for Global Health.

Lora Ivanova

Communications Adviser

Brussels,Belgium


Lora Ivanova joined IVAA in mid-2019. Lora holds a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Vienna and a MSc degree in Communications Science and Journalism from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Lora has extensive experience in the coordination and management of communications projects. Her independent consultancy activities include clients from the civil society and private sector across Europe. Notably, Lora has been working as a Communications expert in the anthroposophic field for the past four years through the European Alliance of Initiatives for Applied Anthroposophy (ELIANT).

Janka Szoke

Advocacy Officer

Brussels,,Belgium


Janka Szoke works as Advocacy Officer at IVAA, and joined the IVAA Secretariat in February 2019 as part-time Advocacy Assistant. She is a human behavior analyst (BA) with training in social sciences (MSc), who holds the European Certificate in the Anthropology of Social Dynamics and Development. Previously she worked as an international research fellow in Indonesia with the Social Development and Welfare Department at the Universitas Gadjah Mada and was an assistant for Testido/Bodytime, a non-profit organization in Hungary.

Isabelle Salameh

Beirut,Lebanon


Isabelle Salameh joined IVAA in 2023. Isabelle holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health and Development Sciences from the University of Balamand and a Master's in Public Health, with a Health Management and Policies concentration, from the American University of Beirut. She has extensive experience in communications, policy, and research, thanks to her previous work in several National, Regional, and International Non-Governmental Organizations, from the Middle East and North Africa Regions; in these organisations she managed the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the communication strategies.

Nieves Patiño

Brussels,Belgium


Nieves Patiño Martín joined IVAA as a Junior Advocacy Officer at the beginning of 2023.  She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration of UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia) in Madrid, Spain. Thereafter, she completed her Master of Sciences in Conflict and Development at Gent Universiteit, Belgium. Formerly, she worked as a Project Officer in Gent Fair Trade, a joint initiative of the city of Gent and Oxfam Belgium.  

Nieves Patiño

Brussels,Belgium


Nieves Patiño Martín joined IVAA as a Junior Advocacy Officer at the beginning of 2023.  She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration of UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia) in Madrid, Spain. Thereafter, she completed her Master of Sciences in Conflict and Development at Gent Universiteit, Belgium. Formerly, she worked as a Project Officer in Gent Fair Trade, a joint initiative of the city of Gent and Oxfam Belgium.  

IVAA Board

Thomas Breitkreuz

President

Bad Liebenzell,Germany


Thomas Breitkreuz is specialised in internal medicine and palliative care with clinical expertise in oncology, gastroenterology, cardiovascular disease, general internal medicine, and Anthroposophic Medicine. He is Medical Director of the Paracelsus Hospital in Bad Liebenzell, Germany and Chairman of the Commission C for Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (AMPs) at the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Dr. Breitkreuz serves on the Board of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine in Germany (GAÄD) and as coordinator / speaker of the Competence network on Integrative Medicine (KIM) in southwest Germany. 

Iracema Benevides

Vice President

Belo Horizonte,Brazil


Iracema Benevides is a specialist in general surgery, nutrition, family health, anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy and holds a Masters in International Health Care Management Economics and Politics. She has worked as a general practitioner in private practice in Belo Horizonte, Brazil since 2013. Previously she served with the Brazilian Minister of Health as a consultant, technical assistant and project coordinator. She has also been a lecturer at the Faculdade da Saúde e Ecologia Humana Medical School and the Medical School of Pontifícia Universidade Católica, both in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Iracema has also collaborated with WHO, PAHO and UNICEF.

Tido von Schoen-Angerer

Vice President

Geneva,Switzerland


Tido von Schoen-Angerer is a physician specialized in paediatrics, who also holds a Masters of Public Health in Health Systems Management. Tido spent 14 years with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in a variety of positions and countries, and was the Executive director of the MSF Access Campaign to increase medicines availability in developing countries. He has also served in several advisory groups for the World Health Organization and as a board member of UNITAID. He currently has a anthroposophic paediatric practice in Geneva and is a researcher with the ARCIM Institute at the Filderklinik (Germany) and the Department of Paediatrics of Fribourg Hospital (Switzerland).

Henrik Szőke

Treasurer, Board Member

Pécs,Hungary


Henrik Szőke MD PhD is anthroposophic pediatrician since 2002. Focus of his practice and research is integrative medicine, infectious diseases and fever-management. He is co-founder and leader of the Anthroposophic Medical Education (AntroMedicArt) since 2008, and the National Umbrella Organisation of Integrative Medicine Hungary (MIMSZ). Is the current acting head of the Department of Integrative Medicine and referent of the Doctorate School at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Hungary since 2017.

Thomas Breitkreuz

President

Bad Liebenzell,Germany


Thomas Breitkreuz is specialised in internal medicine and palliative care with clinical expertise in oncology, gastroenterology, cardiovascular disease, general internal medicine, and Anthroposophic Medicine. He is Medical Director of the Paracelsus Hospital in Bad Liebenzell, Germany and Chairman of the Commission C for Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (AMPs) at the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Dr. Breitkreuz serves on the Board of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine in Germany (GAÄD) and as coordinator / speaker of the Competence network on Integrative Medicine (KIM) in southwest Germany. 

Iracema Benevides

Vice President

Belo Horizonte,Brazil


Iracema Benevides is a specialist in general surgery, nutrition, family health, anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy and holds a Masters in International Health Care Management Economics and Politics. She has worked as a general practitioner in private practice in Belo Horizonte, Brazil since 2013. Previously she served with the Brazilian Minister of Health as a consultant, technical assistant and project coordinator. She has also been a lecturer at the Faculdade da Saúde e Ecologia Humana Medical School and the Medical School of Pontifícia Universidade Católica, both in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Iracema has also collaborated with WHO, PAHO and UNICEF.

Tido von Schoen-Angerer

Vice President

Geneva,Switzerland


Tido von Schoen-Angerer is a physician specialized in paediatrics, who also holds a Masters of Public Health in Health Systems Management. Tido spent 14 years with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in a variety of positions and countries, and was the Executive director of the MSF Access Campaign to increase medicines availability in developing countries. He has also served in several advisory groups for the World Health Organization and as a board member of UNITAID. He currently has a anthroposophic paediatric practice in Geneva and is a researcher with the ARCIM Institute at the Filderklinik (Germany) and the Department of Paediatrics of Fribourg Hospital (Switzerland).

Henrik Szőke

Treasurer, Board Member

Pécs,Hungary


Henrik Szőke MD PhD is anthroposophic pediatrician since 2002. Focus of his practice and research is integrative medicine, infectious diseases and fever-management. He is co-founder and leader of the Anthroposophic Medical Education (AntroMedicArt) since 2008, and the National Umbrella Organisation of Integrative Medicine Hungary (MIMSZ). Is the current acting head of the Department of Integrative Medicine and referent of the Doctorate School at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Hungary since 2017.

Adam Blanning

Board Member

Colorado,USA


Adam Blanning specializes in anthroposophic family medicine in Denver, Colorado, USA, and is co-leader of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum. He received an English literature degree, then medical training (MD), and a family medicine residency at the University of Colorado. He taught family medicine at New York Medical College and at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. While he sees patients of all ages and for various conditions, children’s development has always been a core interest. For more than 20 years he has worked collaboratively with Waldorf schools, particularly around methods for observing and better understanding children’s behaviors and needs. He teaches nationally and internationally, co-directs the physician training programs for anthroposophic medicine in the U.S. and Canada, and is a past president of the Anthroposophic Health Association (AHA). Dr. Blanning is the author of Understanding Deeper Developmental Needs and Raising Sound Sleepers.

Stefano Milani

Board Member

Piacenza, Italy


Stefano Milani is a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a PhD in Human Morphology. He is a member of the dentist commission of FNOMCEO (Italian Federation of Medical Doctor and Dentist) in Piacenza, Italy, the EU delegate of SIMA (Italian Society of Anthroposophic Medicine) and a member of the General Anthroposophical Society. He also worked as a lecturer in the field of endodontics. He has worked as a dentist in his private practice in Piacenza since 2016. 

Jelena Rabijac

Board Member

Vršac,Serbia


Jelena Rabijac is a General Practitioner and a certified anthroposophical physician. She is a licensed First Aid instructor with experience in working with the Red Cross of Vršac, in her native Serbia.  Jelena has worked in a psychiatric hospital and in general practice in Vršac and as a GP works with socially and economically vulnerable children. 

Adam Blanning

Board Member

Colorado,USA


Adam Blanning specializes in anthroposophic family medicine in Denver, Colorado, USA, and is co-leader of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum. He received an English literature degree, then medical training (MD), and a family medicine residency at the University of Colorado. He taught family medicine at New York Medical College and at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. While he sees patients of all ages and for various conditions, children’s development has always been a core interest. For more than 20 years he has worked collaboratively with Waldorf schools, particularly around methods for observing and better understanding children’s behaviors and needs. He teaches nationally and internationally, co-directs the physician training programs for anthroposophic medicine in the U.S. and Canada, and is a past president of the Anthroposophic Health Association (AHA). Dr. Blanning is the author of Understanding Deeper Developmental Needs and Raising Sound Sleepers.

Stefano Milani

Board Member

Piacenza, Italy


Stefano Milani is a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a PhD in Human Morphology. He is a member of the dentist commission of FNOMCEO (Italian Federation of Medical Doctor and Dentist) in Piacenza, Italy, the EU delegate of SIMA (Italian Society of Anthroposophic Medicine) and a member of the General Anthroposophical Society. He also worked as a lecturer in the field of endodontics. He has worked as a dentist in his private practice in Piacenza since 2016. 

Jelena Rabijac

Board Member

Vršac,Serbia


Jelena Rabijac is a General Practitioner and a certified anthroposophical physician. She is a licensed First Aid instructor with experience in working with the Red Cross of Vršac, in her native Serbia.  Jelena has worked in a psychiatric hospital and in general practice in Vršac and as a GP works with socially and economically vulnerable children.