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The Vanguard Initiative has recently welcomed Farha Brahmi as the new Vanguard Initiative Network Manager. She previously worked for nine years for Invest NI, Northern Ireland’s regional economic development agency. Prior to this, she worked for the ERRIN network. As a result, she has substantial experience and knowledge in different regional policy areas, with a focus on research and innovation.

Farha comes from the southern part of the Lyon greater region in France.  Having left Lyon to study languages and European studies in Berlin, London, and Paris, she ended up in Brussels when starting her career and knew it was the right place to stay.

As the new Vanguard Initiative Network manager, she coordinates the activities within the network, and a big part of her role will be to clarify how regions can work together for the initiative to be successful.  

“My role is like acting as a bank, I have to take knowledge from all actors and participants within the Vanguard initiative for it to be conducted, maintained and used well.”

 “The Vanguard Initiative has done this successfully for five years now, and I can learn and grasp know-how from the participating regions to keep up the good work” she continues.

Farha is enjoying her new working environment at the Central Sweden EU Office in Brussels and, being based in Swedish regional office, hopes to add Swedish to her wide range of language skills.

“I feel very lucky to have this position. It’s a great network, and the Brussels representatives are extremely motivated. It is a pleasure to learn from, and with them. It can be all too easy lose touch with reality when you work in the EU-bubble, but not with the Vanguard Initiative, because of its place-based approach.”