Secretariat
Meet the CoARA Secretariat
The CoARA Secretariat is hosted by the European Science Foundation (ESF) and coordinates the CoARA Boost Horizon Europe project, which enhances capacity-building for CoARA members, who are essential in shaping the Coalition’s direction and advancing reform efforts.
CoARA Program Manager
Dr. Erzsébet Tóth-Czifra
Since May 2023, Erzsébet has been the Programme Manager of CoARA. She is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Coalition and coordinates the CoARA Boost Horizon project. Erzsébet has a solid background in open science and research assessment in the Arts and Humanities disciplines.
Before joining CoARA, she was the first Open Science Officer for DARIAH-EU where she promoted and implemented policies and practices related to the open dissemination of research results. Her outreach activities included providing policy papers, reports, workshops and webinars. She was involved in European infrastructure-building, in particular for EOSC-related projects such as OpenAire Advance, SSHOC and TRIPLE as well as for projects with policy focus such as OPERAS-P and PALOMERA.
Erzsébet obtained her PhD in Cognitive Linguistics at the Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest. In recent years, her professional interests and publication activities have been shifting towards the study of data sharing, publication and evaluation practices, such as FAIR data in the Humanities, quality assessment of innovative scholarship in the Social Sciences and Humanities and evaluation and peer review challenges around Virtual Research Environments.
CoARA Communications Officer
Katrina Gibbs
Since September 2024, Katrina joined as the Communications Officer for CoARA. She is responsible raising internal stakeholder awareness and implementing effective communications materials to facilitate greater connectivity within the Coalition. She has also spearheaded the design and operations of the CoARA Collection, working closely with the Steering Board on the implementation of the Endorsement Framework.
Before joining CoARA, Katrina gained extensive experience working with international media organisations, managing multi-platform campaigns in both the public and private sectors. Her previous experience includes working as a communications specialist at CNN International and the Secretariat on the Convention for Biological Diversity. She has also taken on roles as a journalist, graphic designer, and social research analyst focused on qualitative analysis.
Katrina holds a MSc in Media and Communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from McGill University.
Please get in touch with Katrina for any website update requests or feedback, as well as newsletter input, social media promotion, and media or speaker requests.
CoARA Boost Project Officer
Damini Pantaleon
Damini has been a part of the CoARA Secretariat since January 2025, managing the CoARA Boost project and working closely with key CoARA communities, including Working Groups and Cascade Funding beneificiaries. Her role focuses on implementing Boost activities, while ensuring the sustainability and long-term alignment with CoARA's overall objectives.
Before joining CoARA, Damini worked in the space industry where she was central in drafting responses to calls for proposals and overseeing bid management, as well as project management and technical monitoring. Within the space sector, she also has experience with institutional relations, fostering collaboration between various stakeholders. In addition to her experience in the space sector, Damini also contributed to a think tank where she conducted research and managed research activities.
Damini holds a Master's degree in International Law from Université Paris Cité and a MSc in Space Studies from the International Space University.
CoARA Administrator
Fanny Silva
In November 2025, Fanny joined as the Administrator for the CoARA Secretariat (maternity cover for Leonora Cerri Saint). Managing a wide range of transversal tasks, Fanny manages internal stakeholder relations, working closely with the CoARA Steering Board, and she is central to the daily operations of the coalition. Fanny manages membership applications, Action Plan submissions, and financial and technical requests to support the overall operations of the coalition.
Before joining the CoARA Secretariat, Fanny worked with non-profit organisations where she gained experience working within multi-disciplinary teams. Fanny holds a master’s degree in Human Rights Law from the University of Strasbourg. She also studied journalism at ESJ Paris.