Meet the Committee
We operate a Steering Committee and an Executive Committee.
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The committee members are elected by vote every 3 years.
Place your mouse over each picture to learn more about us.
Steering Committee
(also part of the Executive Committee)
SEBASTIAN KUTZNER
CHAIRMAN
Currently responsible for regulatory compliance and sustainability at Folat, Sebastian has a wide experience within the party and balloon industry, more particularly in product safety, quality assurance and quality control, as well
as vendor and factory compliance
and sustainability.
With his background of a degree
in International Retail Management, Sebastian has an overall understanding
of the requirements along global
supply chains within the
consumer goods industry.
Meeting and exceeding federal, state, municipal, market and customer requirements are his main ambitions.
GLORIA VETA
VICE CHAIRMAN
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Born Canadian, Gloria relocated with her family to Italy to discover a century old tradition of balloon manufacturing in
the very town that would soon
become her new home.
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She joined GEMAR in 1997, as sales manager, and progressively managed different posts before becoming the Chief Commercial Officer of the company.
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Gloria’s deep passion for balloons and the industry is an influential driving force that has made her an active member and strong promoter of the European
Balloon & Party Council.
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Gloria is one of the co-founders of the EBPC and has held various positions
within the Executive Committee.
DOMINIK CZERMAK
TREASURER
An Engineer by trade, Dominik specialises in technology for process engineering focused on technical chemistry and control.
His area of expertise is in developing rubber-compounds and methods for production in the rubber-textile-paper-industry and producing medical equipment.
His experience of this trade started as a student at the Technical University in Graz, going on to be a leading engineer in various international organisations.
Dominik now leads the technical department of the family-run business Gummiwerk Czermak & Feger and was appointed Managing Director in 2011.
Dominik joined the European Balloon & Party Council Committee in 2013.
Executive Committee
BART VAN NUFFEL
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
As a lawyer by training and banker by trade, Bart has always loved entrepreneurship.
After 10 years of professional practice, this father of four set out to make
his dream a reality and started a
search for a buy-in opportunity.
When Belbal’s founder was looking
to hand over the baton to young entrepreneurs, the stars aligned
and Bart acquired the business
in 2015 along with his partners.
He currently serves as CEO of Belbal and joined the Executive Committee of the European Balloon & Party Council in January 2017.
GERARDO ALARCON
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A family man, father of four children, financial by trade.
Gerardo started as a banker, and after 10 years he joined an important Mexican Corporate as CFO
for 12 years.
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In 2017, Gerardo is invited to serve as CEO of Latex Occidental Exportadora.
He joined the European Balloon & Party Council Executive Committee
in 2018.
JOHN HEATH
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
John is a senior Sustainability Director at Corrie MacColl.
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Profile will be updated shortly.
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JULIE DOMMETT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Following her degree in Chemistry and Human Biology, Julie obtained an MBA and pursued a career in Marketing.
Julie has held marketing management roles within the office equipment, electrical goods, cycling and
garden equipment industries,
before joining Pioneer Europe
as Head of Marketing
in 2017.
Passionate about promoting "the joy of balloons", Julie joined the European Balloon & Party Council Executive Committee in Spring 2021.
RALUCA RUNCIANU
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
With an MSc. in International Business and background in logistics, Raluca pivoted to work within Product Safety following a growing interest in this area.
She thoroughly enjoyed working as a Quality Manager for a large German department store retailer before moving on to lead the Product Integrity team at Amscan Europe.
As a seasoned professional, she is now responsible for the integrity of thousands of party products across the EU.
Jokingly called by their colleagues “the Party Crashers”, Raluca and her team are always there to make sure that you can party without worries.
EBPC Secretariat
SUTEESH CHUMBER
DIRECTOR GENERAL
Suteesh has extensive operational and small business experience and has been involved in various strategy realisation projects.
With a passion for intricate detail and ensuring projects are realised with a well structured approach, he also holds a BSc. (Hon's) in Chemistry, NEBOSH and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Following graduation, he practiced as
a chemical and process engineer for several years.
As a well rounded and globally experienced professional with a focus on strategy and delivery management, Suteesh became responsible for the European Balloon & Party Council's growth
and new projects on behalf of the Steering Committee.
LAUREN WESTLEY
TECHNICAL POLICY OFFICER
Lauren has held various positions within SME’s in B2B and technical industries. Her roles have centred around research, analysing, reporting and communication.
With a keen interest in problem solving, she enjoys putting structures and processes in place to optimise performance and ensure efficient and timely access to information.
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Lauren is passionate about sustainability and ethical business practices, and is currently studying part-time for her degree in business to support and further develop her knowledge.
KIRREN KLAIR
DIGITAL MARKETING OFFICER
Kirren has developed a deeper understanding of social media management, sensitive dialogue and attention to detail when managing digital marketing and graphic design work.
Her career spans an extensive background in customer facing environments at a retail management level. She is passionate about positive outcomes and enjoys developing teams to deliver objectives, whilst welcoming new challenges and learning.
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Kirren graduated with a BA Honours in Graphic Communications and enjoys working on creative challenges with a smile! In her spare time, she enjoys music and is an avid animal lover.