From September 2023 to December 2024, I served as Key Expert for videography and photography within the Communication Facility of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), part of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
This framework contract was implemented by Stantec, where I collaborated with the fantastic project manager Anca Andreescu, who oversaw project coordination with the FPI Communication team. Alongside me was the second Key Expert, Gilles Gasser, a journalist, film director, and communication expert. Gilles and I worked side by side on most missions, ensuring that audiovisual and written storytelling complemented each other seamlessly.

Over the full contract period (11.09.2023 – 08.12.2024), I delivered:

• 45 short videos tailored for social media and institutional channels
• 850+ photographs covering high-level events, panel discussions, and field missions
• Multiple edits and tailored versions to fit diverse audiences and usage needs
• Instant-coverage at selected events, with photo and video content delivered on-site for immediate communication impact

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Among them, several stand out:

• Paris Peace Forum 2023 & 2024 – Capturing EU participation at one of the most visible global peace events. Here, I also provided instant-coverage, with photos and videos edited and shared the same day. One of my photos received more than 8,000 views which was posted during the event at lunch.
  • Instant-Video: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1856011527968419916/video/1
  • Instant-Photo: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1855941516423741556/photo/1
• Basel Peace Forum – Documenting dialogue on international peacebuilding and innovation: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1750604500002336826/video/1
• Mission to Senegal – On-the-ground coverage of border security, gold mining, and women’s empowerment projects, showing the EU’s engagement with local resilience initiatives. Wrap up: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1925127727276851380/video/1
• Community of Practice on Peace Mediation (CoP) – Producing event videos that highlighted collaboration between mediators and policymakers. I also created instant videos from the CoP sessions, which achieved significant online reach: 
  • Instant-Video: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1848763832082010405/video/1
  • Event Wrap Up: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1873640674840523019/video/1

Working as a Key Expert on the FPI Communication Facility has been an invaluable experience. Beyond the technical challenge of delivering 45 videos and hundreds of photos across multiple missions, I gained deeper insight into how EU foreign policy is practiced on the ground. From documenting resilience initiatives in Senegal to covering global dialogue platforms like the Paris and Basel Peace Forums, I learned what it means to stabilise regions in crisis and how much effort and commitment the EU invests in peacebuilding.
This project also taught me how to manage the scale and complexity of a multi-annual framework contract — balancing instant communication needs with long-term storytelling.
The experience continues to shape my work today, leading me to contribute more actively in the field of peacebuilding communication. Follow-up projects such as collaborations with the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) and the Instant-Coverage of the EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Forum in 2025 are a direct continuation of this journey.

Special thanks again to Anca, Gilles and Solvita for the fantastic project and great collaboration. 

I'm excited to share a snippet from my recent lens adventure at the Paris Peace Forum, where I had the privilege of working with Stantec by documenting the European Commission's Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI).

1. During the Paris Peace Forum I captured the event by providing live reporting videos for FPI to share while the event was still happening.
2. From the filmed materials we created the four videos below to wrap up the event as well as presenting three projects.
   
3. At the same time I took and delivered 100 pictures.

During our mission in Paris we focused on three projects which are supported by FPI. It was incredible to see over 60 initatives from all over the world being presented at the Paris Peace Forum

What added a special touch were the encounters with inspiring leaders like Jacinda Ardern and Oleksandra Matviichuk.

Meeting Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, was a highlight. Her leadership style, seamlessly balancing the demands of public service and personal life, left a lasting impression. It's not every day you come across a leader so grounded and inspiring.

Engaging in conversation with Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2022, was an enlightening experience. During our interview conducted by Gilles Gasser we delved into the pivotal role of women in conflicts, shedding light on perspectives that often go unnoticed. ​

This weekend we are collaborating with a local team of videomakers and photographers to cover the second mission and participation of the EU as a Guest of Honor at the Guadalajara International Book Fair. More infos coming soon.

On September 13th, I had the privilege of collaborating with ICF Next and the European Commission to cover the State of the European Union Speech (SOTEU) by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. This year, the spotlight was on instant media production to support a group of young influencers with photography and video content.

In an era where news and trends evolve at the speed of light, we recognized the imperative to switch from traditional after movies to embrace live reporting. Traditional after movies, while valuable in their own right and useful in many ways, often lag behind the pace of current events. For an occasion as significant as SOTEU, where time is of the essence, real-time content production is the new standard.