Matúš Hríbik is a graduate from the Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Forestry. He completed his PhD degree in 2008 and works at the Department of Natural Environment at his Alma Mater. He deals with snow as a phenomenon and studies the impact of global warming on snow conditions. In addition to his research work he is also involved in teaching Climatology, Meteorology and Hydrology. For more than 150 days in a year you can find him in the mountains, often with his pair of skis. He was born in a small place called Telgárt in the Low Tatras and wishes to live there till the end of his days. Matúš loves diversity in all its forms and would like to preserve it. He is worried by the impacts of climate change and would like to do all he can in order to reduce its negative implications. His hobbies are ski alpinism, mountain climbing and trekking.

Zuzana Václavová studied ecology at the Technical University of Zvolen, the Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. As she is convinced that climate changes influence nature enormously she wants to do some a small thing which can help reduce the negative impacts. She has been interested in this problem for a long time. As a result, she has participated in the Challenge Europe project from the very beginning. Zuzana would like to share her experience with the new advocates as she thinks that as a team they can advance faster. In order to achieve some positive change and reduce carbon use she finds environmental education vital. She would like to initiate a pilot project that could be inspirational and followed by others. 

Jana Tudíková studied at the University of Matej Bel in Banská Bystrica to become a teacher of English and history. In her teaching she includes ecological topics both in lessons of English and history (e.g. talking about the Industrial Revolution). She does not does miss a chance to explain how these issues interlink. She has learned about this project while working on another one with the British Council. She finds it exciting. Jana is convinced that climate change is the most important issue of the world as we cannot move to other planet and our resources are quickly running out. She hopes to improve her knowledge of environmental issues, network with similar people and make her bit to stop the destruction of the environment we live in.

Miloslav Sarnovský studied design at the Technical University and runs his own design business. Studio Donalf run by Miloslav and his colleague has been involved in the Challenge Europe project as a supplier of some design works. With time they began to be interested in activities of this project and inspired by those they introduced some green changes into their daily life such as solar chargers, eco-friendly materials to name but a few. Studio Donalf has decided to become a partner of the British Council in the second year of this project and Miloslav has joined the Climate Advocate team in Slovakia. He wants to make his contribution to this project through the lenses of an artist.

Martin Sádovský graduated at the Economic University Bratislava in 2002.  At the Faculty of Political Economy he specialized in economic policies. He has changed several occupations and achieved many goals in both in business and personal life. He has been through various jobs from highly skilled physical work to work with a publishing company, banking, legal and accounting fields, or information technology. He currently works as a business consultant in the area of IT. His present ambitions are to be helpful to his country and the earth globally in the field of ecology and environment. He feels that becoming a climate advocate is a suitable means to start his new professional life. Martin would like to bring some professional and collaborative approach to the project and hopes that its outputs will be useful for the earth and the environment. Issues regarding the environment are ecology are the most actual in his life nowadays. He is determined to spend much energy step in this area.

Jana Pavlíková graduated from Ecology of Forest at the Forestry Faculty of the Technical University in Zvolen. Since the completion of her university studies she has been with a local NGO called Slatinka Association. Slatinka monitors the region with the aim to identify environmental problems and involves individuals from local community in making decision to solve them. At present Jana is an external PhD student at the Academy of Science - Institute of Forest Ecology – doing a research in the field of mycology and fytopathology. Protection of nature, local heritage and the environment is the purpose of her life. She is fascinated by the way all the systems in nature work and wishes to inspire others by showing them how valuable and important these are.

Laura Martonová is a graduate from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, Faculty of Natural Sciences, where she specialized on the environmental geology. She also holds the MSc degree from the Technical University in Vienna where she took a special programme called "New Energy - Renewable Energy in Central and Eastern Europe. She worked as a creator, manager and coordinator of projects focussed on waste separation, sustainable forest management and wood biomass use for energy production. Nowadays she is with a consulting and advisory company dealing with renewable energies and energy efficiency. She believes that the change must be initiated from the bottom and the municipal administration level is the one still low enough to keep in touch with individuals in the local community yet  high enough to be able to see real and tangible results and benefits of their work. To Challenge Europe she offers, apart of her enthusiasm, a specific "multidimensional" point of view to the topic - having experiences with the environmental volunteering actions, as well as the business point of view, the municipal strategic development point of view, and at last some experiences with project implementation.

Dáša Kočvárová is a fresh graduate from the Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. At the Department of Applied Ecology she specialized in landscape ecology and nature conservation. She works for ZIVICA (The Centre of Environmental and Ethical Education) on the Eco School project as a local consultant. Apart from this she also volunteers at the Institute of Applied Ecology (DAPHNE) and helps with programmes regarding environmental education. With the Friends of the Earth -CEPA she is involved in the project “Let the Sunshine in” which aims to create a global sustainable energy system. She deals with the topic of climate change and alternative energy sources as key attributes of global change on ecological, economic but also social levels. Her job is her hobby. One area she would like to see improved in Slovakia  is that the public should be more informed not only about the impact of climate change but also about practical ways how to reduce negative implications of climate change on local and global levels.

Eva Kotrus is a holder of an M.B.A. degree in General Management and a Bachelor’s degree from English speaking Seattle-based City University of Seattle. For 8 years she had worked for IBM in different professional settings. Today she works as an independent HR consultant. She believes that in order to make a difference to the world, we need to be able to see the “big picture” of our own day-to-day activities. She likes to understand how her actions affect others, the environment and the future. Among many things she would like to see changed is a long-term government support for the use of alternative energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines for business and private use. She thinks that carbon use could be reduced by offering incentives on the purchase of hybrid cars today, and making progress in introducing electro cars in the near future. She would like to make a contribution to increasing awareness in Slovakia, both in private and public sectors.

Zuzana Koprnová is a student of European Studies and International Relations in Bratislava. She believes that people have the power to help to save the Planet. She is a devoted support er of Sustainable Development. She is mostly interested in European issues, international relations, and social sciences, inclusive of environmental issues. Zuzana loves adventure and travelling, everything is a challenge for her. She spent a few weeks doing a research project in Kazakhstan. Listening to the music and running is the best relax for her. She loves to work with young people, to know other countries, their cultures, and to meet new people. Challenge Europe is a great opportunity for her to improve some skills and move things forward. She does not hunger to be famous or remembered she just wants to live her life to the full without any regrets.

Martina Kolesárová holds a diploma in History and English language & literature. Having finished her university studies in Slovakia she got accepted to Central European University in Budapest where she graduated in Political Science in 2006.
At present Martina is a Project Manager at the Slovak Renewable Energy Agency (non-profit). Working for this Agency, she has been captivated by the issue of climate change not just because it is trendy but because it is a comprehensive problem, affecting wide range of policies. She considers Challenge Europe a unique opportunity to share her experience but, first of all, be inspired by the experience of other people who have similar partiality for green issues. According to her, simple solutions are always the best. It is definitely energy efficiency and right after this, new intelligent technologies that make use of the ubiquitous energy sources such as sun, wind or water. Her source of inspiration is travelling in different countries, reading about their histories and meeting their people. She likes to be active and her ideal day is when she manages to teach English in the morning, be busy at work, learn Arabic in the evening and after that play golf or dance tango argentino with her husband.  

Branislav Haukvitz completed his university studies in Bratislava in1999. At University of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Informatics (FHI), he specialized in insurance mathematics and statistics. Since then he has worked in a commercial sphere. He is currently also involved in the Cultural Navigator programme of the British Council where he has successfully passed all training modules. During studies, simulations and discussion, he has realized that while there are many people willing to help and support each other, there are not too many, willing to take care of the Planet Earth. He is convinced that through a close relation with the Earth we can subsequently cure the relationships between people. He would like to see soon all cars running on LPG or with Electro motors and no shopping plastic bags. His mantra is awakening of public concern about the environment. He finds Challenge Europe a significant opportunity to join a community of people who are able to do this.