On the occasion of EU Diversity Month 2025, the AEC is happy to announce the appointment of five dedicated professionals who will form the brand new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Panel of Experts for the 2025-2028 term. Their experience and dedication to DEI will play a key role in shaping AEC’s strategic direction over the coming years.

Two of the panel members, Monica Vejgaard and Xiangning Lin, are continuing their involvement in AEC’s DEI efforts, having previously served in the Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality (DIGE) Working Group under the ARTEMIS project (2022-2025). They are joined by three new members from within the AEC network, Enric Aragonès, Jennie Henley and Martha Lomeli, who will bring fresh perspectives from member and partner institutions.

The panel will be coordinated by Alfonso Guerra, AEC’s Membership and Finance Manager. Alfonso has been actively involved in DEI-related work since 2019, having coordinated both the DIGE Working Group and its predecessor under the AEC-SMS project (2017-2021). He also coordinates the IncluMusic project, co-funded by the European Union, which will be closely connected to a new AEC Working Group on Special Educational Needs (SEN), to be launched later this year.

Responsibilities of the DEI Panel

Monica, Xiangning, Enric, Jennie, Martha and Alfonso will work together to support and advance DEI within AEC and across the wider Higher Music Education community. In addition to organising DEI workshops at AEC member institutions, using the model created and tested by the DIGE Working Group during the 2022-2024 period, they will collaborate closely with other AEC Working Groups to address structural imbalances, with a particular focus on gender equality, ethnicity, socio-economic background and other interconnected dimensions.

Launch of the DEI Allies Network

Given the high quality of applications received, AEC has also established the DEI Allies Network. This new initiative offers a more flexible way for individuals to contribute to AEC’s DEI work, particularly those who were not selected for the formal panel.

The network includes familiar faces from previous DEI-focused groups under the ARTEMIS project, former workshop participants eager to stay engaged, and representatives from AEC Associate members based outside Europe who will help extend the reach and impact of AEC’s DEI work globally.

Among other initiatives, DEI Allies based in Europe will take the lead in facilitating safe and creative spaces at AEC events. Launched in 2023, the feedback gathered during these sessions is being instrumental in helping AEC develop proactive strategies to drive positive change within Higher Music Education institutions. A summary report of previous sessions can be found here.

Complete list of DEI Panel of Experts

  • Monica Vejgaard: Master student at the National Academy of Music in Denmark (Denmark) / President of the European Performing Arts Students’ Association (EPASA)
  • Xiangning Lin: PhD student at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, History Department, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
  • Enric Aragonès Jové: Professor at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, Department of Education and Artistic Mediation (Spain)
  • Dr. Jennie Henley: Director of Programmes, Professor in Music Education at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester (UK)
  • Dr. Martha Lomeli-Rodriguez: Lecturer in Psychology at the Liverpool John Moores University (UK) / Play It Loud! Project Leader (JM International)
  • Alfonso Guerra: Membership and Finance Manager at the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) in Brussels (Belgium)

Acting as DEI Allies:

  • Steven Faber: Program Coordinator Master of Music, Research Supervisor at the ArtEZ University of the Arts (The Netherlands)
  • Dr. Karine Hahn: Head of the Pedagogy Department at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon (France)
  • Tuan Hao Tan: Teacher, Music Theory and Critical Reflection, Global Engagement Coordinator at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (Denmark)
  • Nicolas Gonzalez: Assistant Vice President for Strategic Innovation and Special Initiatives at the Manhattan School of Music (USA)
  • Xavier Tan: Teaching Assistant at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
  • Iro Menegou: Piano Professor, Advanced Theory Professor, Coordinator for International Relations at the Municipal Conservatory of Pylaia-Chortiatis (Greece)

What’s coming next?

Two key initiatives are already underway. First, the DEI Panel is preparing for its first workshop, which will take place on Friday, 27th June at the Municipal Conservatory of Pylaia-Chortiatis in Panorama, Thessaloniki. This session, held within the framework of the Music Diaries International Workshop Festival 2025, will mark the first in-person meeting of the new Panel and provide an opportunity to plan the sessions ahead..

Second, the DEI Panel, in collaboration with the DEI Allies, is developing an internal document aimed at guiding AEC’s DEI-related policies and practices. This includes recommendations on inclusive recruitment and selection criteria, clear procedures and measurable targets for integrating DEI priorities in the project management, and strategies to ensure diverse and equitable representation across AEC’s working structures.

Looking ahead, a call for institutions to host future DEI workshops will be launched in September. All AEC Active and Associate member institutions will be invited to apply to host these interactive sessions at their home institutions. An example of how these workshops look in practice can be found here.

A special thank you

AEC would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Katja Thomson, from the Sibelius Academy, Uniarts Helsinki, who served as Chair of the previous DIGE Working Group and has been actively involved in DEI-driven initiatives within the AEC for seven years overall.

Katja’s passion, leadership and collaborative spirit have been central to the group’s success over the past years. Her ability to bring people together, lead with care, and push forward meaningful outcomes has made a lasting impact on the sector. Many of the achievements and tools now forming the foundation of AEC’s DEI work were made possible thanks to her dedication. We are deeply grateful for her contribution and for the difference she has made within the AEC community and beyond.