Univ. Prof. Dr. Cornelia Lass- Flörl
FAAM, FESCMID, FECMM, FIDSA
Director of the Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology (HMM) at the Medical University of Innsbruck and Head of the ECMM (European Confederation of Medical Mycology) Diamond Excellence Centre Innsbruck
Since graduating from the Medical Faculty of Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck, Professor Lass-Flörl has specialised in the field of medical microbiology.
Professor Lass-Flörl is the author of numerous journal articles, abstracts and book chapters. In 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024, she was included in Clarivate Analytics’ list of the world’s most cited researchers. Her teaching and clinical work focuses on the diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases. Her research activities focus on the diagnosis of fungal infections in severely immunocompromised patients, with a particular interest in the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fungal infections.
She heads the Institute for HMM, which is the Austrian reference centre for Aspergillus and Aspergillus infections and an ECMM Diamond Excellence Centre. The research area of HMM covers three areas: bacteriology & hospital hygiene, immunology and mycology.
Professor emeritus A Min Tjoa
Emeritus full professor at the Department of Computer Science at TU Wien
A Min Tjoa received his PhD in computer science from Johannes Kepler University Linz. He has been a professor of software technology at TU Wien since 1994.
His research focuses on data science, business intelligence, cyber security and environmental informatics.
From 2008 to 2023, he represented the Republic of Austria at the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), which he chaired from 2018 to 2019.
He is currently Executive Chairperson of the COMET Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity (SBA- Secure Business Austria), a member of the board of the Austrian Computer Society (OCG), Vice-President of Infoterm (International Information Centre for Terminology) and a member of the board for sustainability at the ASEAN-European Academic University Network.
For his work, he has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the Czech Technical University in Prague, an honorary professorship from the University of Hue in Vietnam, and the Cross of Honour for Science and Research, 1st class.
He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles.
Sare Balli, BSc BSc
Medical student | Biomedical analyst | Administrator for private universities in the Department of Education Policy at the Austrian National Union of Students
Sare Balli is studying human medicine at Karl Landsteiner Private University. She previously completed her studies in biomedical analysis at Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences and works part-time as a biomedical analyst in a neurological practice, where she primarily performs EEG diagnostics.
In addition to her medical career, she is involved in education policy at the federal level in the Austrian Student Union. This commitment provides her with an important balance to her studies, opens up new perspectives and enables her to actively shape the higher education system.
As a jury member, she wants to support projects and personalities that impress with their commitment, scientific quality and social relevance.
Dr. Kasia Greco, MIEM CSE
Non-executive councillor for the City of Vienna | Entrepreneur | Female leadership coach
Kasia Greco is a non-executive councillor for the OeVP in Austria´s capital (Vienna People’s Party) and an entrepreneur with many years of experience in healthcare, business and politics. As former Vice-President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, she was particularly committed to raising the profile and strengthening the position of female entrepreneurs and small businesses.
With her passion for people and leadership, she accompanies women on their path to greater strength, presence and clarity as a female leadership coach. In her role as a jury member, she is particularly keen to highlight inspiring personalities who combine courage, attitude and excellence – in line with her motto: „Quiet. Strong. Visible.”
Cindy Ruiter
McKinsey&Start-up founder
Cindy is an experienced strategy consultant and former Project Manager at McKinsey & Company, with expertise in Energy & Sustainability. She now runs her own consulting practice, advising start-ups and scale-ups on go-to-market strategy and commercial growth. Previously, she co-founded a plant-based cheese start-up whose recipes were transferred to a dairy player. She also coaches early-career professionals on personal and professional development.
What excites her most in her role as a member of the jury is being close to new, innovative ideas and working with ambitious founders. “I love helping young companies sharpen their strategy and find the right path to grow, and I’m motivated by the chance to help impactful ideas reach a wider audience”, she says.
As a jury member, she aims to contribute by bringing a practical, founder-focused perspective, combined with an understanding of what investors look for. She wants to help spot the concepts with real potential and give the most promising teams a meaningful boost as they take their next steps.
Péter Kovács
Networksmith
Péter Kovács is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor based in Budapest, Hungary. He is the co-founder of the Global Startup Awards, the world’s largest independent
startup ecosystem competition, which spans over 150 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia. He also co-founded IseeQ, an international tech recruitment agency, and has successfully exited from three companies he previously started. In addition, Péter Kovács is an active angel investor in several startups. As a hands-on advisor and consultant, he helps businesses break into new markets, develop innovative products, and navigate entrepreneurial ecosystems to enhance their visibility and achieve success.
Mag.a Christine Standfest
ImPulsTanz
Christine Standfest lives and works in Vienna. She studied German literature, linguistics and education at the Free University of Berlin and gender and cultural studies at the University of Lancashire. Since 2013, she has been dramaturge and curator of ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival. Prior to that, she worked for many years as a performer and dramaturge in the independent scene in Berlin, Vienna and internationally, primarily with theatercombinat/Claudia Bosse (Nestroy Award 2009). She has held various teaching and jury positions and has published numerous publications. She is an external lecturer at the Institute for Theatre, Film and Media Studies at the University of Vienna.
Christian Kircher
Managing Director Bundestheater Holding
Christian Kircher, who studied business administration, says that in addition to numbers, his passion lies primarily in cultural matters. Since the age of six, he has had ‘an open dual relationship with money and art’. Kircher has clearly put his dual talents in culture and business to good use in his professional career. After starting his career in 1990 as a marketing manager and auctioneer at the Dorotheum, he moved to Unilever and then to the market research institute A. C. Nielsen Company. From 1997 to 2004, he worked for the personal care company Gillette, and eventually as a member of the extended management team for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Via Wittmann Möbelwerkstätten, his path led him to the Vienna Museum in 2005, where he served as commercial director and finance director. Kircher has been managing director of Bundestheater Holding since 2016.
Karola Kraus
Art historian
Karola Kraus studied art history, literature, and classical archaeology. After early international curatorial activities—including for the 1997 Venice Biennale—she headed the Kunstverein Braunschweig from 1999 and subsequently the Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden. From 2010 to 2025, she was the first director general of the mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien. In 2022, she curated the Austrian Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale. She has taught at universities in Freiburg and Karlsruhe, served on numerous juries, and is vice president of the Roswitha Haftmann Foundation. For her services, she received the viennaARTaward (2017) and, in 2025, the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class.