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The UPSTREAM Ambassadors play a vital role in bridging science, policy, and local action to protect and restore Europe’s rivers. Their mission is to raise awareness, promote innovation, and foster collaboration across sectors and borders — ensuring that the project’s goals reach local communities, regional stakeholders, and national decision-makers.
Rivers are lifelines — for nature, people, and economies. But they are under increasing pressure from pollution and waste. By empowering a network of Ambassadors, this project ensures that real change flows from science to society, helping move toward a cleaner, more resilient future.
Tina Štrukelj holds a Master of Science in Law and has over 15 years of experience in the energy sector. She has pursued additional education in sustainable business transformation and the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions at the level of emission reduction projects. Throughout her career, she has served as an Ambassador of the European Climate Pact and held the position of Secretary General of the Slovenian Association for Energy Economics. Tina is the co-founder and director of Infinite Pure Solutions, a company that helps businesses build competitive advantage through sustainability.
What made you support the vision of UPSTREAM?
I support UPSTREAM’s vision because it aligns with my mission of helping businesses create long-term value through sustainability. By seeking solutions that also care for the environment, we move beyond compliance toward real impact—building a future where business success, innovation, and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
Ignasi Mateo is an organic chemistry, working as Project Manager in MedWaves, a UNEP-MAP regional center based in Barcelona. Since 2017 he has worked in the design and coordination of different European projects tackling plastic pollution (ACT4LITTER, PLASTIC BUSTERS MPA, CapiMed Islands…) and currently in BlueMissionMed project, which aims to contribute to the Mission objectives at Mediterranean level. Rivers are the main pathways carrying plastic pollution to the sea. Prevention is a key point and UPSTREAM project is working to test and implement advanced solutions at source to address the serious issues of pollution from litter, plastics, and microplastics in 7 European rivers.
What made you support the vision of UPSTREAM?
Prevention and close the tap to plastic pollution at source it is key to reduce the entrance waste from land to sea. Solutions that Upstream project are testing and implementing are aligned with this vision and will help to achieve the Mission objectives at Mediterranean level.
Dr. Lara Dronjak is an environmental and analytical chemist with expertise in pollution monitoring and risk assessment of organic pollutants, heavy metals, and microplastics. As the UPSTREAM Ambassador and Postdoctoral Fellow at the American University of Sharjah, she supports science communication, outreach, and stakeholder engagement across the project. Her work combines advanced analytical techniques and environmental field studies to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about pollution challenges in marine and urban environments.
What made you support the vision of UPSTREAM?
I am passionate about advancing circular and bio-based solutions to tackle plastic pollution. As part of the UPSTREAM project, I’m committed to supporting innovative strategies for prevention, elimination, and monitoring of plastics in river systems—ensuring healthier ecosystems through interdisciplinary research and impactful environmental action.
Andreja Palatinus holds degrees in Environmental Sciences (University of Nova Gorica) and Business Law (MLC Ljubljana). With over 15 years of experience in marine litter, microplastics, and the circular economy, she bridges science, policy, and public engagement. She is the founder of Čista obala, Slovenia’s longest-running marine litter cleanup event, and leads creative initiatives like Microplastics for Breakfast. Andreja builds a vibrant community of micro- and nanoplastics researchers, industry, and public authorities across the Adriatic region. As part of UPSTREAM, she translates complex environmental challenges into action and storytelling, fostering collaboration for cleaner, more sustainable seas.
What made you support the vision of UPSTREAM?
I believe research should inspire real-world change—through business, policy, and community action. UPSTREAM embodies this vision by connecting science with society in creative and meaningful ways. It reflects my commitment to turning knowledge into impact and building partnerships for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Gordana Racić is a Senior Research Associate in the field of Biotechnical Sciences and holds a PhD in Biochemistry (University of Belgrade). She dedicated 15 years to university teaching and research, mentoring students at all levels, while fostering a scientific background in ecological agriculture and environmental protection. Her experience has equipped her with the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully manage and coordinate EU projects. At @Foodscale Hub she works as Scientific Project Manager, facilitating the enhancement of research profile of InPlasTwin project through strategic dissemination, communication, exploitation, and sustainability efforts, ensuring its visibility to stakeholders in the agrifood sector.
What made you support the vision of UPSTREAM?
I trust that impactful research and scientifically confirmed knowledge should affect the change across business, policy, and communities. The UPSTREAM acts on this principle by addressing circularity through prioritized monitoring, prevention, elimination, and valorization of plastic waste, sharing a vision of creatively connecting science with society for a cleaner, more sustainable future through scaling up the solutions based on experience from its demo sites.
Lect. Ezgi Sahin (MSc, 2014, METU Institute of Marine Sciences, Türkiye) serves as a specialist at METU IMS, specialising in project development, support quality assurance, and communication. Since 2017, she has actively contributed to Marine initiatives on the sustainable Blue Economy and Healthy Seas and Oceans, including Black Sea CONNECT, BRIDGE-BS, and BlueMissionMed projects. As Türkiye’s Focal Point for the UN Ocean Decade ECOP Programme and a member of the European Marine Board Communication Panel, she is committed to connecting science and society.
What made you support the vision of UPSTREAM?
I believe preventing pollution (inc. litter, plastics, and microplastics) at its source is essential for protecting our rivers, seas & oceans, and future. UPSTREAM’s visionary approach — combining innovation, science, and community action — aligns perfectly with my passion for bridging research and society to achieve a healthier, more sustainable blue planet.
Co-Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement no 101112877. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This work was also co-funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee grant numbers 10082527, 10066959, 10089056, 10087702, and 10066963.
