UNIEP Board
President: Maurice Karotsch (FR)
First Vice-President: Neil Ogilvie (UK)
Second Vice-President: Igor Pipan (SI)
Board Members: Ines Jeschke (DE), Sylvain Fornes (FR), Domenica Fortunato (LU), Andreas Denner (AT)
Members of the Board without vote:
Expert For Uniep- New Generation Sylvia Sussitz (AT)
Expert for EU-Projects Helmut Schulz (AT)
Coordinator For The Central Europe Associations Tamas Rettich (HU)
Treasurer: Dirk Van Kerkhove (BE)
Auditor: Pierre Koehl (FR)
Maurice Karotsch
President
Head of a craft building business since 1984. Maurice Karotsch holds a master's degree in painting, and in 1984, he took over the family business, founded in 1870, for the 5th generation. The Karotsch company, which he runs with the support of his two daughters, is located at 45 rue de Strasbourg in Benfeld, Bas-Rhin. Émeline will become joint managing director in June 2021.
Neil Ogilvie
First Vice-President
In 2010, Mr. Ogilvie became the Acting Chief Executive of the Painting and Decorating Association, and was confirmed in the role in September 2011. His role includes: PDA representative of the National Specialist Contractors' Council, UK representative of UNIEP, member of inter-professional networking with other Trade Associations / Federations and with Manufacturers and Suppliers PDA has almost 50 Associate Members.
Igor Pipan
Second Vice-President
Mr. Igor Pipan has more than 29 years praxis of management and organization in transport and service sector. Now he is over 19 years employed as a Sections Secretary in the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia. Last 6 years he has also been a Secretary for Painting and Decorating Section.
Dirk Van Kerkhove
Treasurer
Dirk Van Kerckhove has almost 40 years experience in the Building sector. He is since 2006 technical advisor and since 2016 director of Embuild Connect which is taking care of the Belgian Painting Association. He has been project-leader in a painting company for several years and collaborated in many Erasmus and Erasmus+ projects.
Sylvain Fornès
Board Member
Painter since 1980, he started his own enterprise in 1990 and had around 60 employees of which 12 young women. He trained 22 apprentices who all obtained their degree (level 3 and 4). Member of CAPEB since the creation of his company, he is now President of the National Section for Painters Contractors. Sylvain Fornès has been for several years and still is Member of the Examination Committee, works with the National Education and CCCA BTP for the renewal of the diplomas, participates to the update of standards.
Ines Jeschke
Board Member
Domenica Fortunato
Board Member
Andreas Denner
Board Member
Helmut Schulz
Expert for EU-Projects
Mr. Schulz has a 50-year experience with painting trade organisations, holding several positions from Secretary to President in the Austrian Painting Association. He has gained extensive political experience through a number of institutions, including the Local Council and Associations.
Sylvia Sussitz
Expert for UNIEP- New Generation
I have been working in the painting trade for 31 years. It started in 1993 with an apprenticeship as a painter. During my training, I also participated in the apprentice competition, where I achieved second place. Further years in the painting sector followed, during which I acquired my current knowledge and took a lot with me from the entire construction sector. During the 7 years in the construction sector, I was responsible for the warranty and was also involved in the search for the cause of damage. This led me to take my master craftsman's exam in 2018. I have been running my own company since 2021, and since last year, I have also been active in the Carinthian Association of Painters, Wallpaper Hanger and Sign Painters. Choosing the New Generation is a joyful challenge that I will continue with the best of my knowledge and ideas.
Tamas Rettich
Coordinator for the Central Europe Associations