Sessions
The three thematic panels, two peer dialogues and doctoral session
of the GESS Workshop 2026
Panel 01 – Strategic Decision-Making for Natural Resource Governance and Territorial Sustainability
This panel examines how strategic decisions shape natural resource governance and contribute to territorial sustainability, bringing together comparative experiences from different institutional contexts.
Speakers:
– Josefa Mula (Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain)
– Laura Alcaide Muñoz (Universidad de Granada, Spain)
– Laia Pagès (Hub Carnet Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain)
Moderator:
– Emili Tortosa-Ausina (Universitat Jaume I, Spain)
Panel 02 – Collaborative Governance and Multi-Stakeholder Agreements for a Sustainable Transition
This panel explores the mechanisms of collaborative governance and the role of multi-stakeholder agreements in driving sustainable territorial transitions.
Speakers:
– Sebastián Aparicio (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain)
– Frederic Marimon (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain)
– Francisco Sáez Martínez (Universidad de Castilla-La Macha, Spain)
Moderator:
– Muthu De Silva (Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom)
Panel 03 – Knowledge, Trust, and Commitment: The Key Role of Universities in Transformative Alliances
This panel addresses the central role of universities as knowledge actors in building trust-based alliances that drive territorial transformation.
Speakers:
– Pablo D’Este (CSIC – Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain)
– Ricardo Fini (University of Bologna, Italy)
– Federica Rossi (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy)
Moderator:
– Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain)
Peer Dialogue 1 – Why Do We Need Strategic Governance for Sustainability?
Bringing two leading experts into a moderated exchange, this opening peer dialogue considers how institutions can navigate uncertainty, complexity, and long-term societal change
Speakers:
– Christina Theodoraki (IAE Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management, France)
– Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar (Universidad de Granada, Spain)
Peer Dialogue 2 – Strategic Alliances for a Sustainable Transition
Bringing two leading experts into a moderated exchange, this peer dialogue explores how cross-sector partnerships can build trust, mobilise capabilities, and turn shared ambitions into collective action.
Speakers:
– Fumi Kitagawa (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
– James A. Cunningham (Newcastle University Business School, United Kingdom)
Doctoral session and early career researchers
A dedicated space for doctoral candidates and early-stage researchers to present their work and receive feedback from senior researchers.
October 2nd · 14:30 – 16:00