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Executive Council
About Jon
Jon was born some 63 years ago, became sick with Colitis Ulcerosa in 1983, and has been an ostomate since 1995. He became chairman of ISILCO in 2007 after being on the board for three years. He joined the EOA-EC in 2011 in Lviv and became president of EOA in 2017 at the conference in Copenhagen. Jon is passionate about the wellbeing of ostomates in the EOA area (and worldwide) and has been trying to find more funding to be able to increase the work of EOA. Jon has worked in the accounting business for the most of his adult life.
On the personal side he has since early years been interested in sports and outdoor activities. Football, fishing and shooting have been his hobbies through the years and also walking in nature and for the last 18 years or so bicycling has taken up more and more of the spare time. In the last few years Jon and his family have been putting a bit of their time into planting trees in an old farmland that they own with friends. One of his more secret hobbies for the last few years has been making beer in his garage with a few friends.
About Isabella
Although the basic profession in the legal field occupies a large part of her time, Isabella strengthened the voice of patients with stoma and IBD in Romania in the relationship with the authorities and expanded her volunteering activity at a European level, either in European projects that she implemented or in advocacy and lobbying actions held in European Commission events.
In April 2022, she was re-elected to the EOA Executive Council and she would like to contribute to reducing inequalities regarding the care of ostomy patients in European and African countries and to increasing access to sufficient medical devices for all ostomy patients. She loves nature, hiking in the mountains, travelling and animals, and in her free time likes to read.
About Caroline
Caroline has had an ileostomy since 2009 due to Ulcerative Colitis. A PR & Marketing consultant by trade, she turned to sport after her surgery, competing in endurance cycle events and triathlons, up to full Ironman triathlon distances. She is a staunch advocate for ostomates to enjoy a full and active life, is an inspirational speaker and author. Having turned to Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Association (IA) for support during her time as an ostomate, she joined the organisation as PR & Communciations Manager in 2018, and was elected to EOA Executive Council in April 2022.
Caroline enjoys swimming, cycling and competing in triathlons, and loves to try new challenges.
Andrea Stupalova
Board Member, Slovakia
About Andrea
Andrea majored in languages and for many years worked in an international and diplomatic environment as an interpreter, translator, and office manager. She also worked for three years as an interpreter in South Africa. She’s had a stoma since 2020 due to rectal cancer. Subsequently, she began to actively help raise awareness about ostomy in Slovakia. In collaboration with the Czech ILCO, she has been working on projects and serves on the committee of ostomates in Bratislava. At the same time, she works as a patient advisor for the organization Nie rakovine (No to Cancer).
She enjoys her grandchildren and family, and dedicates a great deal of her free time to patient-related topics. Her hobbies include travelling, swimming, medical subjects, good music, books, and art.
Henrik Karlsson
Board Member, Finland
About Henrik
Suffering with Ulcerative Colitis since the age of 19, Henrik underwent J-pouch surgery at the age of 34. A Master in Economics and Marketing, he works in the energy sector, currently working with heat pump system sales to larger estates.
With three grown up children, Henrik and his partner have two dogs, and enjoy the great outdoors: hiking, skiing, downhill skiing, golf, boats, cars and motorcycling. Plus singing in a choir.
EOA Executive Committee: October 2017-April 2022
Jon Thorkelsson, President – Iceland
Maria Hass, Vice President – Germany
Marie Steen, Board Member, 20/40 Focus contact person – Sweden
Isabella Grosu, Board Member – Romania
Henning Granslev, Board Member – Denmark
EOA Executive Committee to October 2017
Ria Smeijers, President – The Netherlands
Guiseppe de Salvo, Vice President – Italy
Jon Thorkelsson, Treasurer – Iceland
Anne Demick, Board Member & IOA liaison – UK
Marie Steen, Board Member, 20/40 Focus contact person – Sweden