Executive team

CEO

Laura Houlgatte

Laura joined UNIC in March 2015 as a European Affairs Executive and was appointed CEO in August 2017. A graduate of the Strasbourg Institute of Political Sciences (Sciences Po), she worked for the Red Helmets charity in Paris and French Embassy in Dublin before moving to Brussels in 2011. She then worked for the British Council and the Federation of European Publishers. Laura topped Celluloid Junkie's list of the Top 50 Women in Global Cinema in 2020 and featured on Politico's list of Women who Shape Brussels in 2018. A French national, Laura speaks English and Spanish fluently, as well as basic Dutch.

Industry Relations & Research Manager

Sonia Ragone

Sonia joined UNIC in January 2023 as Industry Relations & Research Manager. She holds a master degree in International Relations from the University of Milan. She worked for a non-profit in the field of cultural diplomacy in Berlin, as well as in a think tank for international studies in Milan, before moving to Paris in 2015. There, she was Project Coordinator at Europa Cinemas - the network for the circulation and diversity of European films - for over 7 years, in charge of the Italian market, communication and events. An Italian national, she speaks English and French fluently, as well as basic German.

sragone@unic-cinemas.org

Project Manager

Laure Galtier

Laure joined UNIC in January 2016 as a part-time Office Manager and became full-time Project Manager in August 2022. She previously lived in London for 10 years where she worked in HR and Recruitment. She holds a Master degree in International Relations from Strasbourg University and also lived and studied in Germany and Ireland. A dual French and Swiss national, she is fluent in French, English and German.

lgaltier@unic-cinemas.org

Communications and Policy Assistant

Kamil Jarończyk

Kamil joined UNIC in November 2022 as Communications and Policy Assistant. He graduated in European Governance from Utrecht University and Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic). Previously he was managing editor at Visegrad Insight, a Central European think tank based in Warsaw. He interned both in the Polish Embassy in Washington DC as well as in the US Congress. Being Polish-American, Kamil speaks fluently Polish, English and is learning French. 

kjaronczyk@unic-cinemas.org

Intern

Beth Dougherty

Beth joined UNIC in January 2023 as a trainee. She graduated from RMIT University Melbourne with a degree in International Studies, and has recently moved to Brussels. Beth interned with Endo Help Foundation during her degree, and upon graduating continued her work in Not-For Profits volunteering as a Material Aid Officer with The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. She was also a Coordinator of Volunteers for the Melbourne Queer Film Festival in 2021. Beth speaks English and French, as well as basic Spanish.

communications@unic-cinemas.org