Julie is an expert and a senior public policy adviser in the area of learning environments with extensive experience in intergovernmental organisations and Greek public sector since 2010. She is an author and member of the team that developed the OECD School User Survey; she has been a speaker in international conferences, as well as an organiser of such events. In her various capacities she has interacted with the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Julie has held the following positions:
_Consultant to the OECD on Effective Learning Environments [2018-2020];
_Policy Analyst / Project Manager of the Learning Environments Evaluation Programme [LEEP] of the OECD
[2016-2017];
_Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the OECD Group of National Experts on Effective Learning Environments
[2014-2016] and member of the OECD Group of National Experts [2010-2013], as a representative of Greece;
_Director General for Planning & Operations in the Greek public sector agencies “Buildings Infrastructure”
and “School Buildings Organisation” [2010-2016].
The “OECD School User Survey: Improving Learning Spaces Together” gives voice to those who use schools on a daily basis. This unique OECD tool consists of three self-assessment questionnaires designed for students, teachers and school leaders. They can be used to collect and triangulate evidence on the actual use of learning spaces, as well as to solicit user perspectives. For more information on the OECD Effective Learning Environments project, please click here.
Julie is an experienced professional in the area of school earthquake safety and she was involved with
the monitoring of the implementation of the "Recommendation of the OECD Council Concerning Guidelines on
Earthquake Safety in Schools".
_In 2014, after a severe earthquake on the island of Kefalonia, Julie stayed on the island for
ten days to coordinate the efforts of the public sector company’s [SBO] engineers for the assessment of
the situation with site visits, and the participation in the Emergency Command Centre meetings. She then
headed the planning and procurement of more than 100 relocatable units that were installed in Kefalonia,
for the primary and secondary schools’ students.
_In 2015, Greece – through the School Building Organisation – provided their answer to the
self-evaluation questionnaire of the OECD, towards the drafting of the new OECD Report.
_In 2017, the OECD published a brochure with the findings of the 2015 Report, and Julie was the analyst
and editor of the publication "Protecting students and schools from earthquakes: The seven
OECD principles for school seismic safety".
_In 2020, Julie was the main analyst of the OECD members’ answers to the self-evaluation questionnaire;
she was the lead author of the 2020 "Report on the Implementation of the Recommendation of the
Council Concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools".
For more information on the Recommendation of the OECD Council Concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools please click here.
The conference co-organised by CELE/OECD and Finnish agencies titled "A Recipe for Success: Transforming Learning Environments through Dynamic Local Partnerships" [22-24 February 2012, Finland] became not only an excellent opportunity for an update on educational paradigms, but also the tipping point for the pilot project that run in Greece between 2012 and 2013.
In agreement with CELE’s objectives, the School Buildings Organisation SA launched the pilot project of the Refurbishment of 25 primary schools in Attica underdeveloped areas, in an effort to improve the educational outcome as well as the social skills of students. The aim of the project was to create micro-environments in the common areas of the primary schools, which are user-friendly and encourage the pupils’ creativity, curiosity and interaction amongst each other.
Julie coordinated the pilot project that focused on revamping indoor common areas of primary schools, repurposing the circulation areas, and creating attractive environments to students. The European Investment Bank [EIB] funded the 4m€ pilot project, through the loan scheme between EIB and SBO “Hellenic Education III”. The pilot project had an impact on 4,000 students across three municipalities.
