President of Help Autism Association and of the network of autism organizations RO TSA, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.

Daniela founded the Help Autism Association in 2010, driven by the personal experience of being the mother of a child with autism and trying to remove all barriers to access to psychological, medical, educational, social and professional services and a dignified life for her child. Daniela is known as the parent who managed to overcome her own challenges, looking for solutions for the recovery of her own child, while also being the initiator of a model that has become a movement full of hope at a national level, Help Autism model being taken over by dozens of NGO’s in Romania.

She is also the elected president of the information network of organizations in autism RO TSA – a network created at her initiative from the desire to coagulate these organizations into a single voice, the network consists of 91 organizations at national level representing over 4000 patients with autism. Daniela Bololoi is a member of the plenary session of the Economic and Social Council, spearhead in everything related to the field of autism, and last but not least, a clinical psychologist since 2013 and a psychotherapist since 2015.

Convinced that mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being, and that we are all responsible for creating the conditions for a harmonious development, Daniela identified with the fight for the rights of people with neodiversity and their families. Together with her team and partners from the associative and institutional environment, she has made it her personal mission to give patients with autism spectrum disorder chances for a normal life and their families a more dignified status through tireless efforts to unlock the patient’s access to integrated services settled by the state.

Clinical psychologist, president and founding member of the Association of Patients with Chronic Diseases “Restart to Life” (Asociația Restart la Viață), a non-profit organisation based in Bucharest that aims to improve the mental health of cancer patients, nominated for her efforts for ensuring psychological support to oncological patients and their families.

Following her personal experience of an oncological diagnosis, the Awardee established a much needed free Psychological Support Group project for oncological patients in Romania. Designed as a complement to the medical treatment, it provides group therapeutic meetings to patients and their families, helping them cope with the new reality and their diagnosis. First affiliated to the Regina Maria Social Innovation Foundation, the initiative evolved as an independent organisation. Established in 2020, the Restart to Life Association is based in Bucharest and aims to train professionals with a focus and interest in the needs of oncological patients. Mrs Lidia Stoica has also initiated the first continuous professional training programme in Romania for an overspecialization in the field of psycho-oncology.

“I had the pleasure of being with Mrs Lidia Stoica since the beginning of her dream of building an association to help patients in the gruelling battle with cancer. I still remember the small support group started in the headquarters of the Regina Maria Social Innovation Foundation, with which Mrs Stoica started the road to what is today called the “Restart to Life” Association, an association that offers hope, care and support. In just two years, she has managed to achieve amazing performance in providing psychological support for cancer patients, from free support groups to education in training future psycho-oncologists” (Dr Wargha Enayati)

The Support Group established by the Awardee aims to reduce, among others, the social isolation of cancer survivors, as well as anxiety among both patients and their family members. It also intends to contribute to the decrease of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, and to create a feeling of security and belonging, while helping patients build strategies for accepting and then fighting the disease. In this manner, Mrs Lidia Stoica draws attention to the importance of psychological treatment for oncological patients and stresses the importance of multidisciplinary teams in treating cancer.

The programme is currently active in two Romanian cities (Giurgiu and Zalău), providing free psychological support to patients and their families. The Awardee intends to extend it nationally through partnerships with hospitals and with the help of  volunteer psychologists (future psycho-oncology specialists).

Founder of the Association for the Protection and Assistance of Neuro-Psychic Disabled “Sf. Maria” Day Center in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, nominated for her effort to increase the quality of life of individuals with neuro-psychic disabilities.

The 2020 Awardee has generated a meaningful and positive impact on the wellbeing and social inclusion of individuals experiencing mental disabilities issues. These affect families and also influence other aspects of their lives, including housing, education, employment, income, relationships, social relations, personal safety, leading oftentimes to trauma, stigma, discrimination and socioeconomic hardship.

In 1990, Mrs. Ilieș established the Association for the Protection and Assistance of Neuro-Psychic Disabled and opened in 1995 the “Sf. Maria” Day Center in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, which is also included in the association. The aim of the Association was to find solutions at a community level for the social integration of children with intellectual disabilities. A mother of a child with intellectual impairments herself, the Awardee was able to find an original solution – a hospital day care center – offering recovery services that were differentiated by the degrees of disability. These included corrective behavioral therapy, educational processes, trainings for independent life and work skills (parental counseling).

According to Gert de Haan, Chair of the Cooperative Recovery Group Netherlands, Mrs. Ilieș crucially contributed in post-1989 Romania to the development of  future modern care for adult people with intellectual disabilities, offering high quality care in a modern way, aiming at self-deployment and empowerment in the uprising paradigm of “positive health” (M. Huber, 2011). She thus educated the beneficiaries’ families and the members of their social circles to act in health as the ability to adapt and self-manage, in light of the physical, emotional and social challenges of life.

In the context of the COVID19 pandemic, the vulnerabilities of the Day Centre beneficiaries – 20 adults aged 21-47 years, with intellectual disabilities and other diseases, some of them life-threatening – call into question the continuity of access to the services tailored to their individual needs. While struggling to adapt, limiting their access to support increases the risk of social isolation, with no alternative available in the local community. The solution is offering them online access to the Centre’s activities, an innovative direction which the organization is currently exploring and developing.

Professor, Babeș-Bolyai University, nominated for “his remarkable results in the field of Romanian psychological research.”

Daniel David is cognitive science professor at Babeș – Bolyai University in Cluj Napoca, with the Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy Department, and adjunct professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, SUA with the Department of Population Health Science and Policy.He is also research director of the famed Albert Ellis Institute, New York, USA, and of the International Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health (renowned european institute, included in the MERIL network).

His academic research is focused on clinical cognitive sciences, with a multilevel (from neurogenetic to intercultural), technologically immersed approach. As a psychologist, he supervises cognitive and behavioral therapy, with a national certification from Colegiul Psihologilor din România and an international certification from the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. He is the Romanian representative in the European Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment și International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy.

In Romania he is regarded as the initiator of the “evidence- based” movement and founder of the Cluj School of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy – one with national prestige and international impact. The school implemented innovative theoretical directions – nationally (eg. virtual/augmented-reality psychotherapy) and internationally (eg. robot-based psychotherapy). In 2008, prof. David was decorated as Knight of the National Order of Merit for his academic activity and management. Since 2016 he is President of the Romanian Association of Psychologists.

Nominated for “elaborating the national strategy against dementia.”

Cătălina Tudose is psychiatrist, university professor and chair of Psychiatry, within the Clinical Neuroscience Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest.

With a prodigious scientific, professional and academic career, Cătălina Tudose is overspecialized in geriatric psychiatry, neurocognitive disorders, neuroscience and neuropsychology, sanitary and organisational management and ethics. She placed a special focus on the recognition and prioritization of Alzheimer disease as a public health issue, in her capacity of president of the Romanian Alzheimer Society.

Cătălina Tudose is founder of Centrul Memoriei, a unique institution specialized in early diagnosis and treatment of cognitive disorders, especially Alzheimer (since 2000), as well as Centrul de asistență comunitară pentru vârstnici; Centrul de zi pentru persoane suferinde de demenţă în Boala Alzheimer. She has initiated the pilot project of home assistance for people suffering from dementia in Alzheimer disease and has contributed to the introduction of such home care professionals into the employment nomenclature as a follow up of “PHARE Lien – Training Programme in Specialized Homecare for Older People with Cronic Mental Disorders” (in partnership with HelpAge International, 1994 – 1996). Since 2002 she initiated the Psychogeriatric Competence and is national coordinator of education programs in the field.

Author and co-author of numerous books, studies and scientific articles, Cătălina Tudose is a prodigious researcher in the fields of psychogeriatry and clinical psychology. She has organised numerous scientific events, between 2011 – 2018, 8 editions of National Alzheimer Conferences in her capacity of president of the Romanian Alzheimer Society and 8 editions of Forumul Psihiatru.ro as secretary general (2011-2016) and president (2017-2018) of the Romanian Association of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Bogdana Tudorache is psychiatrist, primary scientific researcher within the Bucharest Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry, holding a double academic competence in neurology and psychiatry.

In 1990 she was the first specialist in Romanian psychiatry to introduce the topic of mental health, founding the Romanian League for Mental Health which advocates for the protection and rights of mental health patients, supports international good practice policies and the diversification of mental health services. She supported the founding of “Trepte” Medical & Psychological Pilot Support Center,  ARIPI (first association of beneficiaries of mental health services) and SINAPSE Point of Information Center (within Spitalul Clinic de Psihiatrie “Al. Obregia”).

As president of the Romanian Mental Health League she facilitated partnerships and agreements with  World Federation for Mental Health, Mental Health Europe, Medecins du Monde,  Fédération des Services de Santé Mentale, Organizația Penumbra (Scotland),  Intermind (Britain), Geneva Initiative of Psychiatry, Comitetul de legătură franco-român în domeniul sănătății mintale, Asociația Franceză de Sprijin Medical, Hamlet Trust and Charity Know How, World Psychiatric Association, World Health Association.

Dr. Tudorache worked closely with the Romanian Health Ministry in elaborating the mental health reform, participating as specialist in the writing of Legea Promovării Sănătății Mintale și a Protecției Persoanelor cu Tulburări Psihice,  the norms to apply it and the strategy of the Ministry in the field of mental health, as well as the action plan to implement it. She represented Romania as expert in European Comission work groups, coordinating numerous EU and WHA programs, including the implementation monitoring of the Helsinki Declaration and the associated action plan.

Accredited cognitive- behavioral psychotherapist (National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists) and principal psychologist in the field of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Romanian Psychological College), his areas of expertise include: applied psychotherapy and computer assisted counseling, development of evaluation instruments, applied cognitive psychology and education policies.

Professor, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj.

Mircea Miclea is an international affiliate member of American Psychological Association, local officer for the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Psychonomic Society affiliate, member of the International Council of Psychologists and the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Study. Between 1996 – 2009 he was president of the Romanian Association for Cognitive Sciences. Since 2006 he is president of the Romanian Psychological Association.

Nominated for “his contribution to the development and support of research in the field of psychology, as well as for his contribution to the advancement of knowledge and formation of young researchers and specialists. His numerous research projects have led to advances in the prevention and treatment of mental health issues, as well as of applied cognitive psychology. His published materials address either the broader audience (through media articles and books) or a specialized audience through internationally renowned journals.

Mircea Miclea is university professor with the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Department of Psychology, since 1996; director of Applied Cognitive Psychology Center since 2001, Babeș – Bolyai University chancellor between 2001 – 2004; editor and founder of Cognition, Brain, Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Journal; president of UNESCO Chair on Higher Education Management and Governance since 2001 and president of the Presidential Committee of education and research policies since 2006. Between 2004 – 2005, Mircea Miclea was Romanian Minister of Education and Research.

Accredited cognitive- behavioral psychotherapist (National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists) and principal psychologist in the field of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Romanian Psychological College), his areas of expertise include: applied psychotherapy and computer assisted counseling, development of evaluation instruments, applied cognitive psychology and education policies.

Kitty is a wife and mother of three children. She has worked in the Counselling world in England for the past 15 years. She is a Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Supervisor and Trainer and works with children and young people as well as adult clients. Kitty is interested in the psychological assistance offered to trafficked survivors. She is particularly interested in the overlap between spirituality and counselling. She is also a member of the Anglican Church and an Associate of a religious order. In the past she has been a school governor and worked as a PA.

Her father was Romanian and was a cousin of the Ratiu Family. She has been involved with RFF for 5 + years which she enjoys and is challenged by.