Biographical Note

I am a Romanian citizen, strong promoter of the idea of a European identity and moderate supporter of the European Union institutions. I have strong fact-based opinions about the perverse effects of the European funding programs and I hold a radical position when it comes to the contribution of education to a sustainable development of the Old Continent. But all these do not impede me from exploring alternative ideas and positions and become flexible when I find stronger arguments.

I am a man of dialogue and I embrace the medieval form of debate (quaestiones disputatae), i.e., a methodical critical assessment of ideas. I profoundly dislike the modern “art of debate,” where the practice of debate is the ultimate goal, where rhetoric is a strange word, where people act as Plato’s Sophists (claiming one thing and its contrary at the same time).

I graduated in 2002 from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Philosophy, with a thesis on the medieval concept of auctoritas, and continued my studies with a PhD in Moral Philosophy at the same institution. In 2013, I defended my thesis and received magna cum laude for my work on Aristotle and Aquinas’s concepts of happiness.

In 2001, some researchers from University of Bucharest interested in Medieval Studies, me included, established an independent research entity called Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on 12th Century (CIXII). It was led by Professor Ioan Panzaru until he became the Rector of the University of Bucharest. In 2006, it was incorporated into the research unit of the University of Bucharest and changed its name into Center for Medieval Studies (CMS); the leadership was assumed by Professor Mihaela Voicu and I served as Treasurer (until 2007). I am no longer an active member of the CMS, but I remain dedicated to its original goals and efforts.

In 2004, along with several other colleagues from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Philosophy, I established the Research Center in Applied Ethics. I worked with this institution until 2011, when I decided to withdraw from my executive position and active membership. Currently, I am only a founding member.

In 2008, after careful reconsideration of my academic involvement, I established the Centre for Advanced Research in Management and Applied Ethics (CARMAE), which served as part of my own company. In 2013, in order to reflect better its mission and activities, it became an independent non-profit organisation. My current positions with this organisation are that of General Manager and Senior Expert in Ethics & Compliance, Anti-Corruption, and Sustainability.

From October 2010 until February 2015, I was a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences, University of Bucharest, where I taught courses in Ethics and Media Ethics. I worked both as independent lecturer and instructor for Professor Tudor Catineanu, Professor Vasile Morar and Professor Cecilia Tohaneanu.

In 2012, I became visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National School of Political Science and Public Administration, where I taught courses in Communication Ethics. Further details about my teaching activities can be found here. In 2015, I was invited to teach Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility at the Consulting Management Master Program (CARO) from Faculty of Public and Business Administration, University of Bucharest.

I have extensive experience (over 10 years) in management consulting (especially in Change Management, Ethics & Compliance, Anti-Corruption and Sustainability (Social Responsibility)), audit (i.e., Social Audit, Supply Chain Audit, Integrity Risk Assessment, Ethics & Compliance Audit) and training. I have been working with both multinationals and medium-size companies, as well as public authorities and public sector in general. Since 2011, I have also been involved in the non-profit sector, where I served as Ethics Expert for Transparency International Romania, Center for Legal Resources, Romanian Center for European Policies and other NGOs.

In 2007, I launched the first European training program for Ethics & Compliance Officers from private and public sectors. In 2015, I have relaunched this program as part of the Ethics & Compliance Academy, an expertise section of CARMAE.

In 2013, Laura Florea from Romanian Lobby Registry Association invited me to become a member of the Supervision Commission for Romanian Lobby and Advocacy Registry. As soon as this membership was confirmed, I was elected Secretary of the Supervision Commission and acted in this capacity until mid-November 2015. After two terms as Secretary, I was elected President of the same commission. My mandate is public.