Dr Simona Kustec is a full professor at the Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Slovenia, and head of the Centre for Development and Knowledge Transfer at the same institution. Her research interests include innovation and knowledge policy, public policy analysis, governance and management, human rights and democratic practices, including election studies. In the mandate from 2014 to 2018, she was a member of parliament and head of a deputy group of the leading coalition party in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. In the 14th government of the Republic of Slovenia (March 2020 - June 2022) she was the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, she chaired the Education, Research, Youth and Sport EU Councils (1 July - 31 December 2021). During this period, she was also an active member of various UNESCO bodies.