Eurocare Secretariat
Ruth Ruiz's Background
Ruth graduated with a degree in Law with specialisation in European Affairs from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium).
She undertook internships within the European Commission and The European Federation of Organisations working with Homeless people (FEANTSA), and worked as a researcher for the College of Europe.
She became acquainted with the alcohol field through her position in Rauxa, an organisation helping homeless people with alcohol dependence.
She took up the post of Policy Officer in Eurocare in May 2006.
Ruth is Spanish mother tongue and fluent in English and French.
Mariann Skar's background
Mariann Skar has been the General Secretary for Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance) since October 2007.
Mariann is qualified as cand.polit (sociology and social policy) from the University of Tromsø and as registered nurse from Vest-Agder Sykepleieskole, Norway.
Her working experience, which dates back to 1979, is varied, spanning from being an independent public health consultant in Brussels and Thessaloniki, seconded national expert in the European Commission, Directorate-General Health & Consumer Protection, Unit for Strategy and Analyse (Brussels) and Unit for Health Determinants (Luxembourg).
Mariann was working at Tromsø University College for 13 years and during this time she had administrative responsibilities (Head of nursing education), was teaching in general nursing and sociology/social policies and involved in various developmental, evaluation and research activities. She has also been teaching at upper secondary level and been a general registered nurse.