Our Team

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Marek Velas Marek Velas is an experienced Talent Development Lead and mentor with over 25 years of practice in team management, corporate restructuring, and career consulting. He has worked in IT, manufacturing, and services, gaining deep insight into various organizational structures. He specializes in talent development, leadership, personal branding, and team effectiveness. His training approach is built on practical learning and real-world situations. Marek believes in the direct applicability of knowledge and interactive education. He has successfully led projects with measurable impact on company culture and team performance. Marek is recognized for his ability to deliver tangible results and inspire growth.Read more ↗︎
Jan Brajer Jan Brajer is an innovator and technical visionary who is a leading expert in advanced laser technologies in the Czech Republic. He has long-term experience at the HiLASE Centre at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. He heads the department of industrial laser applications and is also deputy director of the Centre for Science and Technology. He works at the Czech Technical University in Prague, specifically at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, where he is a research associate at the Institute of Production Machines and Equipment. He also works at the CIIRC CTU, where he supervises master’s and bachelor’s theses and actively participates in academic projects. Jan is also the chairman of the STAR Research & Innovation Cluster board, where he focuses on the strategic development of regional innovation infrastructure and connecting research organisations with industry. He is the co-author of the ‚Leadership Academy for Researchers‘ programme for scientists and his long-term goal is to support excellent science that has a concrete impact on society and the economy.Read more ↗︎
Jana Vaněčková Jana focuses on PR for scientific activities and projects, including the Leadership Academy for Researchers. She has several years of experience in marketing and PR in both academic and international settings. She gained practical experience, among other things, during her internship at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Lisbon. Alongside her professional work, she is pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, where she examines how issues of energy and environmental security are reflected in the official political discourse in Brazil.Read more ↗︎
Kateřina Brejchová Kateřina specializes in adult education and enjoys helping people and companies discover new ways to develop their skills. She currently works as a corporate training manager at Brain4Industry Academy, where she designs educational programs focused on supporting people and businesses in the modern industrial environment. In addition, she has experience in the research field as well as in organizing both professional and popular science events and conferences.Read more ↗︎
Jana Puhalová Jana has been working in adult education for more than 20 years, both in the Czech Republic and abroad, often leading multicultural teams as a trainer or project manager. She studied Systems Engineering and Informatics at the Technical University of Liberec and already during her studies designed software tools for Czech clients. Later, she worked as an ISO 9001 internal auditor and as a consultant in process optimization and lean management across various companies. Over time, she moved into Learning & Development, where she has spent the past 13 years setting up educational processes and leading soft skills programs with a focus on leadership training, change management, and communication strategies. Beyond her training work, Jana is actively engaged in developing the quality of corporate education in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. She is a member of the editorial board of the Corporate Education e-journal, evaluates educational institutions for RATEA, and supports trainers in gaining the National Professional Qualification. In 2011, she received the Trainer of the Year award. She also teaches BBA, MBA, and DBA students in Prague, focusing on Lean, presentation skills, and self-management. Sport has always been an important part of her life. As a competitive athlete, Jana became interested in mental coaching, later expanded her expertise through studies of cognitive skills, and helped develop brain jogging programs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.Read more ↗︎
Filip Kahoun Filip studied economics and management, graduated with a degree in applied psychology and went on to obtain a postgraduate doctorate in marketing and managerial psychology. He worked in the top management of multinational companies for over 15 years. He first worked as a marketing director for the Czech Republic, then for Central and Eastern Europe, and finally as CEO of a leading Czech digital agency. His teams have won numerous prestigious awards in the fields of PR, online marketing, and communications. Since 2019, Filip has devoted himself entirely to education. He lectures at Charles University and delivers training for global and local brands. He also shoots video courses for Seduo.cz, the largest Czech educational portal, where he has long been one of the five most successful authors. He is the author of the two-part book Boj o pozornost (The Battle for Attention). The first part is subtitled ‘How to Master the Most Powerful Mental Force’ and the second ‘How to Do Smart Personal Marketing’.Read more ↗︎
Radka Kozáková Radka Kozáková is a Leadership Academy Manager with extensive experience in education, science communication, and event management. She previously led PR and education at the HiLASE Centre, where she developed national programs connecting students with cutting-edge laser research and coordinated communication strategies to bring science and technology closer to the public. She also worked as Event Coordinator at the Brain4Industry Academy, organizing workshops and conferences for SMEs and industrial partners on topics such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, and new technologies. She focuses on creating environments where people can learn, connect, and share knowledge as a foundation for true innovation and long-term impact.Read more ↗︎
Jana De Merlier Jana De Merlier has over 20 years of experience in project management, strategic planning, and education. Since 2007 she has been active at the municipal level and currently serves as Vice Mayor of Dolní Břežany, focusing on education, investment projects, and strategic planning. Since 2014 she has worked at the HiLASE Centre, managing the Grant Office and coordinating strategic projects. In 2015 she co-founded the STAR Research & Innovation Cluster, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting research, industry, and municipalities to foster regional development, with a strong emphasis on innovation, education, and networking. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the BRAIN4INDUSTRY consortium, with STAR responsible for the educational platform Brain4Industry Academy. Drawing on her experience, she seeks to contribute to the Leadership Academy for Researchers, believing that empowering people is the foundation of true progress and impact.Read more ↗︎