Northern Hemisphere 2026

Chef Eugénie BÉZIAT – President of the competition

L’Espadon, Ritz Paris 1 Michelin Star

By skilfully blending the reminiscences of her African childhood with the Mediterranean influences of her culinary career, Eugénie Béziat offers new credentials to raw materials through her innovative and playful approach at L’Espadon restaurant at the Ritz Paris hotel.

By weaving together the memories of her African childhood with the Mediterranean influences that have shaped her culinary journey, Eugénie Béziat brings fresh credentials to raw ingredients through her innovative and playful cuisine at L’Espadon restaurant, Ritz Paris. Now serving as President of the Southern Hemisphere edition of OLIO NUOVO DAYS, she will be more than ready to chair the upcoming Northern Hemisphere competition.

Florian GUILLOTEAU

Director of Sommellerie, Ritz Paris – President of Nice-Côte d’Azur-Provence Sommelier Association, Nice

Director of Sommellerie at the Ritz Paris and President of the Nice–Côte d’Azur–Provence Sommelier Association. A leading voice in the world of wine and gastronomy,  Florian GUILLOTEAU combines deep expertise with a commitment to promoting excellence and sharing knowledge.

Kostas LIRIS, President of the jury and Panel Leader

kostasliris.com Kalamata, Greece

Kostas Liris, agronomist and miller based in Kalamata, Greece, is a renowned teacher of oleology who shares his expertise worldwide — from Paris to London, and from New York to San Francisco. A respected tasting panel leader, he also serves as a jury member at major international competitions in cities such as New York, Tokyo, Athens, and Hamburg.

Gabriel LEPOUSEZ PhD.

INSTITUT PASTEUR, Perception & Memory lab, Department of Neurosciences, Paris

Gabriel Lepousez is a French neuroscientist and international expert on the brain circuits that govern sensory perception, memory, emotions, and brain–body communication. Beyond his research, he shares his deep knowledge of how the brain engages during wine and food tasting with both professionals and enthusiasts. He contributes to academic courses, international conferences, wine education programs, and specialized publications. Gabriel also serves on the tasting committee of La Revue du Vin de France and is a member of both the Académie du Vin de France and the Académie Amorim.

Agatha RELOTA LUCZO

FURTUNA SKIN, Founder and CCO & Olive Oil Sommelier, Paris

Mother of four, international model, entrepreneur & olive oil sommelier.

FURTUNA SKIN

BONA FURTUNA

 Christophe LAVELLE PhD

CNRS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, Paris

Christophe Lavelle is a biophysicist, researcher at the CNRS (the French center for scientific research) and co-founder of the Food 2.0 LAB. Passionate about food and the relationship between art and science, he teaches in many institutions such as the universities of Paris VI, Paris VII, Cergy-Pontoise, Aix-Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, SupBioTech Paris and Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Lavelle will be the scientific support to Olio Nuovo Days jury members.

Alexandra Paris

FRANCE OLIVE, Head of communication and promotion office, Nyons, France

Alexandra is one of the most influent French women in olive oil. Head of communication of the French interprofessional organisation FRANCE OLIVE, she is in charge of the promotion and also of all the regulations on the French and European market. Born in Provence, she was raised in the tradition of extra olive oil. Due to her professional activity she is aware of all the news and trends, she is also a professional olive oil taster.

Octave DE GAULLE, President of the DESIGN competition

SPADE, Paris, France

Octave de Gaulle, designer and founder of Paris-based agency SPADE, creates objects and environments for human life in space, balancing technical demands with sensory and cultural needs. A member of the IAF Space Habitat Committee, he now brings his visionary approach to his role as President of the Design Competition.

Antoine de MACEDO

Horlogerie ADM, Paris, France

Founder of ADM Horloger, watchmaker, specialist in collector’s watches established for 30 years rue Madame, rive gauche, Paris. Passionate about EVOO and extra virgin olive oil producer in Portugal.

Victor REBOLLO

Writer and Graphic Designer, Paris

Freelance writer, graphic and web designer, Victor Rebollo discovered the world of communications at Publicis Consultants.

Today, Victor is work working in particular with players in the classical music for whom he translates the auditory experience of classical music into a visual one.

A graduate of HEC Paris, he also holds a master’s degree in innovation management from the École Polytechnique de Paris, a bachelor’s degree in Modern Literature and a master’s degree in General and Comparative Literature.

… And Victor is now involved in olive oil with the design of OLIO NUOVO DAYS’ new graphic charter.

Matthieu DEJEAN

Arts et Jardins, Paris, France

Matthieu Dejean is a town planner and a garden lover. He has conceived part of the Olympic Village for Paris 2024, an eco design showcase for France.

Matthieu writes also on art history and gardens. His next book deals with elegant gardening in the Provençal countryside. Its refers to aristocratic retreats in landscapes of olive trees drenched by the sun.

Matthieu has created and manages an artists’ residence in Paris where emerging creators benefit from artists’studios to launch their career.

Manuel João VERISSIMO DA COSTA LEITE

TEAM PORTUGAL, Condeixa-a-Velha, Coimbra

First time in our jury for Manuel João VERISSIMO DA COSTA LEITE born 28.07.2015

Coached by Marije VAN DEN BOOGAARD – PASSEITE

Matilda SLEEUW PASSOS DA COSTA

TEAM PORTUGAL, Condeixa-a-Velha, Coimbra

Second participation for Matilda born on January 25, 2016

She is coached by her mother, olive oil producer and olive oil Marije VAN DEN BOOGAARD – PASSEITE

Laszlo PERROTIN

TEAM FRANCE

Second time with the OLIVE KIDS AWARDS for Laszlo born on March 19, 2017.

Laszlo loves to blend olive oil, he is coached by her mother, the socialite Lorena Vergani who loves to gather people and trends.

Lourenço Maria LOPES

TEAM PORTUGAL, Condeixa-a-Velha, Coimbra

First participation for Lourenço Maria LOPES, born June 11, 2011

Coached by Marije VAN DEN BOOGAARD – PASSEITE

Braulio PEREIRA

TEAM PORTUGAL, Condeixa-a-Velha, Coimbra

Second participation for Braulio born on May 24, 2013.

As you can see on that picture, he is working very seriously – as all our jury member- to score his samples on OLIVE KIDS AWARDS tasting notebook.

Braulio is coached by Marije VAN DEN BOOGAARD – PASSEITE olive oil producer

Rita EL GUERRAB

TEAM FRANCE, Paris

Second participation for Rita born on May, 5, 2012.

Her big brother Issa is also in the jury.

Kids are very serious when it comes to taste and score.

Rita is coached by her mother Yasmine SEGHIRATE EL GUERRAB.

Odisseas MAVRANEZOULIS

TEAM GREECE, Messinia

3rd participation for Odisseas born on January 1, 2012.

Odisseas and his bother Iasonas are coached by their father Achilleas MAVRANEZOULIS and mother Evgenia ANDRIOPOULOU, olive oil producers with MAKARIA TERRA.

Iasonas MAVRANEZOULIS

TEAM GREECE, Messinia

3rd participation for Iasonas born on June 14, 2016.

Iasonas and his bother Odisseas are coached by their father Achilleas MAVRANEZOULIS and mother Evgenia ANDRIOPOULOU, olive oil producers with MAKARIA TERRA.

Roch PÂRIS

TEAM SPAIN, Madrid

2 nd participation for Roch born on March, 18, 2014

His little sister Mathilde will join him for this new edition

Coached by his father Tanguy PÂRIS.

Mathilde PÂRIS

TEAM SPAIN, Madrid