SAA team
We are a small dedicated team working for audiovisual authors' rights in Europe, based in Brussels. Learn more about the individuals who drive our work forward.
Cécile Despringre, Secretary General
Cécile studied International and European Law at the University of Paris I and holds a Master's degree in International Economic Law. After a traineeship at the Delegation of the European Commission to International Organisations in Geneva, she became the European Affairs Officer of SACD (French and Belgian Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers) in Brussels in 1997. In 2001, she moved to Paris and became Deputy Director for European Affairs and Trade Negotiations of SACD. In 2006, she joined FERA, the European network of film and TV directors’ organisations as their CEO. In 2009, Cécile was contacted by audiovisual authors’ collective management organisations to set up a new European organisation to represent them with the European institutions: the SAA. Since March 2020, Cécile is the President of board of directors of Cineuropa, after having been Vice-President for several years. She is fluent in French and English and has a basic command of Spanish.
Annica Ryng, Public Affairs and Communication Director
Annica holds a Bachelor and a Master's degree in International Migration and Ethnic Relations from Malmö University in Sweden. Annica joined SAA in January 2018, before that she was working in Brussels with public affairs and human rights since 2010; as an Adviser for ‘Social Platform’ (the largest alliance of pan-European networks in the social sector). Previously she worked on policy and advocacy in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBT rights, in both a Swedish and European context. She has been involved in NGOs since 1999, holding various board positions and project management. She is fluent in English and Swedish.
Elise Liégeois, Administration and Finance Manager
Elise holds a Master’s degree in Modern Languages and Literatures and a Master’s degree in Cultural Management from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Before joining the SAA team, Elise has worked for the European Composer & Songwriter Alliance and has had various experiences in cultural organisations in the fields of music, performing arts, plastic arts and education. Elise is fluent in French and English and has basic command of Spanish, Finnish and Czech.
Luisiana Schiera, Legal and Policy Officer
Luisiana holds a Bachelor and a Master’s degree in International Relations and Trade, and a PhD in Copyright Law from the University of Palermo in Italy. Before joining the SAA team in 2024, Luisiana was a Legal and Policy Assistant at the EU Commission’s Copyright Unit as a Blue Book Trainee. Previously, she has been active in NGOs and academia, as a consultant, researcher and keynote speaker in the fields of law, human rights, commerce and digital policies. She is fluent in Italian and English.
Paola Bellissens, Public Affairs and Communications Intern
Paola is currently in her final year of a Master's degree in European Studies, specialising in European Policies and Programmes, at the University of Aix-Marseille. She holds a double Bachelor's degree in Law and English, specialising in Common Law. Before that, she completed an internship as a legal counsel in a French company. Paola is fluent in English and French, has a basic knowledge of Spanish, and is currently learning Greek.
