Dr. Simona Neumann

General Director, Visit Timiș

Simona Neumann is a cultural strategist and international consultant who turns culture, tourism—and, more recently, gastronomy—into catalysts for long-term local and regional development. She currently leads Visit Timiș as General Director, coordinating tourism policy and the Banat 2028 European Region of Gastronomy (candidate) initiative for Timiș County in Romania.

Previously, as Executive Director of the Association Timișoara – European Capital of Culture, she guided the city over nine years from bid to delivery (2016–2023), mobilising partners and strengthening the cultural sector.

Internationally, she has worked with UNDP in Moldova and Romania on cultural strategies, capacity building and public administration programmes, including initiatives that led to Cahul’s recognition as a Cultural and Creative Capital of Moldova.

Her public-diplomacy experience includes a long-term mission with the European Commission (DG Enlargement) in Cyprus, where she managed civil-society dialogue, scholarships and an EU InfoPoint, overseeing multi-million-euro portfolios.

She also brings business-sector leadership from Confindustria Romania, where she served as General Director (2022–2023), strengthening partnerships and supporting workforce and education initiatives.

Her U.S. experience includes work with Fulbright programmes in Washington, D.C., research at The Catholic University of America, and advising students through the United States Education Information Centre in Timișoara.

Since 2025, recognised as an Expert for IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism), Simona holds a PhD in International Relations and completed executive education at Harvard Kennedy School. She is an alumna of the Aspen Institute Romania Leadership Programme and has served on the Executive Committee of Culture Action Europe.