Meet the Luxembourg Pavilion team: Marc Scheer
We’re excited to introduce you to the people working at Expo 2020 Dubai. During 6 unforgettable months, they’ll assure that the message of the Luxembourg Pavilion resonates in all its vibrancy.
Today, you’ll meet Marc Scheer, secretary-general of GIE Luxembourg @ Expo 2020 Dubai.
What is your name and what do you do at the GIE Luxembourg @ Expo 2020 Dubai?
My name is Marc Scheer and as the secretary-general of GIE Luxembourg @ Expo 2020 Dubai, which is an organization that manages Luxembourg’s participation at Expo 2020, I take care of all matters relating to governance, administration, and finance of the project.
What motivated you to work at the GIE?
There are several reasons that made this a dream job for me.
To me, it was a unique opportunity to work on a project as a national pavilion. Secondly to start such an adventure from scratch is something that I find absolutely thrilling.
Furthermore, having lived and worked in the UAE for some years I vividly remember the day when Dubai won the bid for the expo (it also was my birthday), so I feel a special connection to this expo and to Dubai.
How does a day in the GIE look like?
As I have been working on this project since it started more than 5 years ago, the things I do during a normal day have evolved a lot.
In the beginning, it involved a lot of research and drafting of documents in a variety of subjects ranging from the most appropriate legal structure for the project, the contents that we wanted to see displayed in the pavilion or the budget and the financing needed to make it all work to human resources and the operational issues.
This involved working together with many different people from different organizations on very diverse subjects in order to get the necessary expertise and also the commitment to the project.
So for a few years, my days were filled with producing concepts frameworks, meeting people to get input and support, general planning and coordination of the different works as an assistant to our Commissioner General.
Currently, I mainly focus on financial matters, making sure that everything runs smoothly on that side.
What is your favorite aspect of working for the GIE?
There are many things that I have loved to do during this project, one of them being the opportunity to work together with so many amazing professionals and by that learn a lot.
The other aspect is that, when I started working on the project, even before the GIE was founded, I found myself sitting at my desk with a white sheet of paper and some very general directions from our Commissioner General.
It allowed me to create and shape this project significantly, especially with regard to the contents of our exhibition. It is amazing to see the final product and to think back at the very first concept papers and realize how much of that work is reflected in the pavilion and also the terrific way in which the scenographers have interpreted the theme.
Talking about this, I have to admit that the one thing that makes me happy is that the theme of our pavilion “Resourceful Luxembourg” was my proposal in our very first brainstorming session and it stuck and survived to become the theme of the pavilion.
What is your favorite part of the Luxembourg Pavilion?
My favorite part is the seven-minute animated film, which is the 4th chapter of the story we are telling in the pavilion. It is called “Enterprising” and it encapsulates the essence of what Luxembourg is to me.
It shows how we have developed by being cooperative and open to the outside and how much as a community we have been able to achieve, knowing that we will always need to move forward in order to thrive.
This film also gives a very broad outline of our economic history from its roots to today and even to our future. It is fundamentally about resourcefulness.
What is the most important lesson you have learned during your time working for the Luxembourg Pavilion so far?
What I have learned during these years is reflected in the answers to the following 2 questions.
What was your favorite highlight during Expo 2020 Dubai?
There is not a single event that I would like to mention, but what I find amazing and what makes me feel optimistic is the positive and cooperative spirit that I have experienced all during the expo from everybody, other participants, organizers and colleagues.
It is so encouraging to see people from all over the world cooperate in such a constructive spirit. Especially in the current situation, it gives me hope.
What can EXPO 2020 DUBAI do for our future?
To me, the question is what Expo 2020 Dubai already has done for our future.
I think that Expo 2020 Dubai has shown that in the most challenging circumstances, with a global pandemic disrupting every plan and leaving a lot of uncertainty, Expo has brought people together and it has shown that by standing together we can succeed and reach our goals.
I hope that this is an aspect of the Expo that will be remembered.
