Secretariat
Our team brings together a variety of professional and cultural perspectives to creatively contribute to a liberal Europe that we all want to live in.
Our team brings together a variety of professional and cultural perspectives to creatively contribute to a liberal Europe that we all want to live in.
Executive Director
Alva (or Ailbhe) is a passionate leader with over twelve years of experience in policy. Prior to joining ELF, Alva was the Secretary General of Social Platform, the largest civil society network working on social and equality issues in Europe. Alva also worked at Save the Children, Mental Health Europe, and the Irish Mission to the UN in Geneva.
Head of Operations
Goran is responsible for coordinating a portfolio of more than 60 member-led and Secretariat-led projects. His professional focus is on management and organisational development. He comes from the International Educational Center, a political foundation from Croatia, where he worked on developing and implementing democracy support projects across Europe together with other partners in the liberal family. A husband and father, in his free time he enjoys watching sci-fi movies and driving.
Project Officer
Holds an MA in International Affairs from the University of Bologna. Worked as Grants and Project Assistant for Lebanese and Italian NGOs. Strong interest in human and women’s rights and environmental topics.
Senior Compliance and Project Officer
For the past 5 years and a half, Bàlint was the Secretary General of LYMEC, leading the organisation as a full-time job. He studied Political Sciences at the Saint-Louis University of Brussels as his bachelor degree and European Studies at the ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) as master degree. In addition, he is the former Secretary General of Stand Up for Europe and co-founded the Jubel festival initiative (European Democracy festival).
Digital Transformation and Project Officer
Holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Wroclaw. Interested in women’s rights and LGBTQI+-related topics. Previously worked as an intern for a Polish NGO, as well as volunteered for an Erasmus Student Network as a Project Manager.
Policy and Research Manager
Maartje is the policy and research manager of ELF. Before joining ELF, she worked as an editor at an economic policy journal, as a researcher at a liberal think tank affiliated to the VVD political party, and as a journalist of a well-known Dutch news weekly. Maartje studied Political Science at Leiden University. She has a broad interest in other disciplines as well, which she combines with a strong knowledge of liberal philosophy.
Head of Communication
Political communication expert with a broad experience in public relations, digital communication, and campaign management. He has worked as a communication consultant in the finance and real estate industry and as the communication director of the Hungarian liberal party, Momentum Movement.
Finance Officer
Nadji brings extensive experience in financial management and operations to his role as Finance Officer at the European Liberal Forum. He is responsible for supporting the financial health of the organisation and enhancing internal processes. Before joining ELF, Nadji worked in banking and private sector roles, building a solid foundation in finance, after completing a Master’s in Economic Engineering with a focus on Finance at the University of Grenoble Alpes.
Accountant
An expert in accounting and administration, she worked for 25 years in the automobile sector, as well as in several other fields. She loves dark chocolate, coffee, and Italian food, and is fond of the science fiction genre.
Senior Fellow
Magdalena M. Baran PhD is a philosopher, editor, academic, and expert in political and social ethics, specializing in issues of war and peace, post-conflict reconstruction, democratic governance, and liberal identity in a changing world.
Professor Emeritus of Economics, Paris Graduate School of Engineering
Gérard Pogorel is Professor emeritus of Economics at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris-Telecom, CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Innovation. An independent international expert in telecommunications, media, and the digital economy, he has worked with the European Commission, national authorities, scientific committees.
Senior Fellow
Dr Antonios Nestoras is the founding director of EPIC. Previously, Antonios was the Deputy Executive Director of ELF. His career spans more than 12 years in the academic, think-tank and European public administration fields. He holds a double PhD in Social and Political Science from VUB and the University of Antwerp.
Senior Fellow
Francesco is a PhD candidate in Cybersecurity Law at VUB. He holds a MA in International Relations from the University of Florence and MA in World Politics from MGIMO. He is a member of the ‘Center for Cybersecurity’ in Florence and the ‘Cyber and Data Security Lab’ at VUB, where he also was an assistant lecturer in the course of Cyberwarfare, Disinformation and Post-Truth. His research focuses on cybersecurity, digitalisation and the relation between sustainability and technologies.
Senior Fellow
Maria holds a PhD in interdisciplinary European Periodical Studies, MA degrees in EU Studies and Political Science, and BA degree in Philosophy from the universities in Belgium, Germany, and Ukraine. She specialises in European cultural, social, and neighbourhood-related affairs and has professional experience in journalism and editorship.
Senior Fellow
Dr. Laia Comerma holds a MSc in International relations from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from UPF-UAM-UC3M. Her research fields of interest are foreign policy analysis, Chinese and EU foreign policy, and EU–China relations.
Assistant Professor, University of Zagreb
Kristijan Kotarski has been Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb since 2021 and in charge of the Centre for European Studies at the Faculty of Political Science. His research is focused on the international political economy subjects. He co-edited two prominent books, wrote more than 20 scientific papers and 30 professional articles. He is the author of a book “Coronaeconomics: The Five Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Assistant Professor, University of Lodz
Tomasz Kamiński is a political scientist, professor at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz. He has a significant experience in the business sector. He is focusing on the topics of paradiplomacy and city diplomacy.
Analyst, Think-tanker and Author
Ricardo Silvestre is the Senior Researcher and International Officer of the Portuguese think-tank Social Liberal Movement. He hosts the Liberal Europe Podcast and is the author of think pieces and scientific articles. Ricardo holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science and a Master’s degree in International Relations.
Assosiate Fellow
Holds an MA in Communication from iaelyon School of Management and an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from the College of Europe. She focuses on the EU and Neighbourhood, security & conflicts, media and disinformation.
Researcher and lecturer, Leiden University
Arlinda Rrustemi is a researcher and lecturer on peace and conflict studies. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Leiden University in the Netherlands, an LL.M. degree in Public International Law from Utrecht University, and a B.A. (cum laude) from the University College Roosevelt. She is involved in several research projects uncovering peace infrastructures and countering radicalization. She was a visiting scholar at several universities.
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