Secretariat
Our work is to reflect upon the leadership of tomorrow, define European policies, and reinforce our democratic values.
Our work is to reflect upon the leadership of tomorrow, define European policies, and reinforce our democratic values.
Executive Director
Actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship and personal and political responsibility, his primary interests include liberal policy solutions, economics, as well as entrepreneurship and citizen participation in governance.
Assistant to the Executive Director
A seasoned political affairs specialist and campaign manager, he focuses on international relations, European domestic and foreign affairs, and security. He holds an MSc in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam.
Head of Projects
Goran, our new Head of Projects, is responsible for coordinating a portfolio of more than 60 member-led and Secretariat-led projects. His professional focus is on management and organizational development. Goran 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
Holding an MA Degree in History, he has worked as an Administrative Assistant for LYMEC and is a Municipal Councilor in Schilde’s-Gravenwezelin, Belgium. He is an Expert in Project Management, and is interested in liberal ideology and LGBTQI+ rights.
Junior Project Officer
Before joining the Project Unit of ELF, Even worked for a liberal political party in France and later joined a non-profit organisation in Brussels working on corruption issues at the European level. Interested in fundamental rights and the rule of law, he holds a Master’s degree in European studies.
Project Assistant
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.
Programmes and Events Assistant
Holds an MSc in European Governance from VUB and an MA in International Trade from ENEB. She specialises in digitalisation, trade and sustainability. Before ELF, she worked as an EU Public Affairs and Project Assistant in consultancies and international organisations.
Policy and Research Coordinator
Dr Antonios Nestoras is the Head of Policy and Research at the European Liberal Forum (ELF). His career spans more than 12 years in the academic, think-tank and European public administration fields, and his work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, think-tank reports and EU media. He holds a double PhD in Social and Political Science from VUB and the University of Antwerp.
Research Officer
Holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Florence and MA in World Politics from MGIMO. Member of Center for Cybersecurity in Florence. He focuses on cybersecurity, digitisation, Russian-Western relations.
Non-Resident Research Fellow
A graduate of the College of Europe in Bruges, he worked there as an Academic Assistant (2017-2020). He collaborates with the French think-tank GenerationLibre, and conducts doctoral research in European Law at UCLouvain in Belgium.
Junior Policy and Research Officer
Maria Alesina has an interdisciplinary academic profile and professional experience in journalism and editorship. She holds a Ph.D. in Literary Studies (European Periodical Studies) from Ghent University (Belgium), M.A. degrees in EU Studies from the College of Europe (Belgium) and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Germany), and M.A. in Political Science and B.A. in Philosophy from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine). Thematically, she focuses on European foreign, cultural, and social affairs.
Research Assistant
Matei Stefan is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in International and European Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Before joining ELF, Matei also interned at two embassies: the Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest and the Romanian Embassy in The Hague. Passionate about EU law, international relations, and diplomacy, he uses his legal background and academical skills to assist the PRU.
Communications Manager
Alumna of KU Leuven, she is a communications professional with experience in PR and communication within corporate, non-profit, and agency environment. She is skilled in campaign management, journalism, digital marketing, recruiting, and social media.
Junior Communication Officer
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.
Communication Assistant
Holds a MA in International Relations and Politics from the University of Dundee. Her interests include human rights and sustainability issues. Previously volunteered for an NGO working to defend principles of academic freedoms for scholars. She now focuses on promoting liberal ideology through communication and media channels at ELF.
Finance Manager
With broad experience in finance, budgeting, and analysis, she has worked as the head of controlling & finance for B&S Europe, and as Finance manager for Breast International Group. Her ambition is to excel in her domain.
Accounting Assistant
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.
Financial Junior Assistant
Worked as Grants and Project Assistant for Lebanese and Italian NGOs. Strong interest in human and women’s rights and environmental topics. Holds an MA in International Affairs from the University of Bologna.
Professor, University of Florence
Luigi Martino teaches Cyber Security and ICT Policies at the Faculty of Political Science in Florence and is head of the Center for Cyber Security and International Relations Studies (CCSIRS). His PhD thesis focused on the implementation of cybersecurity models.
Visiting Professor and Researcher, University of Helsinki
Takis Pappas (Ph.D., Yale) is a political researcher and analyst currently working at the University of Helsinki and known for his original work on populism, the future of liberalism, and party systems. Besides numerous publications, he has authored five books.
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.
Director of Studies at GenerationLibre
A graduate of Sciences Po Grenoble and with a doctorate in political science, Kevin Brookes has taught in several higher education institutions and has been a researcher in several think-tanks in France and Canada.
Teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Gerrit Spriet works as a teaching assistant at the Center of European Law of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He is a member of the study centre Albert Maertens. He specialises in European Law, European Constitutional Law and EU affairs.
Assistant Professor, University of Zagreb
Kristijan Kotarski has been Assistant Professor at the Zagreb Faculty of Political Science since 2015. 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.
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.
Professor, University of Lusófona
Ricardo Silvestre is International Officer of 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 Ph.D. in Philosophy and a Master’s degree in International Relations.
Analyst and Think-tanker, Former Advisor to the PM of Romania
Radu Magdin is an international analyst, consultant, and think-tanker. He worked as an honorary advisor to the Romanian prime minister, advised the Moldovan prime minister on various important issues, from political strategy and communications to reforms implementation and external affairs.
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