Meet the Team

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EPPC 2024: INTEGRATION AND FUTURE RESILIENCE
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ABOUT EPPC

The European Public Policy Conference (EPPC) is a unique initiative that empowers Hertie students to take a leading role in shaping the debates on critical European policy issues. This fully student-run event is sponsored by the IPLI Foundation and organized by students from the Hertie School in Berlin.

This year, fourteen students from the Masters of International Affairs and Masters of Public Policy programs have dedicated themselves to organizing EPPC. They are split into the Content, Communications, Logistics, and Treasury teams.

Francesco Fimiani

Lead Coordinator

Francesco Fimiani

Lead Coordinator

My name is Francesco Fimiani, I’m a 23-year-old Italian-American dual national currently pursuing a Masters of International Affairs with a concentration in International Security at the Hertie School. Growing up, my life was mainly defined by my constant move between Italy and the US and this has since shaped my desire to engage in International Affairs. Coming to Hertie was an opportunity to study governance, policy, and diplomacy in a non-US context which to me is invaluable as someone who aspires to one day work in diplomacy. As one of the lead organizers for EPPC, it is my pleasure to be able to bring this conference to life and engage with experts and academics on the current state and future of European policy and hopefully shine a light on what obstacles the next generation of European policymakers will have to tackle once they enter the career field. I am beyond excited to be working with this amazing EPPC team and working to create such an enriching platform for discussions.

Email:info@example.com

LEAD COORDINATOR AND LIASON, LOGISTICS TEAM MEMBER

Francesco Fimiani

Krystelle Thomas

Communications Team Lead

Krystelle Thomas

Communications Team Lead

My name is Krystelle Thomas, and I am a first-year Master of International Affairs candidate at the Hertie School. I am honored to be a part of the European Public Policy Conference 2024 and serve as the Communications Team Lead. I previously worked with the New York State Legislature and the U.S. Agency for International Development, focusing on communicating climate change and sustainability issues, policies, and projects. My motivation for joining EPPC arises from the understanding that we live in a time of great change in which we will observe innovative approaches to policy that will have far-reaching consequences. EPPC is a unique opportunity to hear from diverse perspectives and ensure they respond to the pressing questions of students like myself. I come from an American and Guyanese background and specialize in East Asian Politics. Therefore, it is an essential goal of mine to expand my understanding of European politics and policy. I was also inspired to join EPPC because of the collaborative and student-led nature of the conference, which allows us to carry out our own version of policymaking. I am enthusiastic to work with my fellow students to plan EPPC 2024 and learn from a successful conference!

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM LEAD

Krystelle Thomas

Kim Thao Schröder

Kim Thao Schröder

Hello, my name is Kim Thao Schröder and I am delighted to be partaking in the organisation of the European Public Policy Conference 2024. The EPPC’s initiative to encourage diverse and constructive discourse on pressing issues in European politics is vital, especially in times when we are faced with multiple intersecting social, political, and economic crises. I hope that the EPPC will make a meaningful contribution to the collective effort to deal with the challenges of the present, while preparing aspiring policymakers for the task of shaping Europe’s (political) future.

COMMUNICATIONS

Kim Thao Schröder

Miriam Candelù

Miriam Candelù

Hello, my name is Miriam Candelù. I decided to join this project because I think it will challenge us, students, to grow from a personal, academic, but also professional point of view by taking responsibility to organize something important together, facing the challenges that we will encounter as a united team. I see it as a good opportunity to meet people with interests akin to mine, to learn new things in the field of European public policy, and to better my teamwork skills. Moreover, I want to take this challenge to understand what is really behind the organization of a big event like this one and to develop important organizational skills while learning from knowledgeable individuals in the European field.

COMMUNICATIONS

Miriam Candelù

Architha Menon

Architha Menon

I am Architha Menon, part of the communication team. As a trained journalist I am passionate about leveraging platforms to voice out the major challenges faced by youth of today. Moreover, as a policy researcher, I am interested in understanding and ideating the solutions for these issues. EPPC provides the perfect platform where I can pursue both my passions.

COMMUNICATIONS

Architha Menon

Elise Schermers

Logistics Team Lead

Elise Schermers

Logistics Team Lead

My name is Elise, I am a 24-year-old first-year International Affairs student at Hertie. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges from Leiden University College and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Leiden Law School. I have previously gained valuable experience through internships at the Dutch Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, and the Dutch Council for Refugees. Currently, I am working as a student assistant in Hertie’s executive education department. I am excited to take on the role of leading the logistics team for the EPPC this year. My motivation for participating in organizing the EPPC is driven by a desire to gain hands-on experience in organising a huge event. I see this as a unique opportunity to challenge myself, work collaboratively with new people, and grow both personally and professionally. I am eager to be part of the team that makes it happen this year, to learn from the experience, and to make a positive impact on this exciting venture. I look forward to the challenges and rewards that come with it and am committed to making the EPPC a success.

LOGISTICS TEAM LEAD

Elise Schermers

Rieke Heidkroß

Rieke Heidkroß

Hi, my name is Rieke, a first-year MIA student at the Hertie School, and I will be a part of the organizing team of the EPPC `24. Constantly, Europe and the EU are facing challenges and threats to their democracy, integration, and various other factors. Therefore, I am deeply motivated to create a space for discussion and thought on how to deal with these current issues via Public Policy. Additionally, I am eager to learn about and experience the various stages of organizing an event of this magnitude.

LOGISTICS

Rieke Heidkroß

Kennedy Greenstein

Hello, my name is Kennedy Greenstein. I am currently working with the Logistics team as well as helping out with the communications team. I wanted to join the EPPC because as an exchange student and in particular a student from America, foreign relations and policies are important from a global perspective. As my studies have progressed, my interests have been drawn to the foreign aspects of topics and career development positions. The opportunity that the EPPC has brought upon me, is to immerse myself with one topic in an international setting and be able to gain an insight and learn more about how the conference has impacted people and how I could continue to learn and grow. The EPPC will also allow me to gain some new skills and harness other skills I currently have, to be a more well-rounded candidate and leader within the workforce. The EPPC will give me exposure to foreign policies and curate an event that could spark conversations and interests for many. Additionally, I wanted to join EPPC due to my interest in creating connections through the Hertie School and to many of the leaders and respectable representatives who will speak at the conference. Lastly, the EPPC is an amazing experience where I can work on a hands-on project and see it come to life and what the outlook will be when it is done.

COMMUNICATIONS AND LOGISTICS

Kennedy Greenstein

Francesco Fimiani

Lead Coordinator

Francesco Fimiani

Lead Coordinator

Email:info@example.com

LEAD COORDINATOR AND LIASON, LOGISTICS TEAM MEMBER

Francesco Fimiani

Luca Agostini

Luca Agostini

My name is Luca Agostini, and I decided to challenge myself to do the EPPC 2024 project alongside my peers at the Hertie School of Global Governance. Hertie is an institution that tries to push you and prepare you for a professional working environment. I consider the possibility of organizing EPPC to be an extension of this preparation for the “real world” and an opportunity to collaborate with my peers and make meaningful connections.

CONTENT TEAM LEAD

Luca Agostini

Anisha Pathak

Content Team Lead

Anisha Pathak

Content Team Lead

I am Anisha Pathak, hailing from India, and I am honoured to be the first member of my family to embark on a journey to pursue a Master's Degree abroad. This opportunity instills in me a profound sense of responsibility, not only to excel in my academic pursuits but also to represent India on a broader scale and to bring pride to my family. With three years of professional experience in the policy domain, I have had the privilege to work in areas such as sanitation, healthcare, digitalization, and infrastructure. This experience has deepened my understanding of critical issues and has ignited my passion for effecting positive change. I look forward to the academic and professional opportunities that Hertie University has to offer, aiming to contribute effectively to both my field of study and to the betterment of our society.

CONTENT

Anisha Pathak

Julio Vázquez Aguilar

Julio Vázquez Aguilar

Hello, my name is Julio Vázquez, an IR professional and an MPP candidate from Mexico. I joined the EPPC, as part of the logistics team, because I am eager to expand my learning on European affairs and be part of the debates on relevant topics from the region’s approach. Also, I would like to contribute with my experience in event organization and my perspective after working at a development bank and a human rights center for the last few years.

CONTENT

Julio Vázquez Aguilar

Ben David Pabst

Ben David Pabst

Hey, I'm Ben, and I am very passionate about Europe and the EU. While Europe is facing many different future challenges, I am happy to contribute to the EPPC to bring many young European minds together to think about public policy responses that improve the diverse lives and face the unique challenges of all Europeans.

CONTENT

Ben David Pabst

Alessia Noschese

Treasury Team Lead

Alessia Noschese

Treasury Team Lead

I am thrilled at the opportunity to join the organizing team of the European Public Policy Conference as the Treasurer Lead. My deep interest in contributing to impactful discussions on public policy fuels my enthusiasm for this role. I look forward to learning from prominent individuals in the European Union and using my organizational skills to ensure the event's success, thus contributing to shaping the future of European public policy.

TREASURY TEAM LEAD

Alessia Noschese

Anna Natalia Rodriguez

I am eager to be a member of the organizing group of the European Public Policy Conference as a part of the Treasury team, as I am deeply interested in contributing to impactful discussions on public policy. I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals, facilitate meaningful exchanges, and contribute to the success of the event with the potential to shape the future of European public policy. I am especially interested in learning more about the organizational skills to ensure the success of the event from a financial point of view.

Meet the Team

LEAD COORDINATOR AND LIASON, LOGISTICS TEAM MEMBER

Francesco Fimiani

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM LEAD

Krystelle Thomas

COMMUNICATIONS

Kim Thao Schröder

COMMUNICATIONS

Miriam Candelù

COMMUNICATIONS

Architha Menon

LOGISTICS TEAM LEAD

Elise Schermers

LOGISTICS

Rieke Heidkroß

COMMUNICATIONS AND LOGISTICS

Kennedy Greenstein

LEAD COORDINATOR AND LIASON, LOGISTICS TEAM MEMBER

Francesco Fimiani

CONTENT TEAM LEAD

Luca Agostini

CONTENT

Anisha Pathak

CONTENT

Julio Vázquez Aguilar

CONTENT

Ben David Pabst

TREASURY TEAM LEAD

Alessia Noschese

TREASURY AND CONTENT

Anna Natalia Rodriguez