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Ole von Uexküll Portrait

Executive Director

Ole von Uexküll

E-mail: ole [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Ole

Ole leads the work of the Foundation. Since becoming the Executive Director in 2006, he has developed the Foundation from a secretariat of two employees to today’s team of around 20 people across several offices. With his colleagues, he has built up the support and protection work for Laureates and the Foundation’s international education network. Ole has evaluated nominees for the Right Livelihood Award in more than 35 countries around the globe.

Ole holds Master’s degrees in Environmental Science (Lund University) and European Studies (Freie Universität, Humboldt Universität, and Technische Universität Berlin). After his studies, he won a fellowship for the Postgraduate Programme in International Affairs of the Robert Bosch Foundation, the German National Academic Foundation, and the German Foreign Office.

Ole has worked at the German Parliament in Berlin, the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris, and the European Parliament in Brussels. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights in Berlin and a Trustee of Grassroots Foundation.

Chan Montmeat Portrait

Junior Research Officer

Chan Montmeat

E-mail: chan.montmeat [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Chan

Chan supports our Research efforts as a Junior Research Officer in our Geneva office.

She holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratisation from the Global Campus of Human Rights, and wrote several theses on the EU Rule of Law crisis.

Jenny Jansson Pearce Portrait

Deputy Director

Jenny Jansson Pearce

E-mail: jenny [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Jenny

Jenny plays an essential role in steering Right Livelihood’s operations as Deputy Director.

Jenny works in close partnership with the Executive Director to implement the organisational strategy and leads Right Livelihood’s organisational development. She is also responsible for leading and evolving Right Livelihood’s programme and communications work.

Jenny’s previous experience has focussed on international development cooperation, social change, democracy and human rights. From 2017 to 2021, she served as Managing Director of SKL International (SKLI), a non-profit company owned by The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) that develops and implements international development projects to strengthen democracy and good governance at the local level. 

Prior to this position, she was the Secretary General of the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, which promotes human rights in Sweden and internationally. 

Jenny holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stockholm University and has also studied Economics at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and Human Rights and Eastern European studies at a Master’s level at Uppsala University.

Steffi Geilhof Portrait

Executive Coordinator

Steffi Geilhof

E-mail: steffi [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Steffi

As Executive Coordinator, Steffi works closely with the Executive Director. She focuses on the ED and the Foundation’s forward planning, efficiency and coordination of internal and external matters.

Steffi has worked with many different parts of the organisation starting with a traineeship in 2011. With a background in the social sciences, she holds a Master’s degree in Eastern European Studies and has experience as a trainer for non-formal education.

Adam McBeth Portrait

Head of Research

Adam McBeth

E-mail: adam [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +41 (0)22 5550942

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+ About Adam

Adam McBeth is Right Livelihood’s Head of Research, based in our Geneva office. His work consists of overseeing the nomination process, which involves the handling of incoming nominations for the Award, conducting desk research on the nominees and occasionally travelling to visit their projects and work in the field.

Adam has been with the Foundation since the beginning of 2017. Before joining the Foundation, Adam completed his Master’s degree in International Relations at the University of Kent, in Canterbury, United Kingdom.

Mariana Vargas Climent Portrait

Research Officer

Mariana Vargas Climent

E-mail: mariana.climent [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Mariana

Mariana Vargas Climent is the Right Livelihood Research Officer based in Geneva. Her work consists of overseeing the nomination process, which involves the handling of incoming nominations for the Award, conducting desk research on the nominees and occasionally travelling to visit their projects and work in the field.

Mariana holds a Master of Laws in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Before joining the Foundation, she worked with the OHCHR Special Procedures Branch, specifically with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Katia Leffler Portrait

Donor Relations Manager

Katia Leffler

E-mail: katia.leffler [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +4670 21 22 441

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+ About Katia

Ekaterina serves as the Donor Relations Manager at Right Livelihood’s Stockholm office, leading the organisation’s fundraising strategy, overseeing the fundraising team, and managing donor relationships.

Before joining Right Livelihood, Ekaterina worked with the executive branch of technology companies with global reach. She holds a degree in Translational and Development Policy Studies from the University of Heidelberg.

James Nuthall Portrait

Operations Manager (Maternity cover)

James Nuthall

E-mail: james.nuthall [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About James

James is interim Operations Manager covering Caroline who is on parental leave. James is based in Stockholm and is responsible for coordinating work processes and maintaining and developing internal systems for our offices.

James’ background is in project management and business development in the non-profit sector, having worked for organisations supporting homeless people and those with substance use issues.

Ellynn Del Perugia Portrait

Administrative Officer

Ellynn Del Perugia

E-mail: ellynn.del.perugia [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Ellynn

Ellynn is an Administrative Officer based in the Geneva Office. Her role is to provide support to the team to ensure the smooth running of the office. She assists with cross-cutting work processes such as finance routines and event logistics.

 Ellynn holds a Master’s degree in European Studies. She later served as a trainee at the Alliance française in Tunis and the European Parliament in Brussels. Prior to joining our team, she also worked as a teacher in a primary school.

Charlie Goetjes Portrait

Junior Admin Officer

Charlie Goetjes

E-mail: charlene.goetjes [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Charlie

As Junior Admin Officer, Charlie is based in our Stockholm office and works in internal operations and fundraising activities, supporting the Executive Coordinator and Operations Manager.

She studied Linguistics and has previously worked at as coordinator in youth exchange programmes and with the Red Cross in Nicaragua.

Leandra Pedretti Portrait

Fundraising Trainee

Leandra Pedretti

E-mail: leandra.pedretti [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Leandra

Leandra supports our fundraising efforts as a Fundraising Trainee based in our Stockholm office. 

She holds a Master’s degree in International Development & Management from Lund University, and has previous experience within feminist peacebuilding and Swedish civil society.

Caroline Tregaro Portrait

Operations Manager (On Maternity Leave)

Caroline Tregaro

E-mail: caroline.tregaro [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +46 (0)79 359 88 17

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+ About Caroline

Caroline is interim Operations Manager while our Head of Internal Operation is on parental leave. Caroline is based in our Stockholm office and is responsible for coordinating cross-cutting work processes, such as financial control and human resources, and manages internal systems in the offices.

Caroline has a background in project management and fundraising operations. She has previously worked for a British educational non-profit organisation and Oxfam GB.

Emoke Bebiak Portrait

Head of Communications

Emoke Bebiak

E-mail: emoke.bebiak [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +41 (0) 78 3338 484

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+ About Emoke

Emoke is Right Livelihood’s Head of Communications based in our Geneva office. Besides leading the work of the Communications sub-team, she works on media liaison, especially with English-language and international press. She also produces content to highlight the work of Right Livelihood Laureates.

Previously, she worked as a correspondent for the German Press Agency (dpa) covering the United Nations in New York and the European Union and NATO in Brussels. She has also reported from Johannesburg and Washington, DC. She holds degrees in Journalism and Human Rights.

Amy Au Portrait

Digital Communications Manager

Amy Au

E-mail: amy [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +46 (0)73 380 13 18

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+ About Amy

Amy Au oversees the Foundation’s digital communications, strategizing for and managing campaigns and content production on platforms including social media, website and newsletters. She is also responsible for video and graphic production at the Foundation.

Outside of her current role, she is the Communications Lead at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth).

Prior to joining the Foundation, she was the Digital Communications Manager at the Danish sustainability think tank Sustainia in Copenhagen, and a journalist in Hong Kong.

Amy holds an MSc. in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford and furthered her studies in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University.

Nayla Azzinnari Portrait

Communications Manager Latin America

Nayla Azzinnari

E-mail: nayla [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +54 9 11 5460 9860

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+ About Nayla

Located in Argentina, Nayla supports the Foundation and Laureates through communications and press work in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world. In close contact with Laureates based in her region, she is also involved in the Foundation’s protection and education projects.

Nayla holds a degree in Social Communication Sciences from Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and continues her studies in Social Anthropology at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), where she focuses on social protests, politics and women’s empowerment.

Mikaela Fredrikson Portrait

Communications Officer

Mikaela Fredrikson

E-mail: mikaela.fredrikson [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +46 (0)70 407 03 25

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+ About Mikaela

Mikaela is a Communications Officer based in our Stockholm office. Her responsibilities include overseeing Right Livelihood’s design work, the production of graphics and printed materials, maintaining the digital media archive and supporting the Digital Communications Manager with tasks related to the website and social media.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and has previous international experience in global development in Argentina and Australia.

 

 

Sydney Nelson Portrait

Communications Officer

Sydney Nelson

E-mail: sydney.nelson [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Sydney

Sydney is a Communications Officer based in our Stockholm office. Her responsibilities include media liaison with English-language and international press, as well as highlighting the work of Right Livelihood Laureates through articles and essays.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a master’s degree in Marketing and Communications.

Julia Naumann Portrait

Communications Advisor for German-language media

Julia Naumann

E-mail: naumann [@] betternau.de

Phone: +49 (0)152 557 540 51

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+ About Julia

In tandem with Nina Tesenfitz, Julia Naumann operates as the main touchpoint for the Foundation towards German-language media and cooperation partners. Julia is based in Berlin.

Julia is the Managing Director of better nau GmbH. She offers a broad range of services in the field of communications, including strategic communication consulting. She used to work as a journalist for AFP and taz and was a spokesperson for Amnesty International.

Nina Tesenfitz Portrait

Communications Advisor for German-language media

Nina Tesenfitz

E-mail: presse [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +49 (0)170 5763 663

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+ About Nina

In tandem with Julia Naumann, Nina Tesenfitz operates as the main touchpoint for the Foundation towards German-language media and cooperation partners. Nina is based in Berlin.

Nina is an independent Communications Consultant and has been advising several non-profit organisations in the past years. Before starting Tesenfitz Kommunikation, she worked as Spokesperson for “Anne Will,” Deputy Head of Communications at Amnesty International Germany, and on the editorial team of Der Spiegel.

Alessandra Canova Portrait

Director of the Geneva Office

Alessandra Canova

E-mail: alessandra [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +41 (0)22 5550942

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+ About Alessandra

Based in Geneva, Alessandra is responsible for maintaining regular communication with Laureates, developing and disseminating information about their work at the international level, and expanding their networks by identifying and reinforcing new partnerships and international opportunities.

With an academic background in law, Alessandra has worked for 20 years with humanitarian response specifically within the context of complex emergencies related to several African countries.

Camilla Argentieri Portrait

Protection and Advocacy Manager

Camilla Argentieri

E-mail: camilla [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +41 (0) 77 969 38 25

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+ About Camilla

Camilla works as Protection and Advocacy Manager at Right Livelihood’s Geneva office. She leads the advocacy programme to increase the protection of Laureates working in repressive environments, as well as our strategic engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms.

Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked at the European Parliament’s Secretariat of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and at the Brussels-based European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights.

Fédora Bernard Portrait

Advocacy Officer

Fédora Bernard

E-mail: fedora.bernard [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +41 77 248 82 88

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+ About Fédora

Fédora Bernard is Right Livelihood’s Advocacy Officer based in Geneva. She contributes to mapping international advocacy opportunities and works towards implementing advocacy strategies with UN Human Rights Mechanisms, to support Laureates working in repressive environments.

Before joining the foundation, Fédora worked for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, UN Women and the Right Livelihood Laureate International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).

Maike Hansen Portrait

Junior Programme Officer

Maike Hansen

E-mail: maike.hansen [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Maike

Maike Hansen works as a Junior Programme Officer at Right Livelihood’s Stockholm Office where she supports the continuous work to connect with Laureates and to inform about their work. She assists the planning, coordination and outreach around our projects and supports the foundation’s cooperation with Swedish Civil Society and politicians.

Maike has a background in Peace and Conflict Studies with a focus on Gender and Development. Prior to joining Right Livelihood, Maike supported emergency operations at the Humanitarian Directorate of Welthungerhilfe (WHH), and coordinated European-wide projects for Amnesty International with a focus on youth engagement in human rights advocacy.

Samah Saeed Portrait

Education Officer

Samah Saeed

E-mail: samah.saeed [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Samah

Samah is an Education Officer based in our Stockholm office. Her responsibilities include developing, implementing and evaluating learning resources for activists and university students on systems change based on the examples of the Right Livelihood Laureates. She also co-organises meetings within the global Right Livelihood College network and the Global Campus of Human Rights.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Tourism Management, and in 2018 she completed the course of Leadership, Organizing and Action via Harvard Kennedy School. She has previous international experience in educating, training and coaching Community Organizing to leaders and activists that aim to create positive change in their communities through campaigns and movements.

Stina Thanner Portrait

Programme Manager

Stina Thanner

E-mail: stina [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +46 (0)72 354 11 98

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+ About Stina

Stina Thanner works as a Programme Manager at Right Livelihood’s Stockholm Office. Her focus is on the development of the Foundation’s support work with Laureates and maintaining contacts with Swedish civil society. Moreover, Stina coordinates both digital and physical events with Laureates around the Award Presentation.

Stina has a background in International Relations and Global Studies with a focus on Security and Democracy. She has previously worked with co-planning projects for non-profit organisations including Save the Children/Gothenburg.

Jon Warmington-Lundström Portrait

Education Manager

Jon Warmington-Lundström

E-mail: jon.warmington.lundstrom [@] rightlivelihood.org

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+ About Jon

Jon works as the Education Manager at Right Livelihood’s Stockholm office. His focus in on the development of the Foundation’s educational work, encouraging behavioural change, fostering activism and focussing on Laureate’s own methods. He also coordinates the cooperations with global university networks such as the Right Livelihood College and the Global Campus of Human Rights.

Jon has a background in peace and sustainability with previous experience working at campaigns organisations, a network of International Baccalaureate colleges and with university partnership building. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development and Peace Studies, University of Bradford and a Master’s in Sustainable Development, Uppsala University.

Kajsa Övergaard Portrait

Senior Advisor

Kajsa Övergaard

E-mail: kajsa [@] rightlivelihood.org

Phone: +46 (0)8 70 20 340

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+ About Kajsa

Kajsa has worked at the Foundation since 2008 and has deep knowledge about the Laureates and the history of the Award. During 2024, Kajsa will focus on transferring her knowledge and experience in different ways within the team.

Kajsa majored in Cultural Anthropology but also studied Geography, Global Studies and Tropical Environmental Studies. She has previously worked at the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, the Nordic Africa Institute and a variety of other organisations during the past 40 years with a focus on peace, justice and sustainability issues.