Team

Our team of permanent staff and seconded Senior Advisors combines the expertise and experience needed to achieve the CoE’s objectives and help maximise the potential of European Civilian Crisis Management.

Senior Advisors are seconded by their governments, i.e. CoE members. Should your country be interested in seconding staff to the CoE, please contact us here.

Permanent Staff

Dr Volker Jacoby

Founding Director
Volker is the Founding Director of the CoE. Previously, he was Head of Training at Germany’s Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) and looks back at more than 20 years of work experience in international cooperation.

Marie Wellmann

Head of Director’s Office
Marie is the Head of Director’s Office, supporting the Director in managing the strategic and operational business of the CoE, including with a view to personnel and resource management, organisational development and stakeholder relationships.

Tess Dobek

Head of Administration
Tess is the Head of Administration at the CoE. She has around 25 years’ experience in engineering consultancy in the coordination, management and implementation of International Financial Institution (IFI) and donor-financed infrastructure development projects.

Kathrin Czirr

Administration Assistant
Kathrin is an Administration Assistant at the CoE. She is experienced in accounting, working with a managing board and a board of trustees, and is also experienced in company crisis management.

Leila Pietiläinen

Administration Assistant
Leila is the Administration Assistant at CoE. In the last five years before Leila joined the CoE, she was working in refugee shelters in Berlin.

Laurie Williams

Head of Sector / Strategic Coordinator for Internal Process and Project Management
Laurie is Head of Sector for IPPM and part of the CoE senior management team. Previously, she was Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer for the UK’s Department for Business and Trade at the British Embassy in Berlin.

Niamh Punton

Junior Policy Officer for Public Relations
Niamh is the Junior Policy Officer for Public Relations at the CoE. She holds a Master's in International Relations from the Central European University and previously worked in the humanitarian and development sectors, focusing on children's rights.

Bianca Bálint

Junior Policy Officer for Civilian Crisis Management
Bianca is Junior Policy Officer for Civilian Crisis Management at the CoE. She holds a Master’s degree in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London and has over five years of experience in the field of international cooperation and (research) consultancy.

Mohammed Arshad

Event Manager

Ariane Bonnier

Policy Officer for Knowledge Management
Ariane is the Policy Officer for Knowledge Management. Previously, she was Junior Policy Officer for Knowledge Management at the CoE and before that Ariane was in charge of knowledge management processes at GESCOD, a French NGO working on international cooperation projects.

Joshua Ahearn

Junior Policy Officer for Knowledge Management
Joshua is a Junior Policy Officer for Knowledge Management at the CoE. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the Hertie School and previously worked in migration law in the United States.

Yannick Lilie

Junior Policy Officer for Knowledge Management
Yannick is a Junior Policy Officer for Knowledge Management at the CoE with a focus developing the Knowledge Hub. Previously, he has worked for MSF and has over 10 years of experience working for civil society organisations. He holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution from King’s College London.

Kaisa Kopsa

Political Assistant
Kaisa is a Political Assistant at the CoE. Previously, she worked on civilian crisis management both at the Crisis Management Centre (CMC) Finland and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations. Kaisa holds Bachelor’s degrees in Peace and Conflict Studies and Business Administration, and a Master’s in Communication for Development.

Jannis Ruoff

Political Assistant
Jannis is a Political Assistant at the CoE. Prior to this, he worked with non-profit organisations on environmental affairs, the climate-security nexus, and development cooperation within both the European and international context.

Sara Saccon

Political Assistant
Sara is a Political Assistant at the CoE. She holds a Research Master’s degree in European Studies and Political Science from the University of Maastricht and the University of Cologne.

Senior Advisors

Corina Zavate

Head of Sector / Strategic Coordinator for Political Content and Focus Management
Corina is Head of Sector for PCFM and part of the CoE senior management team. Previously, she was a member of the Political section of the Embassy of Romania in Berlin.

Marianne Flach

Senior Advisor from the Netherlands
Marianne has worked for 30 years with humanitarian agencies such as the UN, international NGOs and with the Dutch government. Gender and human rights have been an important focus throughout her work.

Tomas Meškauskas

Senior Advisor from Lithuania
Tomas’ professional career spans over 30 years of service in the Lithuanian Public Prosecutor‘s Service. Additionally, Tomas has worked in several EU CSDP missions.

Hildegard Buitink

Senior Advisor from the Netherlands
Hildegard is a Senior Advisor at the CoE and worked most recently in the EU CSDP Mission in Ukraine.

Dietrich Lingenthal

Senior Advisor from Germany
Dietrich has worked for over 30 years in the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour and Social affairs including various assignments to embassies and international organisations.

Antti Aaltokallio

Senior Advisor from Sweden
Antti is a Senior Advisor from Sweden, seconded by the Swedish Police Authority. He has extensive experience in Learning and Development, both nationally and within the EU.

Ida Eriksson

Senior Advisor from Sweden
Ida Eriksson is a Senior Advisor on Climate, Environment and Security. She has extensive experience in environmental and climate policy making and implementation, with a degree from the University of Gothenburg.

Aaro Suonio

Senior Advisor from Finland
Aaro Suonio is a Senior Advisor from Finland. Prior to joining the CoE Team he held positions as Head of Administration of CMC Finland and as Chief Specialist at the Ministry for the Interior’s International Affairs Unit, working on Civilian Crisis Management.