LYMEC Bureau

Jeroen Diepemaat, JOVD, The Netherlands, Jeroen@lymec.eu

Jeroen is a convinced liberal and a devoted young politician. He believes in the power of the individual and the right of freedom. In 2005 he became a member of JOVD and was elected as vice-president of the JOVD-branch in his home region Twente. Ever since, politics became an addiction for him. After being active on as well local and national level, he was elected president of JOVD. In the two years of his mandate he focussed on issues like privacy, freedom of speech and the future of the European Union. Exactly the topics he also wants to adress as LYMEC President.

Besides LYMEC he is city councillor for VVD in the city where he lives, Enschede. Whenever he is not busy with politics, he studies public administration at the University of Twente. He spends the spare free time he has on traveling, reading and listening to music.

Main responsibilities: Political leadership, Chairing LYMEC Bureau, General financial oversight, Representation (ALDE Party Bureau, ELF GA, other ALDE Party, ALDE, IFLRY, LI, MO events)

Territorial responsibility: Overall, Special envoy for Liechtenstein

Vedrana Gujic, HNS, Croatia, vedrana@lymec.eu

Vedrana graduated Political science at the University of Zagreb in 2008. She continued her education with an Advanced Master course in European studies on Faculty of political science in Zagreb. As a student, Vedrana did two internships in the European Parliament, assisting an ALDE MEP and working in the office of the Leader of ALDE Group. She worked in the Croatian Parliament as an assistant advisor to the President of the National Committee for Monitoring the EU Accession Negotiations.Today, she is an advisor in the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia.

Vedrana began her political carrier as an international officer of her youth organisation, mHNS, organising her first LYMEC event in spring 2004 in Zagreb. Since then, she has been actively involved in LYMEC, IFLRY and ISEEL, serving on various events as a delegate, project leader, event organiser and later ISEEL president and LYMEC Political officer.

Vedrana is active in national politics serving as a vice-president of her local organisation and a candidate on her party’s local election lists. Still, her biggest passions remain international relations and European integration, the topics she continues to pursue both academically and professionally.

Main responsibilities: Organisational leadership, Bureau and Secretariat coordination and oversight, LYMEC Statutory events oversight, Programme of Action and Annual reporting, Representation (ALDE Party Council, substitute on other events)

Territorial responsibility: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo

Anne van der Graaf, JD, The Netherlands, anne@lymec.eu

Anne van der Graaf (born 1988) holds a Bachelor degree in Econometrics and Operational Research from the University of Rotterdam and is also studying Sociology at the same university. She has been active in the Dutch liberal youth organization „Jonge Democraten“ for several years and is the former chairwoman their Rotterdam branche. Since 2009 she has been active on the international level representing JD at LYMEC and IFLRY events and visiting sister organisations. During those visits, she learned the value of exchange between liberals of different organisations, how to learn from best practices all over Europe. She is a passionate liberal, believing that individual freedom and responsibilities should be the starting point of any politics.

Main responsibilities: Financial management and control, Budgetary reporting, Drafting annual budgets, Contacts with internal/external auditors, Grants, sponsorships, contracts, Representation (ALDE Party Steering committee)

Territorial responsibility: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

Igor Caldeira, Individual member, Portugal, igor@lymec.eu

Both because in his home country, Portugal, there is no Liberal party, and because he strongly believes in the development of a more united - but more democratic - Europe, Igor has developed his political activity in LYMEC through probably the most innovative mechanism ever created by a European political organization: the Individual Membership.

He believes that the only way to move forward from the crossroads our continent is facing is through an institutional reform of the Union, with a much stronger parliament constituted by members elected both by a single European and the several national constituencies. Besides his opinions on European affairs, Igor is ideologically what some might call a Rawlsekian. For the non-initiated (or to say it otherwise: if you are not a nerd), this means he is a Liberal that supports basic social policies (like Rawls) but that criticizes social and economic engineering and clearly stands against protectionism, interventionism and over-regulation (like Hayek). In addition to these issues, Igor is a strong supporter of abortion rights, LGBT rights and a strict separation (laïcité) of State and religion.

Besides politics and LYMEC, Igor is a researcher in Political, Moral and Economic Philosophy at a Belgian university, where he is doing his PhD. After politics and philosophy (and often mixing them altogether) he loves to travel. Whenever he can, he goes to the Mediterranean, where good food, good wine, good weather and beautiful beaches allow him to spend some holidays in places that simultaneously remind him of his own country.

Main responsibilities: Resolutions, policy proposals, overall political input, Oversight of activities with ALDE, ALDE Party, ELF and other partners, PPYO, EP 2014 young candidates network, Representation (leader of LYMEC delegation to ALDE Party congress)

Territorial responsibility: Portugal, Catalonia(Spain), Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and France

Responsible for following organisations: European Youth Forum, Individual members of LYMEC

Sissel Kvist, RU, Denmark, sissel@lymec.eu

Sissel believes that EU is a great community, bringing peace, democracy and freedom to its citizens. Being campaign responsible fits Sissel perfectly, believing politics should be proactive and visible. If there is a political campaign, you can be sure to see Sissel on the streets spreading the liberal message. Her political interests cover a broad spectrum fromcivil liberties, patients’ rights to completion of the single market.

Main responsibilities: Overall annual campaign management , Facebook/ online campaigns, EP2014 campaign, LYMEC general presentation and branding

Territorial responsibility: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

Responsible for following organisations: ELSN, NCF and NLRU

Ed Sanderson, LY, UK, ed@lymec.eu

Ed has been an active campaigner for liberalism for almost a decade. He believes in a united Europe, working together to solve its common problems with liberal solutions. Whether it is through social, environmental or economic action, Ed believes that liberalism is the best path for freedom and prosperity for every European citizen, and that LYMEC plays an important role in setting such a progressive agenda. However, he is aware that there are many battles and arguments to be won before this can become a reality.

Aside from politics, Ed works as a trainee solicitor. In his spare time, Ed enjoys the films of Alfred Hitchcock, the music of Billy Joel and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Main responsibilities: Website and overall social media, Management of news statements, blog entries, stories and other sections on the website, LYMEC media strategy, Press list and MO communication officers list, Oversight of New Libertas

Territorial responsibility: UK, Gibraltar, Ireland, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Malta, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland,Cyprus