Augusto Gonzalez is the President of Young European Leadership and currently serves as Head Delegate and Sherpa of the European Union Delegation to the G20 Youth Summit 2025. He holds a Master’s degree in Global Development from the University of Copenhagen and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, Berkeley. A seasoned voice in youth diplomacy, Augusto has been actively engaged in the G20 Youth process since 2018. In 2024, he served as Head Delegate of the EU to the G7 Youth Summit and assumed the role of EU Chair for both the G7 and G20 Youth processes. With experience living and working across six countries on three continents, Augusto brings a truly international perspective to his work—committed to fostering youth engagement in global governance and policymaking.
Maia is an MSc Candidate at the University of Edinburgh, with experience in economic and fiscal policy. Experience includes working with the United Nations’ agencies on research projects to help achieve sustainable economic growth and human development, along with completing numerous internships at NGOs and the Civil Service on their Fast Stream pathway for university students. Internationally, work experience stretches from speaking as a Delegate for Venezuela at NYU Abu Dhabi in their UNESCO Committee for the CWMUN Conference to working on the Covid Response Tracker for the UNDP/UN Women. Maïa is currently a UK Delegate for the UN Women and a Global Youth Ambassador for Theirworld. Outside global development work, Maïa owns a gallery specializing in fashion and music photography.
Ana is a political science student passionate about education and youth empowerment. Her passion for international relations led her to Leiden University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Her commitment to continuous learning is evident through her participation in various language courses and online education programs at esteemed institutions like Oxford University. Outside academia, Ana is an accomplished debater and mentor, having won multiple awards. Ana’s dedication extends to volunteer work, where she engages with disadvantaged youth, fostering personal growth and providing educational support. During her academic journey, Ana undertook an enriching internship at the Representation of the European Commission, where she delved into the intricacies of European governance and policy-making. As a Secretary General at YEL, she aims to bridge the gap between the European Youth and the European institutions with a belief in the power of the youth to shape their own future.
Federico is an ambitious Italian student whose journey took a significant turn at the age of 15 when he moved to Germany. He has completed his studies in Business and Economics, and is now continuing his education at the TU München, focusing on Sustainable Engineering. His extensive volunteer work, combined with practical business experiences, has equipped him with a unique perspective on driving sustainable positive change in today’s economy. He seeks to build a network of young leaders ready to challenge and innovate modern structures. Federico is committed to inspiring his peers to actively engage with the EU and promote cross-cultural collaboration towards a more sustainable future.
Alba is a political science student at the University of Warwick in the UK, with a multicultural background and a strong commitment to international development and humanitarian action. Her commitment to social inclusion and youth empowerment led her to take part in several volunteering roles at societies including Student Action for Refugees and Homeless Action Society, where she worked with like-minded people to facilitate the integration of different groups into the community. Experienced in policy analysis, strategic communication, and advocacy work through companies including FleishmanHillard EU. She is also, enthusiastic about languages and speaks both English and Spanish with fluency as well as French and wants to expand her knowledge of German and Mandarin. As the Director of Delegations at YEL she is looking to give young people the opportunity to participate in high level conferences and represent the European youth, whilst also empowering and training them so that they have the skills necessary to drive the future of European institutions
Marios Chalaris holds a M.Eng in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from UNIWA, along with postgraduate qualification from the Institute of Charterer Shipbrokers (ICS) and negotiation courses at the University of Michigan. Marios is the European Union Delegate at Y7 Summit 2025, in Energy & Environment Track, the Co-Founder and President of the Greek chapter of International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC - Greek YNG), executive committee member of M-48 Panel for Nuclear Propulsion ,Vice President in YoungShip Greece and previous President of SNAME SSC. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, including first-place finishes in international competitions and scholarships for his academic and professional achievements. Professionally, Marios serves as a Shipbroker, Business Development Executive, and Naval Architect at P&P Marine Consultants, where he specializes in Brokering, Technical Consulting, Claims Cases and managing complex negotiations. Beyond his professional life, Marios is an accomplished water polo athlete, having won eight national championships in Greece from junior to men's.
Laura is an advocate for sustainable development with broad experience in development cooperation, currently working as an Analyst at IFU, Denmark's Development Finance Institution and holding a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Global Development. Her studies and professional experiences have given her a deep understanding of development policies promoting poverty alleviation and inequality reduction. Laura’s professional experience spans across various organizations such as IFU, the OECD, GIZ and two international NGOs: ActionAid and Action Against Hunger. All these experiences have exposed her to the assessment of development aid and its effectiveness from a multilateral perspective, evaluating the impact on the SDGs and contributing to international development efforts through poverty and hunger alleviation and advocacy at the grassroots level. Beyond her professional endeavors, Laura is a vocal advocate for youth representation in decision-making processes. Apart from serving as Operations Director at YEL, she has been involved in other youth organizations such as AIESEC and is currently serving as president of JEF Spain.
Manray is a Graduate of The University of Edinburgh with a Master’s in Sport Policy, Management and International Development who looks to provide a fresh perspective in the direction of communication with the team. With previous experience in communications and partnerships throughout his time at Premier Sports Network and Hibernian Football Club, working with C-suite clients and notable partners, he looks to further explore the pathway, via policy-making and discussions, in promoting sports within the youth who have limited resources to access one of the biggest industries that brings people together to progress global development. Additionally, Manray is a UN Women UK Delegate, contributing to accelerating gender equality and empowering all women and girls. With a focus on addressing poverty and strengthening institutions with a gender perspective, he collaborated with representatives from Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited NGOs worldwide. Away from YEL, Manray is an avid tennis player, having completed to a national level and travelling across the UK for tournaments, including the widely-recognised British Tour.
Gemma Núñez Fulgencio is the Director of Finance at Young European Leadership (YEL), a position she has held since April 2025. She joined YEL after working in the financial departments of prominent corporate groups in the automotive and luxury sectors. Alongside her professional career, Gemma has built a strong trajectory in the non-profit sector, where she has excelled in strategic thinking, institutional representation both nationally and internationally, and the development of youth participation and advocacy initiatives across Europe. She holds a degree in Economics and International Relations, and her recent academic achievements further strengthen her profile as a resilient, versatile, and results-driven professional with a clear international vocation.
Kasia is a Finance Officer at YEL. She has graduated with a BA in Politics and International Relations from Queen Mary University of London in the summer of 2024, where she also worked as a Policy Associate at the Global Policy Institute. She is now onto her Masters at ESCP in MSc Paris in International Business and Diplomacy. She had been an intern at the Polish Embassy in Washington DC, while she was studying at an exchange at George Washington University. She is interested in international dialogue and cooperation, which she engages with as a Member of the Polish Forum of Young Diplomats. She is a globally minded individual, who hopes to facilitate as many opportunities for young people as possible, by working with the Partnerships Team.
Ciarán is a planetarian-focused sustainability advocate that has grown up in a post-conflict society, where his passions for conservation, sustainability research and system optimisation has led him to becoming a prominent youth ambassador for Northern Ireland in how sustainability and peace relationships can flourish together. Ciaran has graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a BSc in Chemistry and a MSc in Leadership for Sustainable Development, along with two DegreePlus awards. He’s chair of the Belfast Climate Commission’s Youth Working Group, Board Member of Ulster Wildlife and climate coordinator at Groundwork NI. He has a colourful repertoire of experiences throughout a myriad of industries, representing Northern Ireland and youth voices on national and international platforms, relating to sustainability education. He’s helped start multiple social enterprises, has international experiences in conservation, science, leadership, business, teaching, societal relationship building, etc. and continues to learn Portuguese, Spanish and Irish in his spare time.'
Vincent is interested in global politics and governance, Vincent graduated with a BSc in Global Studies (cum laude) from Maastricht University. He is a Young European Ambassador bridging the EU and its eastern neighbourhood. As part of a diverse range of organizations and networks, he is strengthening the voice of the youth in national, international, and global policymaking. Currently, Vincent is pursuing his master’s degree in public policy, studying in Paris and Berlin. As part of the Delegations Team, he eagerly supports young people from diverse backgrounds to navigate international politics and make their voices heard.
Elena is a third-year Bachelor of Global Governance student at the University of Rome, Tor Veragta. The previous semester, she left for an exchange program Erasmus+ at the University of Carlos III of Madrid, where she discovered what she would like to do in the future: international security. Now, she is looking forward to dedicating her next studies to the field of security. During her academic studies, she was selected as an intern at the Mexican Embassy in Italy, where she improved her Spanish skills. In addition, Elena is active in different associations and organizations involving security, such as Women in International Security, Student Movement for International Organisation, and Dossier Difesa.
Giovanni Chiacchio is a foreign policy analyst whose fields of study are international relations and strategic studies. His goal is to contribute to the formation of a more stable, secure and sustainability-focused international order. He is currently graduating in International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Padua and in Defense and Security Sciences at the Link Campus University of Rome. Giovanni got a Master in Leadership for International Relations and Made in Italy at the Italia USA Foundation and attended the 2022 Summer Academy of the Heritage Foundation. He had also carried out an internship at Confindustria Veneto. His interests include both the private sector and research. Giovanni is currently working with some Italian think tanks and newspapers.
Gregorio Vichi is a young professional with a strong passion for European Affairs. With over three years of experience in the European NGO world, he has built his expertise through roles at organizations such as the European University College Association (EucA) and Generation Climate Europe before joining the YEL team. These experiences, combined with his commitment to youth empowerment, have shaped his focus on key areas such as sustainability, education and EU funding instruments. Gregorio holds an Erasmus Mundus Master's in European Politics, specializing in European Policymaking, which has sharpened his analytical and critical approach to addressing pressing European challenges. Currently based in Vienna, Gregorio is delving deeper into EU Cohesion Policy as a Junior Policy and Communication Officer at the Interreg Central Europe Joint Secretariat. He continues to bring his passion and expertise to the forefront of his work with YEL and beyond.
Aurora is a student at the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University and also studies Law at Dimitrie Cantemir University. With four years of debate experience, she has developed strong public speaking, critical thinking, and persuasive communication skills. Aurora is actively involved in organizations such as the European Youth Parliament, ELSA and AIESEC, where she gained hands-on experience in political communication, leadership, and event coordination. As coordinator of the marketing and fundraising department at SSSP NGO, she contributes to strategic partnerships and youth political education. Her academic and extracurricular work reflects a strong interest in international politics, diplomacy, and sustainable development, supported by her engagement in projects like NAPOMUN, SIMPE, and EUROCITIES.