Board of Directors

Board Leader

Theodor Himmel connects students with experts in diplomatic and economic affairs. Together with his colleagues, he built EPIS Think Tank into one of the largest student-led think tanks in Europe and also initiated the EPIS Network. He currently serves as Chairman of EPIS. Alongside this, after completing an LL.M. at Leiden University, he is finalizing his legal training as a law clerk at the Regional Court of Baden-Baden. Currently, he works as a consultant in a Munich-based family office.

Data & Audit

Daniel Gerjets is an expert in bioengineering. He is the founder of MaDeCa.

External Affairs

Ferdinand Wegener is the Co-Founder of EPIS and the current Head of Delegations. He studied law at the University of Cologne with a focus on European & International Law. He has led EPIS delegations to the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa, the Paris Defence & Strategy Forum and the Munich Security Conference. His main topics of research are security policy and defense technology, with a specific interest in military aviation.

External Affairs

Giray Özay holds a Master’s in Economics from the University of Cologne and, alongside his work in fund management, is currently writing his PhD thesis on the geopolitics of Turkey.

Design Affairs

Hanjala currently pursues a B.Sc. at KUET and working as a social media manager and graphic designer on Upwork. He likes to take full responsibility for my tasks and communicate clearly and respectfully. Hanjala enjoys leading teams and working through creative or technical challenges. He stays focused and positive, even when things get tough, and always aim to make a real impact wherever he is involved. He appreciates working with good people, new ideas, and creating work that speaks for itself

Internal Affairs

Jalese Gordon is an emerging leader in global affairs, holding a BA in International Relations from Jagiellonian University and studying Politics and Security at UCL. Her interests center on diplomacy, conflict, and human rights. As Chairwoman of the Antigua & Barbuda Athletes Commission and a former Olympic sailor, she combines international experience, youth coaching, and sport governance to advance representation and community impact.

Administrative Affairs

Johannes Hollunder is pursuing an M.A. in International Studies at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. His research focuses on international security, East Asian geopolitics, and comparative political systems. At EPIS, he is responsible for administrative tasks, and social media activities.

External Affairs

Kaya studies International Relations and Organisations at Leiden University and concentrates on the intersection of economics, business strategy, and governance. His work explores how organisations and industries respond to policy, market dynamics, and technological change.

Technical Affairs

Leonard Strohwald is engaged in a B.Sc. Mathematics at the Technical University of Munich. Bridging his interest for both international relations and technology, he interned at EPIS Thinktank in 2024, contributing to the establishment of the EPIS Reports and the social media presence. Currently he is the Director of Technical Affairs at EPIS, leading the technical team which is responsible for the website and internal automization processes.

Internal Affairs

Leticia Knoop holds a degree in Arts and Culture where she focused on ethnography, political discourse analysis, and conceptual analysis. Leticia is now pursuing a master’s degree in Anglophone Literature and Culture which reflects her interest in the intersection of sociolinguistics, media, and identity. Her mission is to bridge research and policy through culturally informed analysis.

External Affairs

Neele Henry Seifert is a law student at Bielefeld University (DE) with a research focus on the MENA region and East Asia. Recently he concluded an internship at the German-Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Tel Aviv.

External Affairs

Pau Gutiérrez Balle is a graduate student in Psychology and Criminology and Prevention Policies currently pursuing a MD in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies at the University of Glasgow, with a strong interest in threat analysis, digital environment and strategic risk. Through internships like at the Guardia Urbana of Barcelona, his research has focused on cybercrime, security policies and criminal profiling.

Internal Affairs

Senem is a History and International Relations undergraduate student, specialising in international security and defence, intelligence, UK/US foreign policy and Russia and Eastern Europe. Throughout her work and studies, she seeks to analyse global security frameworks in a world of heightened geopolitical tension and rapid technological change. In her future career, Senem aims to help address the evolving challenges of modern warfare by focusing on human rights and collective security.

Technical Affairs

A graduate of Delft University of Technology with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science & Engineering, Teodor is currently a Software Engineer at Microsoft, where he contributes to cutting-edge technological solutions. His passion for technology extends beyond development, driving a growing interest in digital governance and security policy. Teodor is eager to explore research that bridges innovation and regulation in the tech space. With a strong entrepreneurial mindset, he aspires to create impactf

External Affairs

Valentina developed a passion for law and international affairs early on, leading to a Law degree from the University of Trento specialized in international and European law. She then pursued an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy at the College of Europe, focusing on EU's external action. Through field research and professional experiences in developing countries, she developed a strong interest in children’s rights and women’s empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa.