Our Team
MIRCURY consist of a dedicated team that supports the vision of developing new and creative ways of approaching international conflicts. Our team is a diverse collective, with members originating from different parts of Europe and encompassing a wide range of backgrounds, ages, genders, and professional experiences across various continents. Our strength lies in our multidisciplinary approach to conflict resolution, which draws upon our unique perspectives to foster innovative solutions. By embracing our diversity, we create an inclusive environment that nurtures collaboration and enables us to make a tangible impact in promoting peace and understanding.
Patrick de Vries
Board Member & Executive Director
Patrick is a diplomat and a professional in conflict resolution and a former lawyer. He has practiced law in the private sector for several years and conducted international diplomatic negotiations in various capacities, most notably during his assignments in Washington, Beijing, Brussels, Kabul, and the Middle East. Patrick is fascinated by and committed to bridging mindsets of people in violent conflict in different international and cultural settings. He aspires facilitating a roundtable with multiple perspectives that participate equally in conversations. From a young age on, Patrick has traveled across the world. He believes in the value of diversity, distinct views, and listening. Patrick loves to be active; he used to be a competitive football player and he enjoys reading historic novels.
Marleen Boersma
Marleen Boersma is completing her master’s degree in Religion, Conflict, and Globalization, which she is pursuing in her hometown of Groningen, the Netherlands. Driven by a firm belief in the transformative potential of dignity, empathy, and creativity to bridge divides, Marleen’s academic journey has been dedicated to exploring the intricacies of religious conflicts, the challenges of irreconcilable ideas, and the pursuits of more constructive modes of collaboration.
At MIRCURY, Marleen has played an active role in the development of the organization’s multidisciplinary approach, contributing to the establishment of a strong academic background. Looking ahead, she aspires to use her people skills to keep pushing boundaries and think creatively about cultivating change. Outside of her academic pursuits, Marleen is an enthusiastic boulderer, and, when the Dutch weather allows it, windsurfer.
Program Officer
Thomas Plomp
Program Officer
Thomas is currently pursuing his Master's degree in International Relations & Political Science at the Geneva Graduate Institute after having completed his interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
He is driven by his desire to foster a more peaceful and prosperous world, and he firmly believes in the power of empathy and respect to drive positive change on a global scale.
Stefan Hageman
Program Officer
Stefan is a political economist with experience in international development, academic research and project management. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh and the University of Groningen, and having worked and studied in Cairo, Muscat, Scotland and the Hague, he feels most comfortable in an international environment. He has written about economic development in the so-called Global South, Middle Eastern politics and international cooperation, as well as human rights and conflict situations.
Stefan is a multidisciplinarity enthusiast, with a strong belief that sustainable peace and growth can only be accomplished through cooperation and inclusivity. He prefers to work an international context, and with as many groups as possible: from organising high-end conferences to visiting prisoners in prisons abroad, Stefan enjoys connecting groups, organisations and people. Outside of work, he is an enthusiastic writer, home cook and horseback rider, and can often be found in coffee houses enjoying his beloved espresso’s.
Alma Džehverović
BiH Intern
Alma is currently a second-year student of the Master's program in International Relations and Diplomacy at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo. Her dual academic background, since she holds both a bachelor and masters degree in Sociology, and extensive knowledge of the socio-political configurations acquired during her studies enables her to understand various aspects of post-conflict societies: the societal and political alike. Though a researcher at heart, she aspires to demonstrate that theories, as intrinsic hermeneutical spirals, have the power to change the world.
Outside of expanding her knowledge and delving into her interests, Alma dedicates her free time to volunteering at a local dog shelter, enjoying bike rides with friends, and occasionally fostering kittens.
Lejla Hamzakadić
BiH Project Officer
Lejla Hamzakadic holds a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature, with a minor in International Relations from the International University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lejla is passionate about languages, sociolinguistics and the overall impact language has on the international community, especially in regards to peace. She believes that language and communication are at the core of peaceful coexistence and tolerance.
Alexandra Kuzmina
Communications
Alexandra is pursuing her Research Master's degree in Criminology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, after having completed her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Groningen.
She believes, in the future, strategic communications and conflict resolution will be more collaborative and inclusive. We will see a shift towards empathy and understanding, where all parties involved are heard and valued.
Board of Advisors
Our board of advisors is comprised of distinguished experts in conflict resolution, each bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience, and dedication to our mission. With diverse backgrounds in diplomacy, mediation, international law, and community engagement, our board members are united by a common goal: to create sustainable solutions for peace and harmony. Together, they guide our initiatives with strategic vision and unwavering commitment, ensuring that we effectively address the complex challenges of conflict in today's world.
Vasilis is an international executive, business entrepreneur and former ambassador of Cyprus to the United Arab Emirates with 20 years experience in diplomacy. A strong advocate of the multidisciplinary approach to the resolution of current and future societal, political and economic problems, Basil is a proponent of sustainability and innovation both in concept and in application. In between his diverse endeavours and responsibilities, Vasilis strives to find time to continue to learn how to draw and write comics, hoping one day to contribute meaningfully to a graphic novel. In the meantime, he does find time to cook, but never follows a recipe.
Board Member & Co-Executive Director
Vasilis Polemitis