Meet the support & comms team!
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Yelena Maria Ortega
I am currently completing my MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London, having graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Management from the University of Leeds in 2012. Originally from Venezuela, I have been involved in multiple campaigns aimed at environmental protection, social inclusion and poverty alleviation in my home country. That led me to become actively involved in the recently founded ‘Venezuelan Green Party’ by promoting the organisation’s political agenda in the international community. I have worked in several emission-reduction schemes following the directive of the Kyoto Protocols’ Clean Development Mechanism and raised environmental awareness in nature conservation through educational programmes. I am passionate about environmental issues, policy, management and sustainable development. Recently, my interest has turned towards understanding the impact of climate change on food security and infrastructure, which is the main topic in my final master’s dissertation. I find literature and politics fascinating, and I also enjoy outdoor sports such as rowing and jogging. |
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Jimmy Ursell
My name’s Jimmy and I study philosophy at the University of Southampton. I'm really excited about being on the comms and support team this year! I have a passion and enthusiasm for living lightly on the Earth, and am aware of the imperative for immediate action to prevent further climate change. I plan on running a campaign at my University to raise awareness of the COP19 summit. I also hope to utilize social media and film to this end. I am keen to listen to and share ideas with the rest of the team and look forward to meeting everyone at the training weekend in September. Have an amazing summer. |
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Ruth Magennis
I'm a 24 year old Law and Spanish graduate from Queen's University, Belfast. I currently work in community development with the West Belfast Partnership Board, but I have always been passionately interested in environmental matters and nature. I am constantly exploring the link between a healthy environment and the wellbeing of the community. I also help several organisations such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace campaign on a local level against planning and policy that is bad for the environment and bad for the planet as a whole, for example, the recent push to start fracking for gas in the UK. In my spare time I go walking in the hills surrounding Belfast and try (and fail!) to surf up on the North coast of Ireland. |
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Harrison Carter
I am currently studying for an intercalated BSc in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol after two years of pre-clinical medicine, and in September I’ll be moving on to Clinical School. I have previously taken a Certificate of Mastery at MIT’s Department of Economics on Global Poverty and am currently undertaking a Certificate on the Health Impacts of Climate Change from Harvard University’s School of Public Health. I first became interested in efforts to engage the wider public with environmental policy when I gave evidence to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee on the future of aviation. I was one of the youngest people to have given evidence to a Select Committee in their entire history. My aim is to bring policy, political and press experience to the support team. I currently serve as Policy and Advocacy Director at Medsin-UK and was previously the Member of the UK Youth Parliament for Sheffield and acted as the UK Youth Parliament’s National Media Spokesperson. I’ve worked under the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, supporting initiatives to engage young people in politics and worked with the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit at No. 10 Downing Street on the Big Society and National Citizen Service. |
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Grace Remmington
I am currently working in India in the Thar Desert, researching and writing for an NGO which specialises in drought mitigation. I am currently learning a lot about the links between climate change, water security and health in this region, and recently wrote this blog on the topic . Before India, I was working in Nicaragua teaching environmental education and sustainable development as part of DFID's 'International Citizenship Scheme'. I believe that young people have the ability to affect great social change: we just have to take it!! I have been interested in climate change for many years, but, whilst I was at university, I studied a module which focused specifically on climate change which changed my life. Now I would like to work in water security and climate change. My twitter is @GraceRemmington - tweet me! |
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Agata J. Pawlowska
I am a Public Affairs Partner based in Brussels; my professional role is to anticipate policy developments, craft strategies, build relationships and represent the Polish Economic Congress Foundation in the EU and Polish institutions. With an academic background in International Relations, Political Science, EU and International Law, combined with professional experience including NGOs, European Parliament and multinational corporations, I am a professional committed to making a difference. The main policy areas I’m interested in are environment and energy, with a special focus on the EU ETS, carbon capture and storage and renewable energy. Representing the Polish Economic Congress Foundation, I follow discussions, programs and initiatives promoting research, innovation and sustainability of Polish enterprises in Europe. I have also actively participated to several Chamber of Commerce policy working groups and am fluent in Polish, English and Italian, along with basic Russian and Greek. |
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Aamirah Patel
Hi, I’m Aamirah. In September, I will be entering the final year of my History degree at the University of Kent. I have been interested in climate change issues after studying Geography at A-level, and I am particularly concerned about the impacts on food security and the well-being of communities globally. I have been able to work closely with these issues through my involvement on the Oxfam National Youth Board, engaging with other young people to campaign creatively and effectively. I am looking forward to working as part of the Support and Comms team this year! |
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Louise Vallely
Hello, my name is Louise and this September I will be entering the third year of my Geography degree. From a young age I have been very interested in what I can do to help protect the world we live in. I have grown up in the countryside in a place outside Armagh in Ireland, and love nothing more than going for walks and sporting activities in the beautiful surroundings. One of the reasons I decided to complete a degree in Geography was to find out more about climate change and learn what we can do as a country to reduce its impacts. I am passionate about also helping to reduce the effects that climate change has on health both in developed and developing countries. I have a keen interest in starting to teach people from a young age the effects of climate change. Therefore alongside Healthy Planet I hope to educate to the young people of the world the effect that climate change is having and what they as the future workers of the world can do to reduce its impacts. You can follow me on twitter @Louise_Vallely. |
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