Meet the Team

WYCJ Steering Committee

WYCJ’s Steering Committee is composed of several young stubborn optimists from around the world, who collaborate on propelling WYCJ’s initiatives forward. The Steering Committee brings together thematic and regional coordinators who coordinate and strategise the overall approach taken by WYCJ.

  • Aditi with long dark hair in red and blue dress, wearing a long earrings and a nose piercing.

    Aditi Shetye, Litigation Lead, India

    Aditi is an environmental lawyer dedicated to achieving climate justice. At WYCJ, she leads the Legal Advocacy Taskforce and contributes to the Asian Front's development. She is a researcher in Public International Law and Environmental Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL). Aditi holds an LL.M. in Global Environmental Law and Governance and a Master’s Diploma in Law (PGDELP) in India's National Environmental Law and Policy. Prior to specialising in environmental law and climate change law, she practiced civil and criminal law in Mumbai, India.

    Email: aditi@wy4cj.org

  • Ashawnté in a black blazer with a SDG pin and a blue COP28 keycord, wearing long braids with gold cuffs.

    Ashawnté Russell, Caribbean Front Coordinator, Bahamas

    Ashawnté Russell is a young and dynamic environmentalist hailing from The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Over the last 5 years, Ashawnté has been involved with multiple projects and programmes that directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the national, regional, and international communities. Ashawnte is pursing her BSc. in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from the University of The Bahamas. She is currently serving as the EarthDay.org My Future My Voice Youth Ambassador for The Bahamas and is the outgoing Female Youth Climate Ambassador for The Bahamas (2023 – 2024)

    Email: ashawnte@wy4cj.org

  • Henrieke in a black shirt and long blond hair,  wearing two necklaces.

    Henrieke Bünger, Europe Front Coordinator, the Netherlands

    Henrieke holds an LLB in European and International Law as well as an LLM in Environmental Law. Her interest in the climate crisis has strongly influenced both her personal and academic life, working dedicatedly towards utilizing the skills and opportunities at her disposal to contribute to the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. She strongly believes in the power of the law to bring about solution-oriented action and to ensure climate justice as an integral part of the future on our planet. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Environmental Management to bridge the gap between law and science in decision-making.

    Email: henrieke@wy4cj.org

  • José with short hair in a white blouse

    José Daniel Rodríguez-Orúe, Strategic Advisor, Costa Rica

    José serves as Strategic Legal Advisor to World’s Youth for Climate Justice, having previously led its Latin American campaign to advocate for an ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change​. He has supported strategic litigation before the Inter-American and European human rights systems, served as Consulting Attorney for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and provided legal advise to institutions and UN experts. He is also the inaugural Kenneth Roth Practitioner in Residence at Human Rights Watch’s Environment and Human Rights Division. José holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

    Email: jose@wy4cj.org

  • Jule in a white shirt with blonde hair in a bun and sunglasses on her head, wearing long earrings and a blue COP28 keycord.

    Jule Schnakenberg, Executive Director, Germany

    Jule Schnakenberg is a member of the Core-Team of the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ), and has an interest in using (international) law to further progress on climate justice and intergenerational equity.

    Originally from Hamburg (Germany) she now live in The Hague and manages our finances, fundraising and donor relations. Jule is also studying for a Masters in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University.

    Email: jule@wy4cj.org

  • Mariana in a white blouse with short sleeves and long straight dark hair, wearing round glasses with thin frame and a blue COP28 keycord.

    Mariana Campos Vega, Latin-America Front Coordinator, Mexico

    Mariana Campos is a lawyer with experience in public international law, human rights and environmental law. She co-founded Escazú Ahora México to accelerate Mexico's ratification of the Escazú Agreement and its entry into force in the region. Mariana led WYCJ's participation in the oral hearings before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on its Advisory Opinion on Climate Emergency and represented the organisation at COP28 and COP29. She was a student of the 2025 Winter Course at the Hague Academy of International Law and has also participated in the United Nations Career for Climate Action Programme, among other specialised courses in environmental and human rights law.

    Email: mariana@wy4cj.org

  • Nicole in a white shirt sleeves with long dark hair and round glasses.

    Nicole Ponce, Advocacy Lead, Philippines

    Nicole Ponce is Co-Founder and Coordinator of I am Climate Justice (ICJ) movement, Research Fellow to the Normandy Chair for Peace, and a graduate of Juris Doctor from University of San Carlos, Philippines. Her work is focused on using law as a tool for social change especially in the field of climate action and human rights.

    Email: nicole@wy4cj.org

  • Prajwol Bickram Rana - Asia Front Coordinator, Nepal

    Prajwol is a lawyer based in Nepal. He is pursuing a Masters in Political Science at Tribhuvan University. He is also engaged as a Research Consultant (Nepal) for the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy affiliated to the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka on a research project on Crimes against Future Generations. He led a research initiative with South Asian researchers and published a research book titled "A Study of Climate Change Laws and Policies in South Asian Countries" in 2022. Prajwol is interested in the comparative study of environmental laws of South Asian countries, crimes against future generations, human rights, and youth activism. Prajwol believes WYCJ became a platform for him to implement the bookish knowledge of international law into practice by advocating for the Advisory Opinion of ICJ.

    Email: prajwol@wy4cj.org

  • Quint in an orange jacket, wearing a short beard and a green beanie.

    Quint van Velthoven, Communications Lead, the Netherlands

    Quint is a student currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Engineering at Delft University of Technology. He thinks that the ICJ AO is a great milestone in climate justice and that it can lead to more progressive climate policies worldwide. He wants to contribute to WYCJ by improving the communication around the campaign, so that more people learn about and start supporting the campaign for a strong advisory opinion from the world's highest court, as well as climate justice advisory opinions at other international tribunals. In his work as Communications Lead, he is supported by many dedicated campaigners, including Doğa Işık (social media) and Roza de Jong (website & newsletter).

    Email: quint@wy4cj.org

  • Samira in a light blue blouse with short hair, wearing a necklace and small loop hearrings.

    Samira Ben Ali, Campaigns Lead, France

    Originally from the French island of Mayotte, Samira Ben Ali is a passionate climate justice advocate dedicated to raising the voices of vulnerable communities. She has a strong academic background in European and International Environmental Law and Political Sciences. Samira believes that a robust international legal framework is essential to protect current and future generations. Through her work with the World’s Youth for Climate Justice as well as an European Climate Pact Ambassador, she advocates for policies that reflect the concerns and aspirations of young people committed to a sustainable and just future.

    Email: samira@wy4cj.org

  • Theresa in a barrister outfit, wearing green earrings and long dark hair with bangs.

    Theresa Amor-Jürgenssen, Legal Research and Capacity-Building Lead, Austria

    Theresa Amor-Juergenssen holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and has been called to the Bar of England and Wales. She has a comparative law background and a specialized knowledge of the European and the inter-American systems of human rights protection, the application of human rights to armed conflict, and rights-based climate change litigation. She is particularly passionate about regional and international human rights litigation, intergenerational justice, and preserving the environment for future generations.

    Email: theresa@wy4cj.org

  • Yasmin in a blue striped shirt, wearing big hoop earrings and round glasses with long blonde hair.

    Yasmin Bijvank, Special Projects and Operations, the Netherlands

    Yasmin holds an MSc in International Politics from SOAS University of London, specializing in Climate Justice, International Accountability, and Security Politics. As Head of Connection at Young Women in Sustainable Development, she supports collaborative initiatives empowering youth and women in sustainability as lead of communications. Her lobbying experience in the Netherlands and EU has focused on coherent and just policy development. Her interest lies with working to foster holistic and inclusive decision-making through improving international cooperation and accountability frameworks.

    Email: yasmin@wy4cj.org

Our WYCJ Board Members

  • Aoife in a white shirt with short sleeves, wearing a long necklace and small hoop earrings with long dark hair.

    Aoife Fleming, Legal coordinator, the Netherlands

    Aoife Fleming is former UN Youth Representative on Sustainable Development for the Netherlands. She holds an LLM in financial law from Leiden University. Her interest lies with how legal solutions can help address the climate crisis, both through a climate finance and a rights-based perspective.

    Email: aoife@wy4cj.org

  • Lianne in a white blouse with long light blonde hair and a gold necklace.

    Lianne Baars, Treasurer of the Board, the Netherlands

    Lianne Baars is a PhD candidate at Leiden University, researching the procedural aspects of climate change litigation in international human rights courts and bodies. She holds an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from the University of Edinburgh, and an LLM in Public International Law from Leiden University. Her interest lies in protecting the right to access to justice and redress mechanisms for victims of climate change.

    Email: lianne@wy4cj.org

  • Sumeyra standing in a courtyard in a red blouse with flowers and dark hair in a bun.

    Sumeyra Arslan, Secretary of the Board, the Netherlands

    Sumeyra Arslan is a legal advisor in the Supervisory Board at Fossielvrij NL. She is an expert in climate litigation, corporate accountability and human rights and climate change. She holds an LL.B. in Dutch law, an LL.M. in International and European Union Law from the Erasmus University Rotterdam and an LL.M. International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex. She is passionate about using the law innovatively as a tool to fight for climate justice.

    Email: sumeyra@wy4cj.org