ELSA International
ELSA International 2011/2012
"A new board with new projects" The new International Board of ELSA plans to work together with the Network towards our vision "A just world in which there is respect for human dignity and cultural diversity". This goal will be advanced by an addition to the International Board: The Director for Moot Court Competitions will take over the Moot Courts area within Academic Activities and work on creating a moot court competition focusing on human rights.
Once again two boards get together at the Boulevard of dreams. On one hand it is time to look at the past and reflect about the year. On the other hand it is time to look at the future with high hopes and to plan the upcoming year. With the junction of these two elements, balance can be reached. The past and the future get together in the present to share, to give advice, to teach and to learn. After one exhausting month of transition we, as the new International Board of ELSA, are aware of the responsibility that the Council has put in our hands, of the commitment to continue the great work of our predecessors and we cannot be more confident: Thanks to a well-structured, patient and knowledgeable transition we are now ready for one of the best years of our lives, working for a Network with 42 countries. The first one of our board arriving to 239, Boulevard Général Jacques was our President, Niousha Nademi, from Stockholm, Sweden. He will focus on the External Relations of ELSA International, communicating with our partners as well as accessing possible partnerships, not to forget ELS cooperation. Furthermore, he will also try to expand our vision to the other European countries where students are waiting to share the ELSA Spirit. He is also responsible for Board Management. Jaana Saarijärvi flew to Brussels from Helsinki, the capital of Finland, to be the Secretary General. She is the overall responsible for the Internal Management of our beloved Association. The Network will be her focus, with specific points such as Human Resources, the International Trainers’ Pool, the Network Support System and ELSA Online. Also from Finland came the inspired and enthusiastic Vice President Marketing, Kaisa-Maria Kimmel. A law student at the University 6
of Lapland, Finland, who moved away from Rovaniemi to Brussels. She is the main responsible for Synergy and for the ELSA website as well as for ELSA’s promotion. The top priorities in Marketing will be the Market Research and the commitment to raise awareness of ELSA within the Network and in the outside world. From the South-West of Europe came the Treasurer, Ricardo Gomes, a fourth year student at Faculdade de Direito de Lisboa, Portugal. However, he was born in a small town called Guarda. His main responsibilities are the Financial Management of ELSA and the assets of ELSA International. His main focus during this year is the financial stability of our Association. He is also the Chairman of the ELSA Development Foundation. From East to West, Irakli Samkharadze arrived from Tbilisi, Georgia. He is the Vice President for Student Trainee Exchange Programme (STEP). His main goal is to provide law students with the unique opportunity of working abroad while improving soft skills and contributing to the internationality of law students in Europe.
"These achievements will only be possible with our most valuable resource, the people: the officers, the members, and everyone who is involved with ELSA" Zosya Stankovskaya, originally from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, the Vice President for Seminars and Conferences, will be one of the people responsible for the Legal Education challenges in ELSA. She will focus on promoting the International Focus Programme (IFP) and the IFP Mid-Evaluation Conference in Trieste, Italy. She will also develop the quality of the S&C events and continue the cooperation in the field of Delegations.