Wiebke Aepkers holds a MA in European Politics, Society and Culture in a Global Context, an Erasmus Mundus programme taught across Palacký University in Olomouc, Deusto University in Bilbao, and Queen’s University in Kingston. For her degree, she was awarded the Erasmus Mundus scholarship for international excellence. During her Bachelor’s in the Netherlands, she spent an exchange semester at Korea University in Seoul. As a project and research assistant at Erasmus University Rotterdam, she helped to conduct governance research in international teams, represented research progress at the 2023 IRSPM conference in Budapest, and supported the organisation of several events.

At Global Neighbours, Wiebke supports the ongoing projects and events as a project assistant.

Tingjian Cai holds a PhD in political science from the University of Munich. He has worked as a lecturer at the University of Munich, as well as in knowledge management in an international company and in project management and research in the field of Sino-European and Sino-German relations for a German Political Foundation in Beijing.

He is currently conducting his habilitation research at the University of Munich on Sino-European relations and the comparison of German and Chinese political systems. At Global Neighbours, he is responsible for research and project management related to China.

Nelly Hashemi is an International Relations graduate of Webster Vienna Private University, completing her BA with a focus on International Organizations and Diplomacy. Her academic work has been recognized through multiple distinctions for excellence and strategic institutional engagement.

Alongside her studies, she serves as Co-Team Lead for Social Media at UN Women Austria, where she contributes to strategic policy-oriented outreach and narrative development in support of women’s rights and gender equality. Her experience combines diplomacy-oriented academic training with practical exposure to international advocacy and organisational positioning.

At Global Neighbours, Nelly supports projects and outreach through social media strategy and institutional communication.

Joseph Kirchberger holds an MA in Public Policy from Central European University and a BA in International Relations from Webster University Vienna. His academic background and experience at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime have given him valuable insights into working in international environments. At the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he supported embassies and facilitated international cooperation. Drawing on his diplomacy background, Joseph excels at navigating diverse cultural and organizational contexts.

With expertise in policy analysis and international relations, he now fosters meaningful dialogue and collaboration as Head of Fellowship and Publications at Global Neighbours.

Aleksei Ksenofontov graduated with distinction from the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow and earned a master’s degree in Global Studies from the University of Graz. He holds the diplomatic rank of Second Secretary. Drawing on his extensive diplomatic experience, he provides a unique insider’s perspective on East-West relations. 

Aleksei’s profile is further strengthened by recent experience in the non-profit sector, where he coordinated social and educational projects addressing issues connected to the Global South, as well as a solid background in academic research, particularly at the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research.

At Global Neighbours, A.Ksenofontov oversees several projects, inter alia focused on Central Asia.

Viktoria Malakhova holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Vienna and completed a diploma in Politics and International Economics at the Academic Forum for Foreign Affairs, deepening her expertise in global governance and strategic political-economic dynamics.She has actively engaged in international political discourse, including Model United Nations conferences in Amsterdam, Brussels and New York, focusing on environmental governance, sustainable development and global policy-making.

Viktoria combines political analysis with practical experience in public affairs, strategic communication and stakeholder engagement, working at the intersection of politics, economics and civil society with a critical and strategic approach.

Katherina Mayr holds an MA in International Development from the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs in Madrid, developed in collaboration with the UN Systems Staff College (UNSSC). During her studies, she collaborated with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) on policy work related to sustainable urban transformation and city-university partnerships.

She earned her BA in International Relations with a focus on International Organizations and Diplomacy, including an exchange semester at Bocconi University. Alongside her studies, she gained research and project experience through policy-oriented academic work and institutional event coordination.

At Global Neighbours, Katherina supports projects and dialogue formats through research, project coordination and event management.

Borbala Szabo holds an Erasmus Mundus Joint MA in Global Studies from Leipzig University and the University of Vienna, an interdisciplinary, research-oriented programme focusing on complex global challenges. She completed her BA in Asian Studies at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, including an exchange year at Kobe University, in Japan at the Faculty of Global Human Sciences.
Alongside her academic training, she has gained professional experience at multinational companies, where she worked in operations and financial processes in international environments.

At Global Neighbours, Borbala Szabo draws on the practical skills in international communication and project coordination which she has developed through her research and professional experience.

Ya Hui Zheng holds a BA in Marketing & Sales from FHWien der WKW and is currently pursuing a second BA in Sinology at the University of Vienna. Her deep interest in different cultures and commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding are evident through her academic and career choices. Her international experience was enriched by a semester abroad in Seoul, South Korea, and her participation in several summer camps across various cities in China through her language school, which provided her with valuable insights into the region’s everyday life and culture. During her marketing internship at a digital agency in Vienna, Ya Hui was responsible for content creation, website management, and research duties.