Our Team
Meet UR’s passionate and diverse members who make meaningful strides together on UR’s journey.
Discover the Heart of UR – Our Amazing Team!
Yasmine Rugarli
Founder & Director
Leveraging her legal background and sustainability studies, Yasmine founded UR a testament to her commitment to genuine planetary progress. Her multicultural exposure and work experience have inspired her to empower individuals to embrace their sense of belonging and responsibility to our planet. Yasmine seeks to raise awareness of our present challenges and mobilize collective action towards a more just and sustainable governance.
Vera Zonneveld
Community Builder
With a background in Global Sustainability Sciences and Transdisciplinary research contributes to UR’s holistic approach and focus on collaboration. Vera is passionate about contributing to UR’s internal management, coordinating projects and performing research.
Júlia Isern
Intersectionality Project Coordinator
With a background in Sustainability and EU Law, Júlia is an environmental lawyer and policy assistant based in Brussels. She defends intergenerational justice and citizens’ participation, especially in Mallorca, where she is involved in social movements. Júlia collaborates with the legal department of a Spanish ecological organisation and is pursuing a master’s degree to qualify as a lawyer in Spain.
Isabel Lettner
Ecocide Project Coordinator
Isabel is actively involved in UR’s public relations and strategic communication, aiming at raising awareness of the progress and mission of the organization. Passionate in the emerging field of ecocide, she actively contributes to the awareness of ecocide by building bridges between students, experts and United Rising. Building on her role at UR, Isabel holds an LLB in International & European Law and is in the process of obtaining her MSc in International Relations & Diplomacy.
Alexandru Lazarovici
Digital Engagement Strategist
As digital Engagement Strategist, Alexandru plays a vital role in curating an engaging and informative online presence that aligns with the values of UR. Alexandru’s strong interest in technology law and intellectual property law inspires him to leverage his knowledge to promote innovative and inclusive digital strategies. He aims to reach a wider audience and inspire meaningful action toward a more sustainable and equitable world.
Júlia Fortuny
Intersectionality Project
Passionate about environmental and social justice, Júlia is a qualified lawyer in Spain with a recent Master’s in European Law and Sustainability. Joining UR, she is contributing to their Intersectional Environmentalism project, driven by a belief in equitable policies for both environmental conservation and human well-being.
Sujin Jun
Ecocide & Intersectionality Project
Sujin, a student in International and EU Law, is deeply passionate about how different socio-cultural factors shape environmental challenges and the role of empowerment policies in addressing them. As an intern at UR, she contributes to its core projects and seeks to make a meaningful impact for a just and sustainable future.
Riccardo Pomponi
Youth project
Passionate about the interconnection between environmental and human rights, Riccardo is a former international law graduate. He now joined UR’s Youth and Environmental Challenges project, where he contributed to research and education initiatives that explore youth’s relationship with climate change
Carole Delamour
Intersectionality Project
Carole is an anthropologist (Ph.D.). As an associate researcher at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, her research focuses on the repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage and knowledge. Her work addresses collaborative, decolonial, and ethical issues. She has experience with collaborative projects developed with Indigenous communities in Quebec, New Caledonia, and the Philippines.
Francisca Seabra
Intersectionality & Ecocide Project
Francisca is a dedicated law student with a deep passion for understanding how socio-cultural dynamics shape environmental challenges and the vital role that equitable policies play in addressing them. With a strong foundation in legal principles and an unwavering commitment to justice, she actively contributes to UR’s research and initiatives, striving to unite students, professionals, and communities around the pursuit of greater equality.
Lucila Abian
Ecocide Project
Lucila is highly passionate in the field of International Criminal Law and Human Rights Law. With a deep understanding of legal principles and an unwavering commitment to justice, she is determined to create a meaningful impact via research and project management, in the realm of international justice and accountability.
Manon Lauwers
Intersectionality Project
Manon is a passionate environmental lawyer working at the environment department of a law firm in Brussels. She has a law background and followed an LLM specialising in EU Sustainability law. Manon’s legal background enables her to contribute meaningfully to the different projects UR is carrying out.
Zsófia Raba
Legal Intern
Zsófia is a fourth-year International and European Law student interning at United Rising, where she plays an active role in supporting the organization’s mission to promote sustainable resource management and social equity. Her internship allows her to engage in research and initiatives that align with United Rising’s focus on environmental justice and collective action. Zsófia’s legal background and passion for human rights contribute to UR’s work in uniting diverse communities, students, and professionals toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
Nabila Ghozali
Social Media
With a Master’s degree in Content & Media Strategy and a background in hospitality, Nabila is contributing to United Rising through digital storytelling and content strategy. She is effectively spreading awareness about our key projects and mission, helping to advance the online profile of United Rising.
Our Mentors
Szilvia Csevár
UR Mentor
Lecturer Public International Law Researcher at UN Studies in Peace and Justice
Szilvia Csevár is a lecturer in Public International Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS). She also holds a researcher position at the Chair of UN Studies in Peace and Justice, shared between Leiden University and THUAS. Her current research focuses on environmentally fuelled (sexual) violence against Indigenous women and its interaction with environmental factors, and colonialism as causes of conflict. She was one of the contributing authors of the UN report Gender, Climate and Security, coordinated by the UN Environment Programme. Ms. Csevár worked with the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone for several years as a Legal Researcher. Other professional activities included serving as Registrar with the International Peoples Tribunal on Crimes against Humanity in Indonesia 1965, as well as chairing the working group International Protection of Human Rights of the Dutch section of the International Commission of Jurists.
Artemis Malliaropoulou
UR Mentor
International arbitration, dispute settlement and EU law assistant professor/docent, researcher & advocate.
Dr. Artemis P. Malliaropoulou is a lecturer in the International and European Law Programme at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Her educational journey includes significant achievements in both civil law and common law jurisdictions, with an LL.B. from the University of Athens, an LL.M. from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. from the University of Athens. Additionally, she has pursued studies at the University of Oxford (RS) and at Columbia University, Cornell University, and the University of Vienna (VS).
She has been admitted to the Athens Bar Association since 2010 and to the roll of Solicitors of England & Wales since 2023. Her work experience includes placements at prestigious institutions such as the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs (New York), the Council of the EU – Legal Service (Brussels), the International Criminal Court (The Hague), the Unidroit Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Rome), the British Institute for International and Comparative Law (London), Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP (London), Shearman & Sterling LLP (Paris), and Allen & Overy LLP (Paris).
