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 & YOUTH COORDINATOR
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 Campaign 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.
Júlia Fortuny
Intersectionality Research Coordinator
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.
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.
Emma Varini
Community Garden Project Coordinator
With an academic background in political philosophy, feminism, decolonial philosophies, and environmental humanities, Emma is a driven and engaged researcher. Her transdisciplinary approach and her experience in the cultural and artistic event planning field, enable her to maintain a critical, open, and creative perspective. In her work, she is committed to inclusive and just knowledge production and transmission to inform and drive collective action.
Zsófia Raba
Ecocide & Intersectionality Project
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. 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.
Rosa Jorba
Intersectionality Project
With a background in International Relations and EU studies, Rosa is currently working for the Catalan Ministry for Foreign Action and the European Union in Barcelona. She defends the integration of sustainable policies in global climate action and human rights. Rosa is particularly focused on advancing multilateral agreements that promote both environmental sustainability and social equity
Keaobaka Medupe
Ecocide Project
With a background in international and European law. Based in both the Netherlands and South Africa, Keaobaka is passionate about social advocacy and all things law-related. Keaobaka actively contributes to causes that align with her legal expertise and passion for justice. With a particular interest in environmental law, she is committed to the global fight for the recognition of Ecocide as an international crime. She strives to create meaningful change through legal advocacy and sustainable solutions.
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.
Iulia
community Builder
Iulia has an academic background in law and is currently working in the freight logistics decarbonisation sector. Her passion for sustainability is what drove her to become a United Rising volunteer, helping for community-building purposes.
Carmen Piorno
Ecocide Project and Youth Project
With a background in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and ongoing part-time Law studies, Carmen is passionate about the intersection of international law, diplomacy, and social justice. She currently contributes to UR’s research and initiatives in the hopes of building a more sustainable global future.
Soňa Sopirová
Intern
Soňa is a fourth-year International and European Law student, currently working with UR as an intern. Her passion for social justice, equity, and human rights inspired her to join the UR and to contribute to its mission of fostering a more sustainable, fair, and just global community. With her legal background and strong social awareness, she is supporting UR’s intersectional environmentalism and community gardens campaign. She believes that collective action and inclusive dialogue are fundamental in addressing environmental challenges and key to achieving sustainable solutions.
Rasika Kulkarni
Intern
Rasika is a trained lawyer in European, international law and comparative national law. With a specialization in Environmental law, supplemented by non-traditional and indigenous approaches to sustainability, she is highly passionate and sustainability and climate justice. Having first-hand exposure to the challenges and ideologies of both developed and developing countries, she strives to create a bridge between the two. Her exposure to different cultures both personally and professionally allows her to have an open mind and bring in a unique perspective.
Isa van der Wal
Intern
As a fourth-year International & European Law student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Isa is passionate about human rights, refugee law, social justice, and advocacy. Alongside her studies, she volunteers as a Law Student Ambassador, where she creates content and campaigns to promote student wellbeing and engagement. Through her academic and extracurricular experiences, she has focused on the protection of human rights, advocating for justice, and supporting the rights of marginalized communities. She is eager to continue developing her skills and contribute to initiatives that use law as a tool for positive change’
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.
Carole Delamour
UR Mentor
Anthropologist (Ph.D.) and associate researcher at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris
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.