Our Executive Board
Oct 2023 - Oct 2024
President
(she/her)
Blanca Marabini San MartÃn is a Phd Candidate at the Center for East Asia Studies of the Madrid Autonomous University (CEAO – UAM), in Spain. Her research interests are centered around the environmental, climate, and green tech dimensions of Chinese foreign policy within the framework of EU-China relations. She previously worked at the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (Ministry of Defense of Spain), the Spanish Chinese Policy Observatory, and the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS, Leiden). She holds a Double BA in International Relations and Translation and Interpreting, with a focus on Foreign Policy and Security, from Comillas Pontifical University (Spain) and an MSc in Political Science from Leiden University (The Netherlands).
Secretary General
Valeria Fappani
(she/her)
Valeria is a doctoral candidate at the School of International Studies, University of Trento. She currently holds the project-specific grant, "The European Union: Integration Processes, Enlargement, and International Role" awarded by the Italian National Research Council. Valeria pursued her Master's degree in European and International Studies at the University of Trento after she completed a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages (English and Chinese) from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. She was also a visiting research student at Queen Mary University of London and attended a Post-graduate course on "Exports and Digitalisation" organised by the Italian Trade Agency. Her research interests lie at the intersection of trade, human rights, and sustainability, with a focus on micro-level analyses of the EU and Chinese laws and policies. She has also been actively involved in youth-led initiatives centred around the EU, China, and their bilateral relations.
Vice-President
Bomi Seo
(she/her)
Bomi Seo, originally from South Korea, graduated with honors in BSc Political Science: International Relations & Organizations from Leiden University in the Netherlands. Her thesis is titled "Beyond Borders: Towards a Security Community between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Asia Pacific Countries under the Rise of China." Currently she is pursuing an MSc in Crisis and Security Management: War and Peace Studies at Leiden University, focusing on international security and great power competitions. Outside of her role at European Guanxi, Bomi previously worked in the field of public international law and human rights advocacy in The Hague, Seoul, and New York.
Vice-Secretary General
Joseph Black
(any)
Joseph Black is an international affairs and gender studies student at King's College London and Chiang Mai University. He has diverse interests, including China studies, Thai studies, international law, and gender in Asia.
Chief Partnerships and Fundraising Officer
(Head of the Partnerships Team and Fundraising Team)
Nora Hell
(she/her)
Nora graduated from the University College Maastricht with Honors in 2023. During her bachelor studies she focused on international relations and sustainable development and studied for one semester at the City University of Hong Kong in the department of International Affairs. She is currently based in Berlin. Alongside her Position as Chief of Partnerships and Fundraising at European Guanxi she is pursuing a degree in sinology at the Free University of Berlin and interning at the Institut for Research on Military History and Social Sciences of the German Armed Forces (ZMSBW). Her interests are in international security policy, EU-China relations and Chinese foreign policy.
Editor in Chief
(Head of the Editorial Team)
Juan N. Garcia-Nieto
(he/him)
Juan is a Research Assistant at ESADEGeo in his hometown of Barcelona, Spain. He has been involved in think-tanks and international organisations in Europe and the USA. He is a columnist at Young Voices and regularly publishes articles about international relations.
Co-head of the Membership Office
Alessia Paolillo
(she/her)
Alessia Paolillo is currently a PhD student in "Civilization of Asia and Africa", curriculum East Asia, at the University of Rome, Sapienza. She holds a BA and an MA in "Oriental languages and civilisation" at the University of Rome, Sapienza and a second-level MA in "International Public Affairs" at Luiss Guido Carli University. Before starting her PhD she worked for an Italian think tank. Among the co-founders of European Guanxi, she also served as Head of Strategic Communication of the organisation.
Co-head of the Membership Office
(he/him)
Xisheng is a dedicated scholar pursuing a dual master's degree program at Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics, focusing on the domains of International Governance and Diplomacy, as well as International Relations. His academic pursuits center on the intricate dynamics of EU-China-US trilateral relations and the landscape of great power competition. Xisheng's academic journey began with the successful completion of a Double BA in Political Science Pre-law and Philosophy from Michigan State University. Beyond his academic endeavors, Xisheng actively contributes to various reputable organizations. He currently serves as an editor for the Student Think Tank for Europe-Asia Relations (STEAR) and holds key roles as a content writer and columnist for The New Global Order (TNGO). Furthermore, he extends his expertise as a paper referee for the prestigious undergraduate Philosophy Journal of Australasia (UPJA). Xisheng's dedication to scholarship, paired with his involvement in publications and organizations, speaks to his commitment to making meaningful contributions to the field of EU-China relations.
Chief Communications Officer
(Head of the Communications Team)
Chiara Sulis
(she/her)
Chiara Sulis has a background in Philosophy and International Relations, with a special focus on EU studies. She has extensive experience in the field of policy and advocacy, with particular interest in the field of children's and human rights. She has interned at the Unicef and has just concluded an experience with Front Line Defenders. She is passioned about EU policy and advocacy, puzzles, and good museums.
Co-head of the Events Team & Head of the Webinars Section
Amelie Richter
(she/her)
Amelie is a sinologist and journalist. She is working for the German publication China.Table with a focus on EU-China topics. Before she was working as correspondent for the German press agency in Sydney, Mexico and Strasbourg. Amelie studied in Munich and Shanghai. She is now living in Paris.
Co-head of the Events Team & Head of the Podcast Section
Arturo Simone
(he/him)
Arturo is a double-degree Master's student in European Governance, currently based in Utrecht, Netherlands. Previously, he resided in The Hague, where he completed a Bachelor's in International Studies with a specialization in European and American studies. As a foreign policy enthusiast, he gained experience in broadcasting and communications while living in Brno, Czech Republic. He is passionate about inter-regional partnerships, and his current research interest focuses on the prospect for cooperation between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In his current role at European Guanxi, Arturo aims to enhance his broadcasting skills and contribute to fostering informed discourse on EU-China relations.
Our Deputies
Vice-Head of the Partnerships and Fundraising Team
(in charge of Fundraising)
Patrycja Kluch (she/her)
I am studying my MA in International Relations and East Asia at the University of Sheffield in the UK, focusing on Chinese Politics and Mandarin Language. I am also pursuing a second diploma in Diplomacy at the European Academy of Diplomacy. I am especially interested in Sino-EU relations, both diplomatic and economic. I also work on educating young people about the EU institutions by organising Models European Union around Europe.
Vice-Head of the Partnerships and Fundraising Team
(in charge of Partnership)
Valerio Nejoumi (he/him)
Valerio is a graduate student currently enrolled in the MSc in Asian Studies at Lund University. He graduated summa cum laude with the BA in Global Governance from the University of Rome "Tor Vergata". His passion for China made him spend a school year in Daqing, Heilongjiang, when he was fifteen years old. Having learnt the Chinese language and acquired notions in political science and international relations, Valerio developed an interest in studying EU-China diplomatic relations. He has been engaged in professional experiences in the field of diplomacy and is involved in promoting intercultural understanding through his volunteering activism. Valerio enjoys reading about East Asian matters, travelling the world, looking at maps, trekking, listening to opera music, and practising calligraphy.
Vice-Head of the Communications Team
(in charge of the Website)
Virginia Bazzoni (she/her)
Driven by a deep passion for China's market, Virginia has pursued a Master's degree in Language and Management to China at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Today, she holds the role of International Marketing Specialist, overseeing marketing strategies for the Chinese market and maintaining relationships with the company's Chinese clients. She is motivated by a strong interest in China's cultural heritage, social media, and the latest consumer trends in beauty, fashion, and innovation.
Vice-Head of the Communications Team
(in charge of the Newsletter)
Veronica Zanon (she/her)
Academically and professionally interested in intercultural communication, soft power, and socio-political dynamics in contemporary China. In private, I am an avid reader and occasional writer, passionate about animation and outdoor activities.
Vice-Head of the Editorial Team
(Deputy Editor-in-Chief)
Angelo M'BA
Angelo M’BA is currently reading for an MPhil in Modern Chinese Studies at St Antony’s College, Oxford. He previously studied English studies with a minor in Law and International Relations in Rennes, France. Principally interested in international relations, the Indo-Pacific, and Chinese foreign policy, his research intends to study the securitization of the American Indo-Pacific Strategy by China and its impacts on alignments in the Indo-Pacific. Angelo is engaged in other geopolitics-related outlets, through which he hopes to contribute to debates on international relations.