Meet the team
Behind every project, every partnership, and every success, there’s a team of dedicated individuals working to make it happen.
Our team of full and part-time staff members ensures that everything runs smoothly on a day to day basis, while more than 250 volunteers, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, business experts, and logisticians, have contributed their invaluable expertise since our inception.
Through collaboration, we move beyond aid to create the lasting connections that spark real change.
Core team
Meet our nine full-time team members who keep everything moving behind the scenes. From managing partnerships to coordinating logistics, each of us plays a key role in ensuring the success of our initiatives. We're passionate about what we do - and always open to meaningful connections. If you’d like to learn more or just say hi, we’d love to hear from you!
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Alexis holds an MSc in Political Science from the London School of Economics and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of York. Through his work at Aid Pioneers and his interdisciplinary academic studies, he strives to adopt diverse viewpoints to devise effective solutions to complex yet often overlooked problems in global development cooperation.
Co-Founder & Managing Director
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Julian has read English Law at King's College London and is currently preparing for his German State Examination at Humboldt University in Berlin. He also holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Durham and was an assistant teacher at Colby College in Maine, USA.
Through his work at Aid Pioneers and his diverse academic background (between common law and civil law), he seeks to build international bridges and promote international cooperation.
Co-Founder & Managing Director
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After her legal studies, Mareike gained a PhD in law and a wide range of professional experience in both corporate and legal fields. As a result, she supports AidPioneers in a multidimensional role that includes the implementation of medical projects as well as their financing and legal issues.Mareike has already worked intensively on human rights issues, particularly in Africa, as part of her law studies and several volunteer work experiences. Having gained this expertise, she now wants to make an active contribution at Aid Pioneers toward ensuring that people in crisis regions have equal access to crucial resources
Head of Medical Department
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Girmay holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s in Renewable Energy from the University of Oldenburg. He co-founded a solar start-up in Ethiopia, serving as both manager and solar engineer for two years, and has prior experience at a leading specialist for PV-powerplants in Germany.At Aid Pioneers, Girmay designs PV systems, selects appropriate equipment, performs financial analysis, and evaluates system performance. He is dedicated to enabling hospitals and schools to access solar energy, transforming societies into a sustainable and bright future.
Solar engineering lead
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After 20 years in logistics, Tilman joined Aid Pioneers to apply his expertise in a more meaningful way. He is motivated by using his skills to support crisis regions, recognizing logistics' crucial role in delivering timely aid.
Passionate about improving efficiency, he focuses on making logistics processes smarter and more sustainable, building long-term solutions that work better.
Head of Operations
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Jonas studied Management, Philosophy, and Economics in Frankfurt before completing a Master’s in Strategic Management at the London School of Economics. After several years in consulting, he joined Aid Pioneers as Operations Manager, where he leads solar installation projects in Syria, Lebanon, and Ethiopia. He’s focused on building up the organization’s social business and is especially excited about hands-on project work that creates sustainable change.
Operations Manager
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Linda brings a varied background in branding and marketing from the tech, fashion, and delivery industries. With a BA in Visual Communication from the Danish School of Media and Journalism, she focuses on building brand experiences that are visually consistent, emotionally engaging, and strategically grounded. Motivated to apply her skills more meaningfully, she joined Aid Pioneers to help shape an organization that supports communities in crisis.
Brand Manager
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Isabel holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from the University of Edinburgh and a BSc in International Business from Maastricht University. As Founders Associate at Aid Pioneers, she draws on experience from working at McKinsey and several early-stage startups to support the organization's marketing and branding efforts. She further drives our B2C marathon fundraising programme, which blends sports and impact to generate crucial funding for our medical aid and clean energy projects.
Founders Associate
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Currently studying medicine in Berlin, Nikolaus brings medical expertise and a strong commitment to global health to Aid Pioneers. He organizes and fundraises for shipments of essential supplies. Previously, he developed a charity shopping platform to help non-profits raise funds more efficiently, showcasing his innovative approach to supporting communities in need.
B2B Partnership Manager
Supervisory Board
Our Supervisory Board provides strategic guidance and oversight, helping to shape the direction of Aid Pioneers. Comprising experienced professionals with backgrounds in development, law, business, and humanitarian aid, they bring invaluable expertise and insight to our mission.
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Chiara is a fully qualified lawyer and currently writing a PhD thesis on sustainable investment agreements. At Aid Pioneers, she coordinates legal matters and is a member of the supervisory board. With the experience she has gained at several international law firms, she drafts contracts and ensures Aid Pioneers conforms with national and international regulations.
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Philipp finished his first state exam in Hamburg and is doing his legal clerkship in Frankfurt. He puts his training into practice in the the Aid Pioneers legal team. In addition, he is part of the supervisory board.
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Theresa, a supervisory board member of Aid Pioneers, advises on strategy and positioning. She joined from McKinsey & Company, where she helped build the Solar sector before returning to McKinsey. With experience founding an NGO and working with Ashoka, Theresa's expertise in both private and civil sectors is invaluable. Passionate about ESG, she is a perfect fit for Aid Pioneers, driving sustainable, community-driven development with the private sector.
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Siona works on all strategic questions and uses her experience to guide Aid Pioneers in the process of growth. She has a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and spent two years at McKinsey & Co. in Washington, D.C. and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she supported the rollout of a pan-African health response and developed government strategies to support women's health in low- and middle-income countries. Currently, Siona is with the Global Fund fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
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Henri is a fully qualified lawyer working in Berlin at an international law firm in regulatory law. He is a member of the supervisory board and motivated to end energy poverty and fight climate change by reducing emission intensive modes of energy production.
Part time
Our part-time team includes passionate volunteers who bring their time, skills, and energy to everything from B2B outreach to marketing and financial reporting. Their insight and commitment help shape our team and drive our daily impact.
Elisabeth Marota
Lisa Steffen
Gero Scheven
Naima Sheikh
Emma Bruns
Sebastian Nothaft
Jakob Wandschneider
Olga Bruns
Henriette Pentschew
Nikolai Fomm
Sophie Hamann
Marina Glusman
Anna Borowka
Strategic Advisory
Our Strategic Advisory members bring a wealth of experience and perspective that help guide our long-term vision. They support us in identifying new opportunities, strengthening local partnerships, and shaping key strategic priorities. Their continued belief in our mission is a steady source of insight and encouragement as we grow.
Brian Lally
Christiane Altenburg