Meet The Team

Founder & President

Hans van den Berg

Hans van den Berg is the Founder and President of The Young Diplomat. In 2012 he finished his BBA in International Hospitality Management and worked for project developers. In 2013 he started working for the Dutch Tax office providing training and consultancy on legal affairs. In 2017 Hans obtained his MSc. in Public Administration from Leiden University, specialising in International and European Governance. Since 2018 he has a teaching position at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he became Chair of the University Council in 2019. As a former elite rower dedication, determination and a can do attitude form an important base for his professional approach.

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Hans is an expert on international negotiation in the political, public and private arena. Specifically on developing and applying strategies, and where the public and private field meet. Some of his publications include: On Strategy and Tactics at PINpoints; Russian aggression, the West’s response? At the Foreign Policy Press; The role of the European Union on the chessboard of great power politics in Modelling The New Europe; Russia, Turkey and Bosnia Herzegovina, a study of operational codes which may harm peacebuilding at the SEN foundation;

External Relations Officer

Zita de Wild

Zita de Wild is a young professional currently studying European Policy at the University of Amsterdam following her bachelor in Management of International Social Challenges at Erasmus University. After finishing high school Zita asked herself the question: in what direction do I want my future to go? As a committed student council member she has been helping refugees integrate into Dutch society by teaching them the Dutch language and been involved in multiple environmental projects. The urge to direct her future towards solving problems exceeding borders grew as she lived through Californian wildfires. Witnessing the consequential mudslides become fatal to many community members and damaging to the environment, her eyes were opened to an array of issues that cannot be solved by one country on its own. The formation of unity is therefore of crucial importance and is a challenge she is thrilled to take on. At the Young Diplomat, Zita's responsibilities are extended beyond maintaining contacts with our partners, experts, and diplomats as she organises our events for the YD Academy to the last detail. Do you have any questions about an upcoming event? Do not hesitate to reach out!

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Tom Lubbers

Tom is a former NMUN delegate and graduate of Management of International Social Challenges at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Moreover, he is Chairman of the MIPAS committee as well as Studygroup Tutor at Study Association Cedo Nulli. Both inside and outside of his studies and research, Tom is focused on international political economy and international relations in an age where the USA is increasingly vacating its role of global hegemon and multilateralism is declining. He also takes a deep interest in designing diplomatic simulations, which often feature as part of our events and Schools.

Project Assistant

Gijs Boor

Having participated in both a summer- and winter school, Gijs is now part of the Young Diplomat Team. In his role as Project Assistant, Gijs helps to organise events and the upcoming summer school(s). From a young age, he has been interested in the world at large. This resulted in his choice to study International Relations for his bachelor’s at Utrecht University. While studying there, he increasingly felt that he wanted to become part of the domain of International Relations. Together with his passion for travelling, this shaped his ambition to become a diplomat. Obtaining UNITAR’s Online Diploma in Multilateral Diplomacy and currently being enrolled in the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University campus The Hague further solidified this ambition. Next to international negotiation, Gijs is based on his travels to the Balkans and South Africa also very interested in the theme of reconciliation.