Future Diplomats Forum · Washington
Director, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center
An American foreign policy author and expert specializing in South Asia. He is the director of the South Asia Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER FORUM · BUDAPEST
Liliana Grexa is a representative of the State Self-Government of Ukrainians in Hungary since November 2019, elected from the Ukrainian Culture Association in Hungary (MUKE). She serves as Chair of the Commission on Youth, Media and Information Technology and is a member of the Finance Commission. Previously, she was Chair of the Budapest Self-Government of Ukrainians in Hungary for five years and continues to serve as Chair of the Local Self-Government of Ukrainians in Erzsébetváros.
HISA YOUTH DIALOGUE · SYDNEY
Co-founder of eiris
Nakshathra Suresh is a cyber criminologist, entrepreneur, academic and international speaker based in Sydney, Australia. She is currently the only criminologist in Australia actively advocating for artificial intelligence and emerging technology safety, bringing a unique social science perspective to digital safety challenges.
As the co-founder of eiris, a technology consultancy, Nakshathra helps emerging startups, businesses and organisations deploy technology safely using safety-by-design principles. Through eiris, she works with companies to help them understand the human impact of technology integration, which encompasses ethical, psychological, social, and criminal outcomes.
Nakshathra currently serves as the Oceania Youth Ambassador for the Internet Society, advocating for an open, secure, and trustworthy internet through championing cybersecurity and safety principles.
Nakshathra regularly teaches with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), having created and led the university’s first criminology-backed cybersecurity course (CRIM3040). This groundbreaking course introduces students to cybersecurity through criminological, legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks, producing a new generation of interdisciplinary cyber criminologists.
Known for her unique, hands-on approach to presentations, she has delivered addresses at various conferences, podcasts, webinars and professional forums across the world. Her presentations have reached diverse audiences including law enforcement professionals, public servants, academics, startup founders, industry professionals, and students.
Nakshathra’s leadership has been widely recognised, most recently as one of the 2026 Young Women to Watch in International Affairs. She has also been a finalist for numerous prestigious awards, including the 2024 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards ‘Emerging Leader in Tech’, the 2024 Australian South Asian Centre’s Stellar South Asian Women Awards ‘Global Shaper’, the 2024 Female Factor’s ‘A Voice for a New Era of Leaders’, and the 2025 South Asian Women in Business Awards ‘Tech and Innovation’.
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER FORUM · ISTANBUL
Associate Professor & Head of Political Science and International Relations, Istanbul Commerce University
Uğur Yasin Asal is an academic and political scientist specializing in international relations, global political economy, and security studies. He serves as an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul Commerce University, where he teaches and conducts research on global governance, strategy, and conflict resolution.
He completed his PhD in Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul University, focusing on power balance theory in the modern international system, particularly through the example of the G20. His academic work includes several books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles covering topics such as international security, regional conflicts, and global political economy.
Beyond academia, Asal has contributed to international policy discussions and global events, including work connected with the G20 Antalya Leaders’ Summit 2015 and T20 Buenos Aires 2018, and has delivered lectures at universities, think tanks, and civil society forums. He frequently appears in media and public discussions as an expert on international politics, security, and geopolitical developments.
Through his research, teaching, and public engagement, Prof. Asal contributes to advancing understanding of global governance, international security, and the evolving dynamics of the international political system.
GLOBAL YOUTH CONVENTION · MILAN
Paola Maria Sayegh is an International Affairs and Diplomacy Specialist with experience spanning Europe and the Middle East, working at the intersection of strategic communication, policy, and intercultural dialogue. With a background in international law and humanitarian operations, she has collaborated with think-tanks, cultural institutions, and international organizations to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean partnerships and promote youth engagement in global governance. Multilingual and culturally adaptive, Paola focuses on building bridges across sectors and societies, empowering young leaders to navigate global challenges with intelligence, creativity, and a diplomatic mindset.
HISA YOUTH FELLOWSHIP · OXFORDSHIRE
Having begun her career in 1992 with the Ministry of Human Resources, Mahuran has more than 20 years of experience in human resources management, and has a wide knowledge and experience in human capital strategy & development as well as industrial relation management.
In her current capacity, Mahuran works closely with stakeholders from federal and state governments/agencies, industry players, employer federations, labour unions and international agencies in conducting research study on human capital requirement, including demand and supply talent/skills.
She was a panel member of Industrial Court and Perkeso Appellate Court. She is a member of NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW) and Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM).
HISA YOUTH DIALOGUE · SYDNEY
Founder of Sapphire Group
Jasmine Cannon-Ikurusi is the CEO and Founder of Sapphire Group, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering ethnic minorities, underrepresented youth, and single parents through employability, entrepreneurship, and wellbeing initiatives. Her work spans the UK, Africa, and beyond, focusing on breaking systemic barriers, promoting equity, and driving social change.
In addition to her role at Sapphire, she serves as a Project Manager for NHS England (Lewisham, Bexley & Greenwich Hospitals) and is an MRes Law and Social Research student at Birkbeck College, where she is also pursuing a PhD in Politics.
Doris Moravec believes that life’s detours are actually guiding us towards our true path. In line with this philosophy, she worked in tourism, hospitality, and event management for around ten years before moving into the Social NGO Sector during the Refugee Movements to Europe in 2015/16. As the Head of the Volunteer Department at one of Austria’s largest Social NGOs she oversaw around 450 Volunteers and 25 Volunteer Coordinators. She also worked directly with Young Adults after Leaving Care.
Doris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s in Social Work. She is passionate about the work with and for disadvantaged Young People, and designing Projects and Workshops to their benefit. In 2023 she co-founded an association dedicated to Advocacy Work for Youth & Young Adults in Poverty in Austria (www.umbruchstelle.at).
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER FORUM · ISTANBUL
Content Creator
Joel Moriasi is a Kenyan content creator, media personality, and cultural commentator known for promoting cross-cultural dialogue between Africa and Turkey. A graduate of Marmara University, where he studied Mass Media, Moriasi gained recognition through his Turkish-language YouTube channel “Türkiye’de Bir Afrikalı” (An African in Turkey).
Through his engaging videos and public appearances, he shares insights on cultural exchange, language, and everyday life in Turkey from an African perspective. He is also known for his participation in the popular intercultural media project 3 Yabancı 1 Türk, where creators from different countries explore culture, travel, and social topics in Turkey.
Through digital media and storytelling, Moriasi continues to build bridges between cultures and inspire dialogue across diverse global audiences.
GLOBAL YOUTH CONVENTION · MILAN
Founder & Director of Protection4kids
Annachiara Sarto graduated with honors in European and International Law from The Hague University, specializing in Human Rights and International Criminal Law. She earned a Master’s degree in Transnational Crime and Justice from the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). Since 2019, she has been the Director of Protection4Kids, leading 16 humanitarian missions in international emergency contexts.
In 2021, she became a consultant for the Child Protection Team at the Department of Peace Operations, United Nations Secretariat in New York. In March 2023, she was elected a member of the Global Coalition Against Sexual Abuse, organized by Panorama Global in Miami.
She is a Visiting Training Lecturer at the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza and at the Dr. D. Y. Patil B-School of India. In 2024, she served as Child Protection Officer for Save the Children Italy, working on the “Emergency Protection Intervention for Refugee and Migrant Children and Women” project, funded by UNICEF. Her videos sharing her work have reached over 100,000 views on TikTok.
Barrister Ali Tahir is a well-known lawyer from Karachi with rights of audience in the High Courts of Pakistan. His primary practice is at the Sindh High Court, and he regularly appears before courts across Sindh, both in his own name and through his firm, Barrister Ali Tahir & Co. His transnational practice covers constitutional, administrative, services and property matters, and he also handles cases relating to narcotics and taxation.
He currently serves as Legal Advisor to two federal agencies, the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Federal Board of Revenue, and as a Special Prosecutor for the Anti-Narcotics Force. He also advises a number of reputed organizations, including MAPS and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Pakistan.
