London

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Who We Are

YPFP London was established in 2006 as the second branch of the YPFP organisation, and has since grown into a thriving community of young professionals with an interest in international affairs, who are living and working in the UK’s capital. YPFP London brings together university researchers, civil servants, private sector champions, entrepreneurs, foreign policy editors and grassroots advocates who work relentlessly to create content of the highest level for our members. 

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Current Vacancies 

Director of Events and Programming

Communications Officer

Events Officers (multiple positions available)

Our Programming

Based in one of the world’s great political, financial and cultural centres, YPFP London is uniquely placed to bring together people from across a broad range of industries, creating a dynamic group of members with diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds.

The programming has included hosting the acting President of Kosovo, Dr Vjosa Osmani; Chatham House's Dr Catherine Fieschi; the Executive Director of the Arab Institute for Women, Dr Lina AbiRafeh; the Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat MP, and UK former Secretary of Defence, Penny Mordaunt MP.

To partner with YPFP London, please email london@ypfp.org.

Events & Initiatives focused on building up the next generation of leaders by setting up training and networking opportunities for inquisitive early career minds looking to exchange knowledge and expertise. 

Debates & Discussions offers exciting and informative series of events throughout the year, involving leading figures from politics, law, business, diplomacy, finance, the armed forces and the media.


Rewind: 2022 in Review

Funded by Research England under the QR Strategic Priorities Fund, the conference held in 2022 was a unique opportunity for early and mid-career professionals and researchers with an interest in foreign and development policy to discuss the opportunities and challenges arising from the UK’s merging of development and diplomacy, including exploring the range of stakeholders and their role in shaping the UK’s foreign and development agenda.
Funded by Research England under the QR Strategic Priorities Fund, the conference held in 2022 was a unique opportunity for early and mid-career professionals and researchers with an interest in foreign and development policy to discuss the opportunities and challenges arising from the UK’s merging of development and diplomacy, including exploring the range of stakeholders and their role in shaping the UK’s foreign and development agenda.

🏆 The Alex Petersen Memorial Award for Young Leaders in Foreign Policy 🏆 Essay Competition for A-Level Students

In order to promote and incentivise young people to pursue a career in foreign policy, YPFP London, sponsored by King’s College London and the International Churchill Society, is hosting an essay competition for A-Level students (aged 16-17). Young people from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to participate. Details for 2022/2023 essay competition will be published soon. 

 

Click Here For Details On The 2021 Round

Virtual Coffee: Connect With Members in London

YPFP London is giving you the opportunity to virtually get to know other members.

Every month, you’ll be matched randomly with another member for a virtual chat and coffee.

Sign up, expand your network, and get to know someone new! Hopefully you’ll get to meet them IRL at our next in-person event. If you’d like to take part in this new initiative: 

Please send us your name & email address using the form on the right

👩🏽‍💼🙋🏻👩🏻‍🦰🧑🏾‍💼👱🏼‍♀️👨🏿‍💼

We look forward to hearing from you! ☕️✨

London Team


Annabelle Saba
Managing Director, London

Annabelle is the Managing Director at YPFP London, responsible for driving the chapter's sustainability and growth.

Annabelle works as an Investigator at the Mintz Group, focusing on anti money laundering, asset tracing, political risk and due diligence issues in Latin America and the Middle East. Previously, she was an Analyst at the Tactical Opportunities and Competitive Intelligence department at Linklaters and a Threat Intelligence Analyst at Hozint Intelligence.

Annabelle holds a Masters in Middle Eastern Studies from King’s College London and a BA in International Relations from Queen Mary University of London.

Annabelle Saba

Managing Director


Jenessa O'Connell
Events and Programming Director, London

Jenessa is serving as the Events and Programming Director at YFPF London. With a strong drive for excellence, she excels as a change and consultant in highly competitive and demanding professional and volunteer environments.

Currently, Jenessa works as a Consultant at Coeus Consulting, with a keen interest in technology advisory. Her previous experience includes significant roles at KPMG Australia and Fujitsu Australia, where she played a vital role in supporting the Australian Government in transformative technology projects.

Devoted to making a difference, Jenessa places great importance on volunteering. Her commitment to various feminist organisations, including UN Women, reflects her dedication to creating positive change. Additionally, she recently accomplished her Bachelor of Global Security, specialising in international relations, counter-terrorism, and intelligence.

Jenessa O'Connell

Events and Programming Director


Livia Godaert
Director of Communications, London

Livia Godaert is the communications director for YPFP London. She is also a nonresident fellow and former assistant director with the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, where she managed portfolios on the European Union, the United Kingdom, Southern Europe, and the Western Balkans, and was responsible for the Europe Center's communications strategy and digital content.

Livia has a BA in Political Science from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, and is currently pursuing a MSc in Media and Communications Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

For any YPFP London comms and media queries please contact Livia at livia.godaert@ypfp.org

Livia Godaert

Director of Communications


Maria Milenova
Advisor, London

Maria holds an Advisory position  at YPFP London. Maria works as Parliamentary Researcher at the House of Lords and a Programme Officer at the Centre for Global Mental Health at King’s College London. She is currently a PhD candidate at KCL’s Centre for Implementation Science, researching the design of exit strategies in international development programming in low- and middle-income countries.  

Maria holds a BSs+MSc in Political Science and Governance from Complutense University of Madrid and the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Sussex, as an EU Erasmus Programme student. Prior to joining King’s College London in 2017, she was a Junior Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for International Development and Cooperation at the European Commission in Brussels where she worked with the EU Council on mainstreaming digital technologies in international development initiatives. 

Maria Milenova

Advisor 

 

Hussain Al Shabib is a Journalist with extensive media experience; holds MA in Political Economy of the Middle East from King’s College London & Post graduate Certificate in Middle East Politics from University of Exeter in UK. Previously he worked as a Political Risk consultant. Prior to that he worked for Freedom House. He is  Membership and Recruitment Secretary at the National Union of Journalists London IBNM branch.

Hussain Al-Shahib

Programming Officer

Agnese is a lawyer working in stakeholders representation, and she represents charities and community groups with local governments and authorities. She has been part of several advocacy projects and campaigns as well as taking part in a number of assemblies and negotiations at international level, including consultations organised in coordination with the UNDPI, the ASEM and the UNESCO. Agnese is currently a ONE UK Youth Ambassador and she serves as election observer in the UK and internationally.

 

Agnese Cigliano

Advocacy & Community Development Officer

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