About – Staff
IPI STAFF
Edzodzi Ahiadou
Africa Program Officer
Edzodzi Ahiadou is in charge of the collection of information and research on press freedom violations across Africa and supporting the implementation of Africa Project activities and advocacy. Before joining IPI, in 2022, he was a Program Associate at Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). He holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Université de Lomé- Togo, and certificates in International Relations, Global Politics, human rights and project management.
Amy Brouillette
Director of Advocacy
Amy Brouillette is responsible for driving IPI’s global advocacy and press freedom monitoring work and campaigns. She joined IPI in 2022, with more than a decade of experience in leading research, advocacy, monitoring, and capacity-building projects focused on supporting and enabling independent journalism. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master’s degree in history from Central European University in Budapest.
İgor Çelov
Turkey Project Officer
Igor Çelov works as part of the IPI’s #FreeTurkeyJournalists campaign focusing on monitoring press freedom violations, advocating for media freedom, and supporting quality independent journalism in Turkey. Before joining IPI, he worked in civil society and independent media support in Turkey. Igor holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration from Middle East Technical University, Ankara. His academic interest revolves around populism and democracy in Russia, Turkey, and Europe.
Beatrice Chioccioli
Europe Advocacy Officer
In her current role as the Europe Advocacy Officer, Beatrice Chioccioli brings expertise in both human rights and communications. She holds a Master’s Degree in European Studies from the University of Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle and another in Development and Humanitarian Aid from the University of Paris I – Sorbonne Panthéon. Beatrice’s professional journey includes managerial positions in European non-profits, as well as experience in the field of journalism. Prior to joining IPI, she served as a Research Editor at Dow Jones.
Scott Griffen
Deputy Director
Scott Griffen joined IPI in 2012 as press freedom adviser focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean and later as director of press freedom programmes. He is the author of numerous IPI reports on diverse topics related to press freedom and independent journalism and has led or participated in dozens of IPI press freedom missions around the world. He comments regularly on issues related to press freedom and media pluralism in international media. He holds degrees from Yale University, King’s College London, and Johannes Kepler University Linz.
Zeyneb GÜLTEKİN
Turkey Programme Coordinator
Zeyneb Gültekin joined IPI as of April 2023 and works on IPI’s #FreeTurkeyJournalists campaign. She has worked with national and international human rights and humanitarian organizations in Turkey since 2010 where she managed human rights projects and protection programmes for refugees, and was also responsible for communications, networking and advocacy. Zeyneb holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & International Relations and a master’s degree in Human Rights.
DUMITRITA HOLDIS
Programme Manager
Dumitrița Holdiș joined IPI in April 2023 and is now working as a programme manager for the organisation. She has experience in managing research projects, conducting studies on media funding, illiberal speech, and forms of cooperation in journalism. She is trained as a sociologist and prior to joining IPI, she worked in universities and in the non-profit sector in Hungary and Romania. She holds a master’s degree in sociology and social anthropology from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.
Christiane Klint
Finance & Administration Manager
Christiane is in charge of IPI’s day-to-day financial management and works closely with the Head of Finances to prepare reports for IPI’s Board and donors and ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability in financial management. She also attends to other administrative tasks and works across all teams in a supporting role. Christiane has been working with IPI since 1993 with a primary focus on communicating with IPI’s members, as well as providing support and planning advice on congresses, conferences and other IPI activities. Christiane grew up in Mexico City and attended the German school there. She also studied at York University in Toronto and at the University of Vienna.
Timothy Large
Director of Independent Media Programmes
Timothy Large is an award-winning journalist, editor and media development specialist who is responsible for expanding IPI’s existing support to independent media as a means to build resilience in the face of press freedom restrictions and financial hardship. Before joining IPI, he was Founding Editor of the Reporting Democracy cross-border journalism platform and Editor of the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. He was also Director of Reuters media development programmes, Editor-in-Chief of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Editor of the Reuters AlertNet humanitarian news service and a Reuters correspondent.
Martin Leonhartsberger
Head of Finance
Martin Leonhartsberger is a certified public accountant and has over 15 years experience in finance and administration working for companies such as GEWISTA WerbegesmbH, PROGRESS Werbe, VerlagsgmbH, Altstoff Recycling Austria AG, Manpower GmbH and more recently Philips Austria GmbH.
Martin ensures the smooth operation of all of IPI’s financial and administrative needs.
Grace Linczer
Membership and World Congress Coordinator
Grace Linczer works as part of the IPI Membership Team to coordinate the onboarding of new IPI members and to enhance their overall member experience. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Central European University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and international peace studies from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to her time at CEU, Grace worked as Membership Engagement Manager at PEN America where she developed the PEN Across America program, engaging communities across the U.S. in advocacy efforts to defend press freedom and civil discourse.
Karol Łuczka
Eastern Europe Monitoring and Advocacy Officer
Karol Łuczka leads IPI’s work in Eastern Europe, with a focus on Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. He is responsible for monitoring press freedom violations committed during the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as for outreach and advocating media rights in the wider region. Karol was previously a correspondent for Belsat TV, RFE/RL and Hromadske Radio in Russia and Ukraine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the Central and Eastern European campus of Sciences Po Paris in Dijon. He obtained his master’s degree in International Relations in 2018 from Science Po Paris.
Javier Luque Martínez
Head of Digital Communications
Javier Luque coordinates advocacy and communication on IPI’s digital platforms. He has worked on online hate against journalists and media organisations since 2014. His research on this topic has been quoted by media worldwide such as The Guardian, The British Journalism Review and Bloomberg News among others. He has also worked as a consultant for the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media for their project on Safety of Female Journalists Online. Prior to joining IPI, Javier worked as a broadcast and multimedia journalist for local and international news organisations in the US and Spain.
Frane Maroević
Executive Director
Maroević brings to this position over 30 years in journalism, media development and press freedom. He developed his passion for journalism and learned the skills, professional standards and values of this profession at the BBC World Service in London. In post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina he worked on the reform of public broadcasting, media regulation and managed donor support for independent media. As the director of the office of the OSCE media freedom representative, he managed responses to numerous cases of media freedom violations in 57 countries that are part of this intergovernmental organization. Just before joining IPI, his work at the Internet and Jurisdiction Policy Network and the Freedom Online Coalition Advisory Network focused on threats to online freedom of expression.
Milica Miletic
Projects and Events Coordinator
Milica Miletić plans, manages and develops IPI conferences, events, and seminars. She also coordinates IPI’s Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) project, which funds cross-border watchdog journalism in Europe, and provides support to IPI’s innovation projects. In addition, Milica contributes extensively to the implementation of other IPI projects, communications, design, and marketing. For 10 years she managed IPI’s biggest annual press freedom event — the IPI World Congress. Prior to joining IPI, she worked for the Media Center Belgrade and the South East Europe Network for Professionalisation of Media (SEENPM). She holds degrees in journalism and media studies from the University of Belgrade.
Oliver Money-Kyrle
Head of Europe Advocacy and Programmes
Oliver Money-Kyrle is a media development expert and press freedom activist with over twenty years’ experience defending the rights of journalists in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Turkey. He joined IPI in September 2019 to head up the #FreeTurkeyJournalists campaign. Prior to that he was the Director of Projects with the International Federation of Journalists managing their global programmes and campaigns on journalists’ rights. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Bristol and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Boston University Brussels.
Veera Nikkila
Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow
Veera holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media from Hogeschool Utrecht, Netherlands, and is currently in the final stages of completing her master’s degree in journalism in Tampere, Finland. She has worked for Finnish newspapers, covering local and international news. Veera has previously interned also at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as well as at the Finnish trade union for people working in private service sections (PAM United).
Marsela Pećanac
Director of Strategy
Marsela Pećanac is an activist, organizer, and fundraiser focused on nonprofits. At IPI, she is supporting the organisation’s overall strategy. Marsela’s career has interwoven human rights and media freedom, values-driven finance, then progressive philanthropy. She serves on the Board of Directors for Rainforest Action Network and Threshold Foundation in the US. Marsela works closely with a broad global coalition on the Balkan’s Blue Heart of Europe campaign to save the last free-flowing rivers in Europe. She founded the Atelier for Community Transformation (ACT) to strengthen frontline activism in the Western Balkans. She holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Turin in Italy and the University of Sarajevo, and she graduated with honors from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC and E.F.A.P. Paris, the school of media in France.
Ryan Powell
Head of Innovation and Media Business
Ryan Powell manages IPI’s media innovation projects, focusing on bringing digital innovation and sustainable business models to independent media. Before joining IPI, he was head of Vienna-based magazine Metropole’s product and publishing divisions and prior to that advised independent media outlets in Europe and Africa on business diversification and product strategy. He published on and reported for the Center for International Media Assistance, World Bank, CNN International, Huffington Post and others. He holds an MPhil from the University of Oxford and a BA from Suffolk University.
Teona Sekhniashvili
Innovation Projects Officer
Teona Sekhniashvili provides support and assistance to IPI’s innovation projects. Before joining IPI, Teona worked as an Editor at The Fix Media. At different times she also worked for Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung South Caucasus Office, Human Rights Center (HRC) in Tbilisi, and Transparency International Georgia. Teona holds a master’s degree in political science from Central European University and a bachelor’s degree in Governance and Social Sciences from the Free University of Tbilisi. Her interests include press freedom, media pluralism, news innovation, and media literacy.
Nompilo Simanje
Africa Advocacy and Partnerships Lead
Nompilo Simanje joined IPI in March 2023 as the Africa Advocacy and Partnerships Lead. Before joining IPI, she worked as the Legal and ICT Policy Officer for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Nompilo has experience in advocacy and capacity building centred on promoting media freedom and freedom of expression, access to information and the right to privacy both online and offline. She holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Law (LLBS) from the University of Zimbabwe and certificates in African human rights systems and Tech law and policy from the University of Pretoria and the University of Cape Town respectively.
Sérgio Spagnuolo
Innovation Projects Manager
Sérgio Spagnuolo is a Brazilian journalist specialized in data journalism, innovation, and product development. He is the founder of two news startups in Brazil and holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations. He has been a Tow-Knight Fellow for Entrepreneurial Journalism at the City University of New York and was an ICFJ Knight Fellow from 2020 to 2022.
Jamie Wiseman
Advocacy Officer
Jamie Wiseman joined IPI in 2020 as an advocacy officer, focusing on Europe. As part of the press freedom team, he researches, monitors and covers violations, assists with advocacy and campaigns and helps coordinate media freedom missions. Previously he worked as a newspaper journalist in the UK, where he grew up. He holds a bachelor’s degree in literature from the University of Liverpool and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.