ECoD Team
WE PROUDLY PRESENT
Members of the ECoD team
Our all-star team has one joint mission: to innovate and strengthen Democracy across Europe!
Mariam Ali,
Graphic Designer
Mariam holds a degree from “Die Graphische”, Vienna’s leading school for graphic arts and design. With a strong focus on visual communication and design strategy, she has developed visual identities and design concepts for web and print across various industries and companies. Believing that democracy is essential to an open and just society, she uses her creative skills to make democratic values visible, accessible, and engaging.Â
Vlera Bajraktari,
Junior Project Manager
Vlera holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and recently completed her Master’s studies at Central European University in Vienna. Driven by a deep commitment to social justice and inclusive societies, she actively supports initiatives that promote democratic engagement, particularly among marginalized communities.
Helfried Carl,
Founder and CEO
Helfried is Founder and CEO of European Capital of Democracy NPO and a Board Member at the Innovation in Politics Institute. In his career as a diplomat, he has acted as Chief of Cabinet of the President of the Austrian Parliament and Austrian Ambassador to Slovakia.
Marta Fraschetti,
Project Manager
Marta holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political, Legal, and Governmental Studies from Central European University and completed her postgraduate studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. She began her career as an intern at the European Capital of Democracy, where she now works as a Project Manager, supporting the planning and implementation of the Democracy Year’s events.
Dunja Ganser, Compliance & Safeguarding Officer
Dunja is a versatile expert in project development and management. Bringing new ideas to life, acting as an experienced guide through this process and understanding each target group’s hope and wishes are the main tasks she carried out in various fields – the arts world, policy-making & media projects.
Please report any incidents via this website form.
Miriam Hargašova,
Programme Manager
Miriam has a background in political science and international relations, coupled with practical experience in public affairs and communication. She leads the annual Innovation in Politics Awards and manages the ACT NOW Mayors’ Conference — initiatives dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving positive change. Â
Adela King,
Junior Project Manager
After obtaining her BA Degree in Culture, Politics, and Society from Central European University, Adela is now pursuing a MSc in Comparative Politics and Conflict at the London School of Economics and Political Science. During her university studies, Adela has interned with multiple organisations and is particularly interested in topics such as multiculturalism and social trust.
Fatima Kirsch,
Communication Manager
With more than ten years of experience in political communication, Fatima has worked at the heart of Vienna’s political landscape, supporting leadership with messaging, campaign planning, and media outreach. As a freelancer, she has advised campaigns and organisations, designed visual identities, and created strategies across social media, print, and press.
Laura Thomas,
European City Network Manager
Laura is the Innovation in Politics Institute’s Country Representative in the UK and leads the ECoD call for cities, as well as City Network meetings and events. She has worked as an English language teacher. Prior to this, Laura gained a Master’s in Global Health from Copenhagen University which enabled her to view global issues through a multidisciplinary lens.
Tijana Zherajikj,
Call & Fundraising Manager
Tijana has a background in International Relations and Public Policy. She began her professional journey in Prague, working as a researcher with a focus on EU foreign policy. She later completed a Master’s degree in International Public Affairs in Vienna, where she specialized in policy analysis, EU legal developments, human rights, and EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.
In addition to her work in grant writing and fundraising, Tijana manages the Horizon Europe project ScaleDem, which focuses on scaling democratic innovation.