Julia Mayerhofer is the Co-Executive Director of PILnet.  She joined the team in July 2018 and in addition to leading the organization, she also oversees all operations and programs of PILnet in Asia. Previously she was with the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) for seven years and led the Network as Executive Director/Secretary General from 2015-2018. Prior to her work with APRRN, Julia worked with a refugee community center in Hong Kong where she supported fundraising, project development, and also community outreach. Julia is an Austrian national and has a B.A. in Educational Sciences and a M.A. degree in Development Studies. In addition she has participated in various trainings related to human rights/refugee rights and remains a strong interest in this area.

Andrej Nosko is PILnet’s Co-Executive Director. Prior to joining PILnet, Andrej was head of a division at an international foundation overseeing portfolios on policy research, innovation, democracy, governance, anti-corruption, and law enforcement. There he also spearheaded design, innovation and uptake of new technologies in research and communication. Andrej also worked for the European Commission on law enforcement and internal security. Nosko received his PhD (Summa Cum Laude) in political science from Central European University in Budapest.

His professional interests include resilience of civil society and human rights defenders and future of democracy, as well as Environment and Climate Justice, Environmental, Social, and (Corporate) Governance (ESG), and the related societal, energy and industrial transition.

Ágnes Almádi joined the PILnet Budapest office in 2019. Previously she worked as a senior member of the Open Society Foundation’s Grants Management Team at Admin Group, with an educational background in Humanities and Human Resources.  Currently in a Project and Operations Manager role, she supports PILnet’s different programs, projects and events in business administration functions, coordinates the European Pro Bono Alliance and runs the Hungarian Clearinghouse.

Darlene Bos is the US Development Officer at PILnet. Immediately prior to joining PILnet in January 2026, she worked with institutional funders at the Asian Law Caucus. Her experience in development and organizational leadership comes from two decades of service to organizations that advance justice, safety, and inclusion in a variety of roles, including grant writer, development director, and executive director. Darlene is an experienced public speaker and educator who has served as a park ranger and teaches as adjunct faculty at a community college. She also writes published fiction novels using multiple pen names.

Ana de la Cruz Cubeiro is our Senior Legal Officer: Global Clearinghouse based in Madrid. She has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Law and Economics, and she recently completed an LLM in International Criminal Law. Ana was part of a Law Clinic centered around combating gender-based violence targeting teenagers in Spain, and more recently she contributed to a research group at the University of Amsterdam, aiming to shed light on international crimes perpetrated against migrants. Ana works for the Europe team at PILnet, focusing primarily on the Global Clearinghouse.

Jonathan is Director for United States and Global Senior Counsel at PILnet. He previously served in PILnet’s Hong Kong office. Before joining PILnet, Jonathan practiced US and Irish immigration law in New York, London, Dublin, and Hong Kong. His nonprofit experience includes supporting anti-trafficking and bonded labor initiatives in South Asia and providing legal support to refugees and asylum seekers in Hong Kong. Jonathan holds an LLM from the School of Oriental & African Studies in London and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights Law from the National Law School of India. He is admitted (non-practicing) in Hong Kong, California, Ireland, and England & Wales.

Isabella Efstathiou is our Senior Development & Partnerships Associate and supports PILnet’s development and partnership efforts, bringing experience in fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration in the nonprofit sector. She has worked across both international and grassroots initiatives, supporting programs focused on refugee rights, environmental technology, and conflict prevention. In addition to her work in development, she has been involved in programming aimed at empowering vulnerable populations to access and help shape the support systems designed for them. Isabella holds an M.A. in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University and a B.A. in Trauma Studies from New York University.

Judit Geller is a legal program manager based in PILnet’s Budapest office. She is an experienced human rights lawyer with more than 15 years of practice. She has been leading strategic litigation and legal advocacy challenging discrimination and human rights abuses of marginalized communities and has litigated before the European Court of Human Rights, UN treaty bodies, national courts, and equality bodies in several countries across Europe.

Working as a senior legal manager at PILnet, Judit is engaged in leading and developing projects and strategic partnerships in legal pro bono in Europe and engaging pro bono lawyers in initiatives defending civic space and promoting access to justice for those in need.
Judit plays a central role in scoping opportunities for more impactful engagement of legal pro bono in support of civil society organisations, in particular those who are defending children’s rights and those building sustainable environments, tackling the global climate emergency, and supporting climate justice.

Judit holds a Master’s Degree in Law, an LLM in Children’s Rights, and a BA in Public Administration and is admitted to the Budapest Bar Association of Hungary.

Yusra Herzi is our Programme Officer: Forced Displacement, based in Canada. She has over six years of experience in labour and international human rights law. Prior to joining PILnet, she spent four years at Asylum Access Malaysia as a Work Rights Programme Officer, where she led the organization’s strategic litigation and policy advocacy efforts on employment rights, advancing refugee labour rights across Southeast Asia. She also serves as an Advisor on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways to the UNHCR.

Yusra holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Master of Arts in Strategic and Defence Studies, with a focus on transitional justice and post-conflict peacebuilding. At PILnet, Yusra works with the Forced Displacement team, with a primary focus on the Refugee Clearinghouse.

Orsolya Jeney is a seasoned human rights professional with over a decade of experience, specializing in international child protection and currently serves as our Senior Development and Partnerships Manager. She has held impactful roles in organizations dedicated to advancing human rights, including serving as the Impact Advisor at NestingPlay Hungary, where she led project development for early childhood education initiatives. Previously, Orsolya was the Executive Director at Trauma Center, contributing significantly to Ukraine’s response efforts and playing a key role in child protection initiatives. She also served as the Child Rights Education Program Manager at UNICEF Hungary, focusing on raising awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in schools.

During her tenure at Amnesty International Hungary (AI Hungary), Orsolya held pivotal leadership roles, including Director, where she led operational and financial planning, boosted fundraising efforts, and represented AI Hungary as a spokesperson. In her interim directorship, she stabilized AI Hungary during a transitional period, expanding its staff and establishing essential systems and procedures.

Orsolya holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights from Central European University, as well as an MA in International Relations and a BA in International Studies. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, and is the founder of an upcycling brand. Her human rights thesis on strategic litigation marked her initial connection with PILnet (then PILI).

Candice Johnson is the Director of Communications and Events based out of the New York office. In this role, she works with the Communications and Events team to develop PILnet’s internal and external communications and helps organize PILnet’s events, including the PILnet Global Forum. Prior to joining PILnet, Candice worked at Odyssey Impact as a Project Manager where she managed and developed their online multimedia resource and worked to broaden their faith-based network. Previously, she worked as Marketing Manager at Liaoyuan International High School in Shanghai, China. Candice received her M.S. in Global Affairs from New York University with a specialization in International Relations.

As Director of Finance and Operations at PILnet, Cintia leads with strategic vision to ensure financial integrity and operational excellence across our global NGO. Her expertise in sustainable budgeting, cross-border financial management, and compliance comes from a robust career in organizations that champion diverse causes such as Chance for Children, Budapest Pride and Terre des hommes Foundation. Cintia’s dedication to the NGO sector is reflected in her advocacy for organizational sustainability and social change, underpinned by a comprehensive background in administrative and financial management. Driven by a passion for social progress, she guides each project with a strategic financial outlook to bolster our mission and foster innovation within the NGO landscape.

Aidan Kim is a Program Officer based in New York. Prior to joining PILnet, Aidan’s work in law school focused on issues existing at the intersection of disability, labor, gender, and race. Aidan holds a BA in Philosophy from NYU and a JD from CUNY Law. Aidan works primarily on leading the adaptation and implementation of PILnet’s Legal Health Check service for CSOs in the US and on supporting PILnet’s Global Clearinghouse pro bono requests from US nonprofits.

Ian is a Junior Program Officer based in Hong Kong. He assists with the Hong Kong Clearinghouse, the Legal Health Check for social purpose organizations, and other core initiatives. He brings extensive experience from the Hong Kong non-profit sector, having supported youth, refugees, and migrant domestic workers through frontline and legal roles, while also working with community outreach groups to advance diversity and inclusion. Ian holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Government and Laws) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from the University of Hong Kong.

Anastassiya Miller is the Program Director for the Civic Space Program at PILnet, based in New York. Since joining the organization in 2018, she has led strategic initiatives to defend and expand the operating environment for civil society globally.

Kazakh human rights lawyer with two decades of experience, Anastassiya specializes in building cross-border resilience for the nonprofit sector. She is an expert in aligning pro bono resources with the strategic priorities of CSOs, ensuring that legal support creates systemic impact for organizations operating in restrictive environments.

Anastassiya plays a central role in facilitating peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchanges, designing collaborative platforms that enable NGOs to share best practices and navigate complex legal challenges. Her personal contributions include spearheading the development of global legal guides, such as Global Nonprofit Guide and capacity-building tools that bridge the gap between high-level legal expertise and the practical needs of the civic sector.

She holds an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame.

Cherry Ng is a Senior Program Officer based in Hong Kong with her work focusing primarily on the Asia Clearinghouse. Prior to joining PILnet, she worked at a law firm as a trainee solicitor, and later as a research assistant at the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Durham University, and a Master of Laws and a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from the City University of Hong Kong. She takes great professional interest in the intersection of the law with women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights, and has volunteered extensively in these disciplines.

Ashlynn is a Program Officer based in Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queen’s University Belfast and a Master in Laws in Human Rights from The University of Hong Kong.

Prior to PILnet, Ashlynn worked as a paralegal in a public interest law firm and then as a Research Assistant at the Faculty of Law of The University of Hong Kong, focusing on delivering hands-on interdisciplinary training to students via legal clinical education. As the Education Program Manager of a local NGO serving victims of trafficking, refugees and people facing disabilities, Ashlynn has amassed extensive experience working with vulnerable and marginalized individuals and remains dedicated to ensuring access to justice for these communities.

Wendy Otieno is the Communications Officer based in Nairobi, Kenya. In her role, she works as part of the Communications and Events team supporting the implementation of the Communication strategy. She has 10 years of experience in her field. Prior to PILnet, she gained her skills working with several organizations both in the private and nonprofit sectors in different capacities, most specifically in development communications, grant management, website management, social media and corporate strategy design and implementation, stakeholder management, and event planning. 

Wendy holds a BA in Applied Communication from Multimedia University of Kenya and is currently pursuing her MSc in Digital Media and Communication from The University of Stirling. 

Giulia Patane has held several roles at PILnet since 2018 and is currently Program Director: Europe. She holds a Juris Doctor, a Specialization Degree in Law (Universita’ degli Studi di Perugia) and a Master of Art in Human Rights (Mahidol University, Bangkok). After working for a civil and criminal law firm and assisting the Public Prosecutor Office in Italy, Giulia moved to Asia in 2012 to design and implement NGOs and academic projects predominantly on Access to Justice for victims of trafficking in the South East Asian territory.

Giulia was based in PILnet’s Hong Kong office leading the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Project across Southeast Asia since 2018. In 2021, Giulia relocated back to Europe where she currently manages the implementation of programs related to vulnerable groups (children’s rights, minority rights, anti-trafficking in persons) and of PILnet’s Online Regional Course on Public Interest Lawyering. Since moving back to Italy, Giulia also helps develop pro bono collaborations in the space of children’s rights and unaccompanied minors.

Raisa Shumeyko is the Finance Manager in PILnet’s New York office. As a Finance Manager, Raisa is responsible for a range of programs involving business and fiscal affairs of the organization. She works closely with the Budapest and Hong Kong offices to maintain grant reporting, allocations, and financial transactions. Prior to joining PILnet, Raisa worked extensively in the nonprofit sector providing accounting and consulting experience.  As a senior accountant at the Cathedral School and Greenwich House, she had managed financial aspects of operations ranging from bookkeeping functions to preparing the 990 form and Board reports. Raisa holds a BA in Accounting from National College of Finance in Moscow, Russia.

Jasmine Simperingham is currently the Program Director: Forced Displacement with PILnet. Jasmine leads the organization’s work engaging the global legal community to put the power of the law to work with and for refugees, stateless, and other displaced people. Jasmine is particularly interested in people-centered pro bono and the intersection between access to justice and the meaningful participation of those with lived experience of displacement and statelessness in policy making and decisions that affect their lives. She joined the team in September 2020 and works remotely from Geneva.

Jasmine has over 20 years of international experience in the humanitarian, human rights, and justice sectors. This includes more than 8 years experience with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as well as roles with government authorities in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Jasmine holds a Master of Laws (Hons), a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Laws. Jasmine is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

Ildikó Szántó joined PILnet in December 2023. She is an experienced office/admin manager with a history of working for NGOs in Hungary (Budapest Festival Orchestra, Habitat for Humanity, K-Monitor Public Association, Snétberger Music Talent Centre, ‘Beszélő’ Political Weekly, and the Parliament of
Hungary). She also has experience in education management as a founder/teacher of the first independent high school and educational trainings in Hungary.

She is responsible for HR, Finance and Administration tasks, and is the liaison to the Board of
Directors.

Ildikó holds a Law degree from ELTE Hungary and an Educational degree from Emerson College, UK.

Laura is a Senior Legal Officer with PILnet in Budapest. She supports resilience and compliance initiatives for civil society organizations operating in constrained civic environments. Laura contributes to key projects including the MARIO initiative – promoting minority rights advocacy across Europe -, environmental and climate justice pro bono collaborations, the Global Nonprofits Guide – equipping organisations with legal compliance- and the coordination of European Pro Bono Week. Working closely with pro bono lawyers, she advances civic freedoms and legal access for civil society.

Laura holds a law degree from The Hague University of Applied Sciences with a focus on International and European Union Law. She has also completed a Master’s degree from Lund University in Human Rights Law.

Emily Thompson is the Communications and Events Manager and is based in Prague.  In this role, she helps to develop and implement the communications strategy by creating effective campaigns, producing a variety of editorial materials promoting PILnet’s mission and programs, and coordinating impactful events. She has more than a decade of experience in non-profit and human rights communications, having previously worked as the Communications Officer with the Prague Civil Society Centre, and in the Media and Public Affairs Department of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Before starting in communications, she worked as a journalist and editor for a variety of media outlets in the U.S. and Europe. She has an MA in Philology and a BA in English.

Zainab Onuh-Yahaya is PILnet’s Programs Manager for Africa, where she leads efforts to develop partnerships with civil society organizations (CSOs) and law firms. Her work primarily focuses on expanding PILnet’s pro bono network, supporting civic space and climate justice initiatives, and facilitating pro bono legal support across Africa. Zainab is an attorney and prior to joining PILnet, worked at the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria, where she supported access to justice, climate justice, and civic space projects. Before that, she headed the Kogi State University Law Clinic, leading
initiatives to provide indigent communities with access to legal services. Zainab holds a Master’s degree in Law, with a specialization in International Humanitarian Law and Migration Studies.

Julio Vázquez Aguilar is a Legal Officer based in Mexico. Prior to joining PILnet, Julio worked with accountability mechanisms at the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, conducting operations, compliance reviews of environmental and social safeguards, and intake of complaints from affected communities. He also has experience in the nonprofit sector, supporting the legal team and the executive director at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL). Julio holds a BA in International Relations from Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, Mexico, and an MPP from the Hertie School in Berlin. Julio works primarily on strengthening pro bono legal services for civil society organizations across Latin America.