European Union 19.04.2009 - 26.04.2009
Serge Maillard
I was born on October 3rd 1985 in Geneva. I hold a Master in international relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and focused my research on the topics of European integration and Swiss politics. Highly interested in the Media & Communication field, I launched the academic online newspaper eCHanges (www.echanges-online.ch) after a stay at the Polis Centre of the London School of Economics (LSE). Also fond of the topic of European integration, I am going to work as an intern at the Swiss Institute in Rome and at the Swiss Representation to the Council of Europe in 2009. Having participated in several trips to the European organisations in Brussels and Strasbourg as well as in the Euroforum in Istanbul, I am sincerely looking forward to introduce this topic to the participants on the ground.
Xavier Vollenweider
Born on 31 August 1983, Swiss and French national, I got my Master of Art from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in June 2008. I am currently studying environmental and resource economics (MSc) at the University College London. Beside my studies, I invested myself in the thriving and vibrant civil society of Geneva in several social and cultural associations as well as vice-chairman of the Geneva NGO House (“Fondation pour l’expression associative”). My last project was the creation of the Geneva NGO federation (FAGE) whose representatives are currently taking part to the rewriting of the Genevan Constitution. When not in Geneva, I am either in a European capital for an exhibition or I am travelling in developing world (by donkey last summer!). Briefly, I love politics, I love travelling and I love Europe.