educator, OSZ Dahme-Spreewald
Alina was raised in NRW where she studied at Universität Duisburg-Essen to become a teacher for English and French.
Several moves throughout her childhood took her to various places in Germany and finally she came to Berlin to complete her teacher training.
12 years later, she still lives in Berlin, but is now working at a school in Brandenburg.
She is particularly intrigued with supporting young people to find their aspirations in life. One of her interests is the social divide in communities and its impact on education. In her free time, she works in her garden or reads books on societal topics.
Deputy Editor in Chief Berliner Zeitung
Moritz Eichhorn read International Relations, Philosophy and Political Theory at St Andrews and the LSE. After work as a contributing editor at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung he became deputy spokesperson for the Free Democratic Party. He left politics in 2020 to co-found a medical device startup but returned to journalism when he joined the politics desk of Berliner Zeitung in 2021, becoming deputy editor in 2023.
Former UNHCR representative in Angola and Mozambique
Dr. Hans Lunshof has a PhD from the University of Utrecht, where he was an academic for several years before joining the UNHCR in the early nineties. He worked for the organisation for 28 years in various legal protection positions in some of the world’s conflict hotspots among others on the Balkans and in Africa. He is the former UNHCR representative in Angola and Mozambique and an expert in Asylum, Migration and International Humanitarian Law. He also served as Head of the Liaison Service of the UNHCR for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. He is a Dutch national, now based in Portugal.
former FPS Fritze Wicke Seeling Intern, Law Student (from October 2025), Ballroom Dancer
Jannes has been an active member of Debating Matters for three years, as well as honing his skills as a debater through numerous competitions and public speaking engagements. He was selected as one of only six students to represent Germany at MACBilbao/MUNBilbao – an international Model United Nations conference that brings together more than 600 students from across the globe. Additionally, he is a former intern at FPS Fritze Ficke Seeling, one of Germany’s leading independent commercial law firms, known for its team of over 140 highly qualified lawyers. Outside academics, Jannes is a successful ballroom dancer—Berlin Champion and Vice Champion 2024 (Hgr. D/C St.), and winner of the world’s largest amateur competition in 2025 (Hgr. C St.).
managing director, Allianz ONE Business Solutions GmbH
Katharina is Managing Director of Allianz ONE Business Solutions GmbH and Chairwoman of the Management Board at VLS GmbH. With over five years of leadership experience, she brings strategic vision and a strong commitment to innovation and people development. In addition to her executive roles, she leads the employee network Allianz NEO, which advocates for gender equality, and actively mentors emerging talent within the company. Katharina is passionate about driving inclusive change and fostering environments where diverse perspectives can thrive.
student of architectural studies, barista and DM alumnus
Linus attended Paulsen Gymnasium from 2018 – 2024 where he took part in Debating Matters Berlin three times, in 2022, 2023 and 2024
He is currently working as a barista and will begin his bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies in October 2025.
Lord Bailey of Paddington; London Assembly member; youth worker; co-founder, My Generation
Lord Bailey of Paddington (Shaun) is a passionate advocate for housing, youth empowerment, and community renewal. Born in North Kensington, Shaun turned early life challenges into a mission to support those in society who are often overlooked. He began as a youth worker in Ladbroke Grove and co-founded My Generation, tackling crime, educational failure, and unemployment head-on.
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director, European Speechwriter Network
Isocrates, Cicero, Erasmus – these were giants of Western intellectual culture, but we’ve forgotten all about them. In 2009, when the world was reeling from the consequences of corruption at the highest levels, Brian Jenner formed an organisation to revive the lessons of these great teachers.
The European Speechwriter Network is a society of writers who gather every year to initiate each other into the esoteric aspects of Europe’s shared linguistic heritage. Members study rhetoric in order to reignite political passions, reinvigorate democracy and reject scientific rationalism across the continent of Europe.
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law student, Humboldt University of Berlin
Sophie Paszylka is a seventh semester law student at the Humboldt University in Berlin. Last year she did her specialization in legislation and legal policy. During her studies Sophie gained a lot of practical insights through various internships for example in the German Bundestag and in corporate law firms. Having always been interested in foreign law systems, she completed two additional modules about the Constitutional and Contract law systems in Great Britain.
Sophie started debating in high school and took part in the Debating Matters contest 2019 for the Gymnasium Steglitz team. Last year she joined the Berlin Debating Union. In her free time she likes to play tennis and dance.
international political strategist, writer and historian
Between 2004 and 2017, Gawain Towler was press officer for UKIP, initially in the European Parliament in Brussels and, from 2009, heading the department in London. In 2019, he was appointed director of communications for the Brexit Party. He is an international political strategist and historian and has written for most national publications. Until recently, he was head of press at Reform UK. Almost a permanent fixture in the phone books of a generation of lobby journalists. He now works in Strategic communications for Bradshaw advisory. He can mostly be found in pub gardens and ancient churches across these islands.
