Alumni
Council
The BAFF Alumni Council is a volunteer high-level leadership development opportunity with the responsibility for advancing a self-sustaining alumni community under mentorship from the BAFF Board of Directors.
The Council, as a representative body of nearly 1000 professionals from the Baltic States, is responsible for advancing the BAFF alumni community through the development of engagement strategy, programs, and activities designed to achieve the BAFF mission - to deepen the ties between and among Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United States through programs of education and exchange centering on economic growth and democratic values.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
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Alumni Council members are developing and implementing new and ongoing Baltic-based initiatives to drive value for Alumni and their engagement. Council’s responsibilities include:
• Developing new programs, activities and tools for Alumni engagement (e.g. Mentorship program, Executive program, Junior program, Alumni directory, and many more);
• Planning and implementing alumni activities, including social events, volunteering opportunities, and short-term or long-term programs for professional and leadership development;
• Participation in Council and alumni meetings and events;
• Monitoring of alumni engagement and feedback, and based on it developing an annual action plan and budget;
• Developing Alumni Council value proposition and governance model.
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Working closely with BAFF staff, the Alumni Council reports directly to the BAFF Alumni Affairs Committee, co-chaired by two members of the Board of Directors - Asta Sendonaris and Joanne Medero.
Currently, the Alumni Council operates through two committees: Program Development and Alumni Engagement. Each committee is chaired by a fellow Alumni Council member, who is selected through a peer or self-nomination process. Additionally, the Council members might form and work through task forces to develop specific initiatives.
BAFF supports Alumni Council participation by covering travel expenses related to Alumni Council member's duties during the term of service.
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The Council meets 3 times per year, in person as circumstances allow. Serving on the Alumni Council requires at least 12 hours per month in meeting time, committee and task-force work, and event participation.
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Alumni Council members serve a three-year term.
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To serve effectively on the Council, proactiveness, ownership, and teamwork are essential.
You don’t need to have all the skills listed below to apply — but if you do, they’d be a great addition and worth mentioning in your application:
Event organization and management
Program or project management
Social media and digital design
HR and people development
Management, consulting, or leadership experience
What matters most is your motivation to contribute, collaborate, and make an impact in the BAFF Alumni community.
BAFF ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS
Co-Chairs of BAFF Alumni Council
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Saskia JÕERS
Country: Estonia
Field: Digital marketing and economics
BAFF Program: Leadership Academy - 2014“I believe in the BAFF community and want to make sure that people know that even if their last connection with BAFF was a long time ago, they are still welcome back any time. My experiences in marketing and event organising will help strengthen the alumni community.”
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Evelina Adekoya
Country: Lithuania
Field: Human resources and business
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2017“Connected by a shared experience in the US, our alumni community is truly exceptional! I’m committed to advancing our mission through my expertise in program coordination and the art of hosting to create unforgettable engagement opportunities.”
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Asta Sendonaris
“As a Baltic diaspora member in the US and BAFF Board Director, I'm excited to serve as the Alumni Council Co-Chair, promoting creative collaboration to bolster the exceptional BAFF alumni community and enhance its impact on leadership, economic growth, and Baltic-US relations.”
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Joanne Medero
“I see participating as one of the Co-Chairs as a way to provide the BAFF Board perspective to the Alumni Council as well as to apply my professional background to further develop relationships between and among Alumni, the Baltic countries and the US..”
LEADS
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Elza Priede
Lead for Portfolio and Engagement
Committee Chair
Country: Latvia
Field: Social and Educational Innovation
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2019“In this role, I hope to be a source of encouragement for other alums, providing them with opportunities to build professional connections and fuel innovations that will strengthen the BAFF community and the Baltic society.”
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RODIJS Ronis
Lead for Operations
Country: Latvia
Field: Account Management | Data Visualizations
BAFF Program: Leadership Academy 2017“BAFF has been a change-maker in my life - being a part of BAFF has given me opportunities which I would never have had without it. I have met many great friends via BAFF and have created relationships that have helped me in many moments. By joining Alumni Council, I want to implement a more data-driven approach for alumni engagement, bring a greater focus on Gen-Z engagement, and continue promoting BAFF as the best professional network uniting the Baltics.”
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Helena Stavro
Lead for Marketing and Communication
Country: Latvia
Fields: Marketing, Creative Industries, Project Management
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2019“I work with marketing projects daily and believe I can contribute with valuable insights to enhance BAFF's marketing efforts. My vision involves making our social media platforms more engaging by creating exciting and dynamic content, reaching a wider audience, and gaining additional recognition for the program.”
MEMBERS
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Inkeri Parman
Country: Estonia
Field: UX Research
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2018“I have enjoyed being an active member of the BAFF alumni community for years and I deeply care for this community. I believe that nurturing the Alumni community helps make sure that BAFF experiences have a truly long-lasting impact. I would like to help make sure that Estonians stay active in the Alumni Club and that we have events and an engaged community in Estonia.”
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Austeja Nedzveckaite
Country: Lithuania
Field: Communication, PR & Brand Strategy
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2019“I'm joining the Alumni Council to come up with ideas and tactics to extract as much value for the alumni as possible - and make them even more proud of being part of the BAFF community. By day, I work with brand building, strategy and advertising, so I see myself as highly creative as well as strategic, have a passion for copywriting and making brands come alive. These are the skills I’d be most happy to use to grow alumni engagement in the community.”
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Mariliis Eensalu
Country: Estonia
Field: Science, Research, Diplomacy, Public sector
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2016.“The Baltic-American Freedom Foundation has been a defining force in my professional and personal trajectory, and I feel a strong responsibility to help shape the next chapter of our community. I see the BAFF Alumni Council as a platform to transform our already impressive network into even more cohesive, visible, and supportive community, one that actively shapes transatlantic conversations on policy, innovation, and culture.”
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Povilas Dabrila
Country: Lithuania
Field: Engineering
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2020„I want to help build a more connected and supportive alumni community. With my background in civil engineering, I hope to share practical experience and support initiatives that encourage collaboration and mentorship among alumni in different career fields.“
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Jelena Dementjeva
Country: Latvia
Field: Engineering, Science, Research
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2015„I’m joining the BAFF Alumni Council to contribute my experience back to the community. I believe that alumni with scientific and engineering backgrounds have great potential to connect, collaborate, and create new opportunities within BAFF. I hope to help strengthen these connections, support entrepreneurship development, and ensure the community continues to be engaging and inclusive for all members.“
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Ilya Shugaev
Country: Latvia
Field: Fintech
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2023„I’m joining the BAFF Alumni Council to help take our community to the next level. I aim to strengthen engagement through dynamic communications, accessible events, and initiatives like a flexible Mentorship Marketplace for alumni to share insights. I’m also passionate about creating professional and social opportunities that connect members across generations and make BAFF even more vibrant and active.“
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Gabija Kurkulyte
Country: Lithuania
Field: Marketing, Management, Communications/PR
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2024„I am eager to support and advance the current BAFF initiatives and to contribute to the development of new ones. I hope to bring my experience in event organization, project management, content coordination, and social media management, while also growing my skills in community engagement and people & culture. I genuinely enjoy connecting people and creating environments where alumni feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to thrive..“
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Paula Elksne-Revelina
Country: Latvia
Field: Education
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2022„I have seen firsthand how impactful deepening the ties between the Baltics and the US can be, not only through the BAFF community but also through my work at RTU Riga Business School. I'm joining the Council to help strengthen the community and support BAFF’s mission. With experience leading teams on educational innovation projects and organizing events from workshops to large conferences, I enjoy bringing people together and rallying them around ideas.“
FORMER ALUMNI Council Members
Rolands Bogdanovs
Committee Chair
Country: Latvia
Field: Business, Economics & Finance
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2016
„The BAFF alumni network has been moving in the right direction recently, there are now more opportunities for the existing alums, yet there is more to be done to level up engagement and create a stronger public brand for BAFF. I'm fairly experienced in strategic development, stakeholder management, and negotiations, therefore, I believe I can contribute some unconventional perspectives to the Alumni Council.“
Agnese Zimele
Country: Latvia
Field: Marketing, International Business
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2018.
“I have seen the alumni community before and after the BAFF Alumni Council started working actively, and the difference is truly remarkable. I would love to support the outstanding work that has already been done and use my experience, skills, and knowledge to develop other networking, professional and personal development possibilities for BAFF alumni. BAFF alumni are a great group of professional, supportive, and creative people, and I cannot wait to shape the future of our community together!
Davis Freidenfelds
Country: Latvia
Fields: Environmental Science, Quality Management
BAFF Program: Leadership Academy – 2014
“I have felt for a while now that it is important to give back to BAFF. I believe that being part of BAFF Alumni Council could and would be beneficial for advancing a self-sustaining alumni community.”
Rokas Mackevicius
Country: Lithuania
Fields: Economics, International Marketing and Management
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2019
“BAFF has an awesome community in the Baltics. The world is changing rapidly – with all the nowadays threats and opportunities. I believe there is a lot of potential to evolve the alumni community and benefit not only personally but for society as well.“
Regina Soobard, PhD
Country: Estonia
Field: Social sciences, education
BAFF Program: Research Sholar 2017 Fall
“I’m interested in bringing together the BAFF research community to expand the boundaries of existing research fields and work together (or share experiences) to reach new and necessary knowledge for our societies.”
Arunas Stirke, PhD
Country: Lithuania
Field: Biology and chemistry
BAFF Program: Research Scholar 2017
“I am a scientist and I would like to contribute to developing new programs or participate in already developed programs for alumni, especially for alumni scientists.”
Maarja Tsimmer
Country: Estonia
Fields: Marketing, HR, Project Management
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2014
“My personal interest in joining is matched by my eagerness to actively contribute and enrich our community. With my experience in (community) event planning and my original roots in Vilnius, I would be happy to help with organizing local events.”
iveta justaite
Country: Lithuania
Fields: Technology and business
BAFF Program: Leadership Academy – 2016
“My personal interest in joining is matched by my eagerness to actively contribute and enrich our community. With my experience in (community) event planning and my original roots in Vilnius, I would be happy to help with organizing local events.”
Ruta labalaukyte
Country: Lithuania
Fields: Management and Marketing
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2014
“BAFF Alumni have a personal relation with BAFF and they can be the most loyal supporters of the organization locally and internationally. If kept informed and engaged, they can offer tremendous promotion for BAFF through their personal and professional networks.”
VIKTORIJA VASTAKAITE–KAIRIENE, PHD
Country: Lithuania
Field: Plant Science
BAFF Program: Research Scholar – 2020
“I do not doubt that my experience, professional skills, and personal qualities, such as initiative and responsibility, can be successfully used to bring BAFF Alumni community together professionally and socially through ongoing Baltic-based programming. “
ILZE LAUKALEJA-BROKA, PHD
Country: Latvia
Field: Natural Sciences, Food science, coffee industry
BAFF Program: Professional Internship - 2019
“I want to continue to organize events that help other BAFF alumni to connect with like-minded people and encourage them to achieve their goals. I am confident that my hard work ethic, enthusiasm and experience as a project manager in my university would help to strengthen the BAFF Alumni legacy.”
JUSTINAS LAPIENIS
Country: Lithuania
Field: Consulting project manager, public policy researcher, pro bono NGO adviser, product manager
BAFF Program: Graduate Scholar 2014-2015
“Community and vibrant networks are among the most powerful forces for positive societal and personal impact. I believe that shared goals and values of BAFF community are among the cornerstones towards mature and vibrant Baltic States”
Rõõt Palmiste
Country: Estonia
Field: Public Health
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2018
“Being around BAFF alumni, meeting new people and hearing what they do always gives me a motivational boost. As a result of a result of a very thorough selection of BAFF scholars, there is now a great group of ambitious, determined and successful people and it is an honor to be part of this group.”
KATHERIIN LIIBERT
Country: Estonia
Field: Social Anthropology
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2014
“Ever-growing in numbers, I know the community of BAFF Alumni is a diverse, well-educated and ambitious group of young professionals. I believe there is potential in the Alumni community that we can still unlock.”
LAURIS GRAVELIS
Country: Latvia
Field: Financial Economics
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2013
“High attendance rates and alumni involvement in alumni activities makes me feel proud that our BAFF community is ever-hungry for new knowledge, networking and doing business together.”
TRIIN METSLA
Country: Estonia
Fields: Arts
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2019
“Due to my strong background in the cultural field, I am interested in developing cultural program to keep BAFF alumni and professional contacts together. As BAFF alumni are well known in the start-up and technology field, there could be more interaction and networking on this route as well.“
ILONA MARKUNAITE
Country:Latvia
Field: Economics, Accounting and Audit
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2011
“Through my participation in the Council I would like to learn how to see, hear and feel what is needed for each and every member of BAFF community and develop my skills to bring these needs together for the common good.”
LINA MENJOKA
Country: Latvia
Field: International Relations
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2014
“I expect a forming of a strong team, willing to work and lead, and I would like to be a part of this team as many great ideas that lacked resources and perhaps courage when acting alone, could finally come to life.”
ZANE PAULA
Country: Latvia
Field: Economics
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2014.
“I see the BAFF alumni community as a powerful platform where development of the professional skills of the alumni members can be combined with actively engaging in community service and therefore creating value both for society and ourselves.”
HENRIJS KALKIS
Country: Latvia
Field: Business Management
BAFF Program: Research Scholar – 2018
“I believe BAFF will become the leading organization in Baltic countries with strong alumni support and I would like to serve and give also my input with my academic and professional experience in developing a strong alumni network, alumni related skills and competences, develop programs, joint events, international conferences etc.”
Professor KEstutis JaraSiUnas
Country: Lithuania
Field: Physics
BAFF Program: Research Scholar – 2011
“I learned that BAFF Alumni in home countries need a meaningful activity which will bind them into a team. Therefore, I propose to involve the BAFF Alumni into deeper awareness in society, society-related democratic processes, and into solving arising problems through more active participation in life.”
Kristina Belikova
Country: Lithuania
Field: Journalism/Communications/Diplomacy & Political Studies
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2016
“The Alumni Council, in my opinion, was decided to be created just at the right moment in time and will give the BAFF community a whole new boost of energy, will boost involvement and bring its activities to a new level.”
Agneska Avin
Country: Lithuania
Field: Cultural Studies, Social Anthropology
BAFF Program: Professional Internship – 2016
“I believe that being part of the BAFF Alumni Council as institutionalized and formalized participation in and for the BAFF program will help to serve the community and commit myself to the development of BAFF Alumni community.”
FORMER COUNTRY PRESIDENTS
From 2013-2019 BAFF alumni were represented by country presidents.
Find out more