Lina is one of the founders of EMC. She has been the member of the Board of Directors since its foundation and leads the organization with other programme directors. She is responsible for the management of the Social Policy Programme and its effective functioning. The aim of the programme is to reveal the aspects of the social and economic oppression and exclusion of the employed, homeless and disabled people and at the same time examine their causes. The programme also aims to promote the creation and strengthening of social policy based on human dignity and equality. Lina is responsible for the strategic development of the programme and for creating of its vision and the agenda. Moreover, her functions include mobilising financial resources for the programme, coordinating activities as well as team management and support.

Professional Experience

2011-2013: Office of the Parliamentary Secretary - Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA);

2007-2010: Lawyer - Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA).

She is an author and head of up to 15 research/report on the labor rights, the right to accommodation, the rights of persons with disabilities and the freedom of religion, as well as the issues of transparency, accountability and corruption

Education

2010-2011: Direction of Democratic Governance and the rule of law (MA) - Ohio Northern University College of Law (Ohio State, USA);

2004-2008: The faculty of law (BA) - Tbilisi State University.

Sopho is the member of the Board of Directors and leads the organization with the directors of other programmes. Sopho became the member of the EMC team in September 2013 and currently she is the director of the Democracy and Justice programme. The aim of the programme is to promote the establishment of a fair justice system with a high degree of social sensitivity. With this aim, the programme aims to advocate systemic reforms in the court, law-enforcing organs and the security sector. As a programme director, Sopho Verdzdeuli is responsible for planning policies, strategies, positioning, and implementing them with the rest of the programme team. Moreover, she is also responsible for mobilising financial resources for the programme, coordinating and supporting the programme team.  

Professional Experience

2013-2015: Project Coordinator - EMC;

2012-2013: Coordinator of the Judicial System Reform project - Georgian Lawyers for the Independent Profession (GLIP);

2009-2012: During this period, she held various positions – (Lawyer, Project Coordinator and Parliamentary Secretary) - at Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA).

Sophie has authored/led up to 10 studies concerning the independence of the judiciary, drug-policy, political neutrality of the police and institutional organization of law enforcement agencies.

Education

2010-2012: International Law (MA) - Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA);

2006-2010: The faculty of law (BA) - Tbilisi State University.

Tamta is one of the founders of EMC. Since the foundation of EMC, she has been the member of the Board of Directors and led the organisation with other programme directors. She is responsible for the management and coordination of the Equality Policy Programme. The programme is preoccupied with matters relating to antidiscrimination policy, the oppression of non-dominant groups (religious and ethnic minorities, as well as LGBT people) and their exclusion at the political, social and discursive levels. In so doing, the programme employs the instruments of research, advocacy, strategic litigation and dissemination of knowledge.  As the programme director, Tamta’s immediate commitment is the strategic development of the programme, of its vision and agenda, as well as ensuring the mobilization of financial resources and coordinating and supporting the programme staff.

Professional Experience

2015-present: Associate Professor- Ilia State University

2009-2013: Lawyer of strategic litigation at the European Court of Human Rights and as a human rights researcher - Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA);

2009: Advisor to the National Security Council;

2005-2009: Advisor at the Department for State Representation at the European Court of Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

Tamta is the author/supervisor of up to 10 studies/reports concerning the freedom of assembly and religious freedom, secularism, the state of the legal rights of the LGBTI people, and anti-discrimination policies.

Education

2006-2008: Master of Public Law - Tbilisi State University;

2002-2006: Bachelor of Law - Tbilisi State University.

Elene joined EMC team in 2016. As the Organizational Development Manager, her main role consists in developing and elaborating the organization’s strategic plan and providing its implementation. In addition, she is responsible for effective realization of organization’s participative governance, operation of an internal communication system, supervision of an administrative department, as well as implementation of organization’s human resource and external communications, media and publicity policies.

Professional Experience

2016-2018: Communications Manager – EMC;

2014-2016: Communications Manager – Media outlet „Liberali”;

2011-2013: Sales and Marketing Manager – Media Holding „DEKOM“ (Magazines „Hot Chocolate“; „Liberali“; „Business“);

She, in the framework of an internship program, worked in 2 non-governmental organizations in France as a Communications Manager and Project Coordinator Assistant.

Education

2013-2014: Communication and Administration Management (Master) - Univesrity of Toulouse (Capitole 1);

2009-2010: Public Administration - High School of Management/the State University of Liege (Master; Bulgary/Belgium);

2005-2009: Bachelor of French Language Philology- Ilia State University/Paul-Valery Montpellier 3.

Dea joined the EMC team in 2015. She is responsible for the management and planning of the financial activities of the organization as well as its execution and analysis. Her tasks also include recording the financial and material resources of the organisation and reporting to donor organisations and the state. Apart from this, her duty is to identify the financial needs of the organisation and to participate in the process of mobilising financial resources.

Professional Experience

2008-2015: Senior consultant, Outsourcing Department of Accounting - BDO Ltd;

2006-2008: Assistant to the Accountant - Poultry Georgia Ltd.

Education

2009-Present: Institute of Professional Accountants (ACCA) – F1-F6;

2000-2004: Microeconomics and Management- State and Municipal Management (BA) - Tbilisi State University.

Salome joined EMC team in February 2018. Her mission is to inform you about EMC and its activities through various communication channels. Salome’s responsibilities include communication strategy drafting, media liaison, communication campaigns’ planning, media monitoring and analysis, multimedia projects management, website and social media management, events planning and management.

Professional Experience

2013-2015: Chief Public Relations Specialist - the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia;

2012-2013: Communications Officer - Association Green Alternative;

2012-2013: Media Monitor - Transparency International-Georgia;

2009-2012: Reporter - Georgia Today.

Salome’s multimedia stories and analytical essays on cultural and social impacts of the media, gender roles and gender politics, get published in various online media outlets.

Education

2015-2017: Social Sciences in Media and Communication Studies (MA)- Lund University, Sweden;

2003-2007: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism - Ilia State University.

Salome joined the EMC team from September 2017. Salome is responsible for the mobilization of financial resources for specific programs and strategic communication with donors.  Salome’s functions also include identifying organizational needs and strengthening all program directions. Apart from this, her duty is to research and identify relevant grant calls, communicate with potential donor organizations and participate in the international advocacy process.

Work Experience

04/2016-08/2016: Leading Acting Specialist – Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly;

2014-2015: Team Assistant – EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC);

06/2015-08/2015: Intern – European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI), Flensburg;

08/2012-08/2013: Head of the Public Relations Department and member of the Fundraising Department – European Youth Parliament, Georgia (EYP Georgia);

06/2014-08/2014: Intern – European Integration Department, Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

10/2012-01/2013: Assistant to Professor Kornely Kakachia at the course on World Politics in 21^st Century - Tbilisi State University.

EDUCATION

2016-2017: Master of Arts in Political Science, specialization in Comparative Politics - Central European University (CEU), Budapest;

2013-2016: Master in Public Administration – Joint program of German University of Administrative Sciences - Speyer and Tbilisi State University.

2008-2012: Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science - Tbilisi State University.

Anano joined the EMC team in January 2016.  Her main task is to provide safe, quiet and well-equipped working environment in the office. Anano deals with daily activities, such as correspondence and ensures the effective functioning of the organization.  Apart from this, her duties and responsibilities also include planning business trips for different EMC events, such as trainings, seminars and workshops both locally and internationally.

Professional Experience

2015-2016: Call Center Operator - Geocell;

2013-2014: European Voluntary Service – Akrobatika Kool "Omatsirkus" in Estonia;

2011-2012: Administrative and Hotline Coordinator - Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia - Program “Teach and Learn with Georgia".

Education

2015-2017: Tourism Management (MA) - Ilia State University;

2007-2012: International Relations (BA) - Tbilisi State University.