The QCEA team
Representative
Alexandra ‘Sasha’ Bosbeer
Alexandra Bosbeer has been a member of the Religious Society of Friends for twenty years. Alexandra grew up in the Netherlands and the US, and she has long been interested in movements beyond national or ethnic boundaries. In the 1990s, she helped organize citizen diplomat exchanges with Siberians. More recently, she worked around the globe, monitoring and managing the accreditation programme for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). She has also lived for fifteen years in the West of Ireland, where she taught environmental and social forest management to undergraduates and to professionals, as well as managing a small consulting business. She is a potter and photographer and has blogged extensively about social inequality in Central and North America.
Alexandra holds a BA in psychology and has been trained in social accountability auditing and facilitation. She also holds a PhD in Botany and an MSc in Forest Ecology and Silviculture, along with professional certification as an ecologist (Ecological Society of America) and as a chartered environmentalist (Society for Environment (UK)).
You can contact Alexandra by emailing abosbeer [at] qcea.org, where [at] is replaced by @.
Programme Assistants
Imogen Parker – Criminal Justice and Human Rights Programme
Imogen arrived at QCEA in January 2013 upon completion of her Masters in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Her undergraduate degree from Exeter University in French and Geography and love of travel illustrates Imogen’s on-going interest in society and the world. Having been schooled in a Quaker environment and gaining a great amount from Quaker practices and ethics, Imogen looks forward to exploring more about Quaker work internationally and at the European level whilst understanding more about the complexities of the European Institutions. As a bit of a Francophile, Imogen is also intrigued to work in the ‘Belgian bubble’.
You can contact Imogen by emailing iparker [at] qcea.org, where [at] is replaced by @.
Rebecca Viney-Wood – Programme Assistant
Rebecca joined QCEA as a Programme Assistant in September 2013 after completing her Masters in Modern History at the University of Leeds. Having attended Quaker meeting from a young age, Rebecca has been significantly influenced by Quaker values and practices. Her passion for helping enact social change has led her to work voluntarily in Peru, Uganda, and the UK. A combined enthusiasm for social action and an interest in Quakerism inspired her to research Quakerism in action in both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and she welcomes the chance to live and work alongside Quakers at the heart of European politics.
You can contact Rebecca by emailing rvineywood [at] qcea.org, where [at] is replaced by @.
Chris Diskin – Programme Assistant
Chris joined QCEA in September 2013 after completing a range of internships in policy, public affairs and International Development. He holds a Masters Degree in Modern History from King’s College London and has worked in a variety of roles at Friends House London before arriving at QCEA. Chris is looking forward to learning more about the work of Friends at the European level, improving his French language skills, and experiencing Belgian culture. He is particularly interested in Economic and Social Justice and welcomes any opportunity to discuss these topics.
You can contact Chris by emailing cdiskin [at] qcea.org, where [at] is replaced by @.
Office Manager and Friendly Presence
We look forward to welcoming our new office manager and Friendly presence in January 2014. In the meanwhile, you can contact QCEA about room hirings and subscriptions by writing to office [at] qcea.org.
Recent QCEA Staff
Gordon Matthews
Gordon was one of two Representatives from October 2012 to March 2013. He is a lifelong Quaker and has served Quakers in Britain and Germany in various capacities over many years. He joined the Quaker Peace Action Caravan in 1981 before going on to work for the Fellowship of Reconciliation in England until 1986. He then served as Resident Friend at Charney Manor before moving to Germany to work for Church & Peace, the European peace church network. For seven years he was warden of the Friends Meeting House in Evesham. He served for three years as clerk of the Peace Campaigning & Networking group of Quaker Peace & Social Witness.
Bethany Squire – Sustainability Programme
Bethany arrived at QCEA in September 2012, after completing a degree in European Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Bath. Inspired by a career in the social change, she has pursued work combining international development and advocacy, and has experienced the privilege of living and working in both France and Ecuador. Having worked for a variety of organisations, and now arrived in Belgium, she is excited by the prospect of further delving into the complex world of international relations and global politics, not to mention the Belgian culture.
Chris Venables – Peace Programme
Chris arrived at QCEA in September 2012, after reading Politics at the University of York. He works on the Peace programme and is currently completing a small research project on the ‘militarisation’ of the European Union. He welcomes any opportunity to discuss his work and the direction of Europe more broadly with regards to security and defence policy.
Viviane Nolf
Viviane was the Office Manager at QCEA from April 2012 through December 2013. Viviane is Belgian: she studied French and Dutch, and is now working hard to improve her English. She has always worked in customer service so working as the Office Manager at QCEA represents a new and exciting challenge. She is married and has three children.
Oversight
Oversight of QCEA’s work programmes is the responsibility of the Council, a body made up of representatives of other Quaker organisations.