Vanessa studied Business Administration at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, Paris and San Diego and received her Master's degree in European Children's Rights and Childhood Studies at FU Berlin. She worked for KPMG, Deloitte WEDIT and as Managing Director for a venture capital fund. Passionate about education equality, she changed to teaching at a secondary school in a disadvantaged setting with the Teach First Programme. She found her passion for the Award when she witnessed its impact on her students. Vanessa has worked as a voluntary Award Leader and Coordinator for many schools before taking over as Chair of the Board and National Director in 2020.

Arvid Radsey-Nickel holds an M.A. in International Development from the University of Vienna and a B.A. in Business Administration from HWR Berlin. Before, during and after his Master's degree, he worked in humanitarian aid (e.g. in Haiti) and has extensive knowledge of the NGO world. Arvid is primarily responsible for partner schools in Berlin and Brandenburg, but also supports the team in many other areas.

Laura Berndt studied Physical Education (University of Leipzig) and Outdoor Studies (Norges idrettshøgskole). She always focused on adventure education and dance and completed additional training in these areas. She has been involved in non-formal education since her youth. Today she leads political workshops and outdoor education programs. Her growing desire to initiate long-lasting and deep educational processes and to initiate social change on a structural level brought her to the Duke Award.

Eugen Balzer studied biology and political science at Philipps University in Marburg with the aim of becoming a teacher. In addition to his work as a secondary school teacher and boarding school educator, his interests and qualifications lie in the areas of experiential education, outdoor education and non-formal education. He has been the Award Coordinator at Schloss Salem School since 2014. Eugen is primarily responsible for new partner schools in Baden-Württemberg and the training of Award Leaders and Gold level Expedition Assessors. Photo credit: Ilja Mess

Christine Guarino studied mathematics at King's College, Pennsylvania, and holds an MA in mathematics from St. Louis University, Missouri. As an Award Coordinator and Award Leader at two international schools, she discovered her passion for the Award. After a decade as a teacher, Christine is taking over our program coordination and supporting international schools nationwide as well as schools in Bavaria.