Our team

Nico Stender
Makerspace Coordinator

Nico coordinates all the work in our Berlin Crisis Response Makerspace and supports the ongoing projects there. The CADUS vehicle fleet is also managed by Nico.

And how did Nico come to CADUS?
“After working as a carpenter and on various construction sites for a few years and realizing that although I love the trade, I was missing a bit of added social value, I decided to turn to humanitarian aid.
I came to Cadus in April 2022 as part of an internship, when I was studying “international emergency and disaster relief”. Since then, I have been looking after the Makerspace in Berlin, supporting the technical side of our emergency aid projects and making my craft expertise available to the humanitarian world wherever I can. I am motivated by the desire for a fairer world and the hope that I can contribute to this with like-minded people at CADUS.”

Camila ‘Cami’ Villalobos
Head of HR & Volunteers

Cami is responsible for setting up and maintaining our volunteer pool, integrating volunteers and onboarding them into our organization. Together with Daniele, she manages the crewing for the CADUS missions and organizes their mission-specific training:
“I ran my own catering company for almost 10 years and have been cooking for political actions, camps and festivals for as long as I can remember – that’s why I also run the CADUS Kitchen Module, a ready-to-use mobile kitchen that can cook wherever it is needed and am currently writing an international cookbook that does without fresh produce but still offers healthy and culturally sensitive food. 14 years ago I started organizing LARP events, which often deal with dystopian worlds and their consequences. I use this knowledge to design simulations and hostile environment awareness training courses at CADUS.

I took a winding path until I ended up in humanitarian aid, where I always wanted to go. I know that humanitarian aid and emergency response are not the answer to all questions. But for me, international aid is an important, human step and a valuable way of dealing with privilege, history and consternation outside of the political arena.

Dr. Corinna Schäfer
Head of Support Services

Corinna is a founding member of CADUS, and has since held various positions in different areas of the organization. Today she heads the Support Services department. This includes Communications, IT, Finance, Logistics and the administration of the Berlin head office. Corinna is also active in research. She is currently working on a project in the field of information and communication technology. Furthermore, she is also regularly deployed internationally as part of a CADUS emergency response team.

Florian
IT Administrator

Together with Uli, Florian makes sure that all laptops work and are up to date, is available for all IT problems and is always on the lookout for errors and optimizations. He works in the office, in the makerspace and on the road.

Florian on his work at CADUS: “I’m very happy to be part of the team and to be able to help keep the technology running so that everything is a little more pleasant during the important assignments and in the Berlin office.”

Ayla Mayer
Project management

Ayla is responsible for the project management of CADUS deployments abroad. At the Berlin headquarters, she is also responsible for process design and internal communication.

Imke Schwietering
HR Manager

Imke looks after all permanent employees at CADUS. This includes supporting recruitment processes, drawing up contracts, developing HR-relevant policies and SOPs, structuring and promoting personnel development.

Lysann Kaiser
Co-Managing Director

Lysann manages CADUS together with Sebastian.
‘A boat is safe in the harbor. But this is not the purpose of a boat.’ (P. Coehlo)
Lysann on her motivation to join CADUS: “Unfortunately, daily news flooded with mainly negative updates. We swiftly try to assist those affected by crises and conflicts or even natural disasters. Humanitarian organizations are often in one place for a very long time. For me, working for CADUS also means going where nobody wants to go and operate. By that I mean helping affected people where the images are no longer shown in the media. I hope I can contribute on that matter and help to ship CADUS safe and sound in that direction.
I grew up in Thuringia, where I also completed a nurse training program in a rural hospital and was drawn to Berlin, where I studied Medical Education and later International Health at Charité. After several years of working in Berlin, I found my passion to work in the humanitarian sector. For over seven years, I worked with MSF and ICRC in various war and conflict zones and with a big humanitarian need. Since August 2023 I am working for and with CADUS as a Co-Chair.”

Matthew ‘Mat’ Nelms
Project Manager Ukraine

Mat supports the day-to-day administration and drives ongoing projects. One of his specialties is writing project proposals and MEAL.
Before CADUS, Mat worked in international development. After work, he is involved in organizations fighting against the housing policy emergency and gentrification crisis in Berlin.

Dr. Matthias Grott
Executive Board

Matthias Grott is a member of the Board of Directors and has been a volunteer at CADUS since the association was founded in 2014. After completing his civilian service as a paramedic, he studied physics and is now researching the planets in our solar system. At CADUS, he shapes the strategic development of the organization together with the members of the Executive Board and the members of the Management Board.

Matthias says about his commitment:
“I am delighted to be able to make a contribution to a fairer and more humane society at CADUS. We help people in acute emergencies, create sustainable prospects and work together to create a fairer world.”

Photo Sebastian

Sebastian Jünemann
Co-Managing Director

Sebastian founded CADUS in 2014. Since then, he has headed the organization, with a particular focus on emergency response.

Sebastian studied biology, education and organizational psychology, but his heart has always beaten primarily for emergency medicine. He has been regularly involved in humanitarian aid for various organizations since 1999 and has worked continuously in a managerial capacity in the rescue service alongside his studies. In 2014, he provided the initial impulse for the founding of CADUS.

Simon Strutwolf
Public Relations

Simon brings a diverse background to CADUS’ public relations work. With his commercial and educational background as well as his experience in managing various projects – from artisanal businesses to socio-cultural organizations – he combines strategic communication with practical engagement. His path into humanitarian emergency aid is the result of his conviction that both global and social inequalities require concrete, solidarity-based action. What drives him in his work at CADUS is his personal desire to make grievances visible, raise awareness and strengthen a critical public.
“The most humane thing we can do is not to look away.” – Primo Levi

Sophie Wolf
Public Relations

Sophie is part of the PR team, specifically for campaigning and fundraising. She gained her know-how in the field of communication as a creative director in various agency networks. In addition to her work at CADUS, she also works as a freelance creative.

“Empathy is the most important aspect of communication that should be used and encouraged.”

Kira
Crewing & Volunteer Management

Kira supports our team in the areas of crewing and volunteer management.

Tankred Beume
Head of Emergency Response

Tankred keeps CADUS ready for new missions and is constantly working to improve our readiness. He is also our contact person for the WHO EMT network. Tankred keeps a close eye on all current disasters and crises and evaluates our options for providing assistance. He also has to maintain a good overview of our own capacities.” How did Tankred come to CADUS?
“After training and working in the emergency services and professional fire department, I left a secure job to complete a degree in emergency and disaster relief and then found my profession and calling in humanitarian aid. Fortunately, it worked out. The international exchange with organizations and people who come from all over the world to help in special places has formed many acquaintances and friendships for me over the years.”

Jonas Grünwald
Communications, WASH, Administration

Jonas has a variety of tasks at CADUS: as part of the Communications team, he makes the background, difficulties and successes of our projects transparent and brings the concerns of those affected by crises and disasters to the public. In the WASH sector, the biologist is responsible for all project areas relating to (drinking) water and hygiene. Jonas also keeps things running smoothly by taking on administrative tasks for the association.

Jonas says about the goals of his work: “What is particularly important to me is a lasting change in the social conditions that lead to war, exploitation and oppression and the role that humanitarian aid can play in this.”

Finance team
Accounting & Controlling

Our finance team currently consists of four people. They take care of settlements, keep track of our accounts and prepare the annual financial statements.

Anna-Lea
Training & Education

Anna-Lea coordinates the Training and Education department at CADUS. As a social worker and systemic consultant, she brings extensive experience from anti-violence work and feminist projects to the design of the programs. After many years as a volunteer at CADUS, including at the Hostile Environment Awareness Trainings (HEAT), she now devotes herself entirely to humanitarian aid.

Commenting on her motivation, she says: “The future gives me little hope, but giving up is not an option. Who, if not us, can still make a difference here? We have to make the most of the privilege of being able to help – I couldn’t forgive myself for anything else!”

Sarah Parsons
Head of Mission, Ukraine

Together with Thorsten, Sarah leads our mission on the ground in Ukraine.

Sarah talks about her daily tasks:
“I’m responsible for overseeing all our operations in Ukraine from an infield perspective. Day to day, I support our Medevac and Training teams in making sure they have everything they need in order to work. I make sure our programs are in line with the needs in the area that we work, meet with partner organizations so that we’re working together as best as possible, and scope out new and emerging needs that we can help to fill. I also keep an eye on the security situation and make sure our programs here have a balanced approach to risk. I conduct rapid security assessments whenever the team travels to new locations that are closer to the front line than our base of operations and work together with the back office to develop policies that help to keep our people safe.
Outside from work, I climb (mediocre-ly), kayak (very poorly) and enjoy traveling and live music.

Gloria
Logistician

Gloria has a background in emergency relief.From her base on the outskirts of Berlin, Gloria works with CADUS’ logistics team to oversee the logistical management of the organization’s projects, including warehousing, supply chain, procurement and inventory planning.Gloria actively supports volunteer teams who prepare materials for CADUS missions in the Makerspace.Gloria is a firm believer in the principle of “solidarity, not charity”.

Ronja Heinemann
Project management

Ronja works as a project manager in the Emergency Response Department. She is responsible for EMT classification and is the contact person for the WHO EMT network. With her many years of experience in the areas of project, process and quality management, she ensures that everything runs smoothly at CADUS. Although it has always been important to Ronja to have a meaningful job, it was only through CADUS that she became involved in humanitarian aid. Ronja says: “I finally have the feeling that I am doing something really meaningful with my work.”

Thorsten Schroer
Head of Mission, Ukraine

Together with Sarah, Thorsten leads our mission on the ground in Ukraine. He keeps the mission running, looks after the team and solves all kinds of problems on a daily basis. Security in the field, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the representation of CADUS there are other important areas of responsibility.
Thorsten is a trained paramedic and has completed further training as a deminer.
He says about his motivation for the work: “I have always been drawn to and worked/volunteered in international assistance and humanitarian aid. With CADUS I had the chance to make it my full-time profession. I highly identify with the collaborative and open approach CADUS shows.”

Ulrich ‘Uli’ Reichel
IT Administrator

As IT admin, Uli provides all employees with access to data, tools, connections and hardware. At the same time he keeps unwanted access away.

He describes what Uli does on a daily basis as follows: “Introducing and explaining new tools, processes, data security, basic and advanced knowledge about everything that processes data, has a keyboard or an IP address. Bringing material and personnel up to date. Always in between troubleshooting and moving things forward. Mostly to be found in the office looking at one or more screens, talking to staff and sometimes pulling electronic devices or cables between flashing things in the makerspace.”

Konstantin Aaron Pfaff
Program Officer

Konstantin is responsible for leading CADUS’ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and Information Management (IM) strategies for all programs and HQ, supporting data collection, reporting, and project evaluation to ensure compliance with donor requirements and improve project impact.
He supports project proposal development, donor relations, and inter-organizational coordination to align projects with community needs. He also provides administrative and technical support. With a background in the tourism industry and a focus on the African market, Konstantin developed a keen interest in international cooperation and humanitarian aid, particularly in addressing “forgotten” crises. Since joining CADUS in mid-2023, he has been involved in projects in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan and has worked as an external consultant in Syria to make a difference in difficult contexts.

Clara Markiewicz
Medical Advisor for EMT Classification

Clara is responsible for setting up our medical structure in accordance with the WHO Emergency Medical Team structure. To achieve classification as an EMT Type 1 Mobile, Clara coordinates the writing of medical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as the development of our clinical processes, and manages communication with both the WHO and other EMTs. She supports the development of clinical capacity in our teams by conducting training sessions.Clara trained and worked in nursing in the UK. Clara on the motivation for her commitment: “As someone who owes my life to a well-resourced healthcare system that treated me as a young child, I knew it was down to luck that I was born and raised in a country that could provide me with the life-saving care I needed. As a direct result, I have always wanted to work towards a world where all people, regardless of where they are born, have equal and non-restricted access to healthcare.

Before and after getting my Bachelor degree in nursing (paediatric specialized), I found my passion for humanitarian work and realized I wanted to develop and channel my skills into this field after spending a year working with refugee communities in France, Greece and Lebanon. My love of learning led me to complete my Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, before moving to Berlin in 2021 to study a Master’s in International Health and to go on to start my position here at CADUS in February of 2023.
Outside of work and studies, I am part of a global health research group and have the privilege of carrying out research that hopes to improve global cancer care. In my spare time I enjoy baking (especially for my CADUS colleagues!), yoga, dance and anything that involves learning about new cultures and places.”

Hareen De Silva
Head of Health Department

Hareen is a general practitioner with a British degree. After qualifying as a general practitioner in 2015, he moved into the field of remote medicine, i.e. medical care in regions with poor infrastructure. He has worked as an expedition medic, traveling to Dominica, Costa Rica, the Gough Islands and the Midway Atolls, has a Masters in Public Health and has subsequently worked with MVI, CADUS and UK-MED in Greece (clinician), Syria and Iraq (medical coordinator), Ukraine (trainer) and Gaza (head of mission/CADUS and head of a type 1/UK-MED inpatient clinic), is interested in health inequalities and is a trustee of the UK medical education charity Fairhealth. In 2020 he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work as a GP during COVID-19.