Read all about the hard-working staff of CalsMUN 2026 here!
Inés Strubbe Selma
Secretary General What do you want to be when you grow up?
I aspire to be someone who helps others, though I'm not sure yet in what form that may be. I would like to show and use my creativity, care and passion, among other things. I’m sure that whatever I end up doing in the future will be fulfilling. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? Robin Williams is my role model among many others because of all the good he stands for, his perseverance to overcome obstacles and his effect on everyone around him. He has made such a beautiful and positive impact on the world, through kindness in many forms like raising money for people experiencing homelessness, fighting for human rights alongside Amnesty International and touching millions of lives through his films. He embodied warmth, laughter and radical kindness like no other. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward to seeing the hard work we put in as the OC paying off. I can't wait to see everyone enjoying themselves and I'm sure it will again be a greatly rewarding experience. I'm also excited to see all the MUN friends I made along the way again! Quote "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always." - Robin Williams |
Yusra Gutale
Deputy Secretary General What do you want to be when you grow up?
I aspire to be someone who’s inspiring and knowledgeable. I hope to share what I learn with others and help people grow, just like the people I look up to. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My favorite person is Jay Shetty. He has so much knowledge and always shares it in really beautiful and special ways. Whenever I listen to his podcasts, I always learn some great life lessons. He makes everything feel really relatable and inspiring. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward to meeting lots of new people and building meaningful connections throughout the experience. Quote “Roads were made for journeys not destinations.” - Confucius |
Jade Frerichs
Deputy Secretary General What do you want to be when you grow up?
A psychiatrist, because I like helping people and learning about how the human mind works. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My mother, because she is a very strong woman who I look up to, and can depend on. I would like to be just as strong as my mother is, and to be able to help people like she does. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? The opening because they’re always big and fun! I am also looking forward to the party Quote “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi |
Lucie van den Berg
Conference Manager What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a music teacher, because i think that expressing yourself through art is an amazing thing to do. And i would love to teach young children more about their passion and bring more music into the world. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My role model is Chantal Janzen, and this may sound cliche but... I have a lot of respect for her, and this is because she is insanely talented and she got the chance to express herself on stage and she did that so beautifully. She is a powerful woman with an insane set of talent and i aspire to also be like that. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I am so exited for this years' CALSMUN because we are already putting in a lot of hard work so I would love to see everything come together. And I think that just to see everyone enjoy themselves and learn new things from people all over the world is an amazing thing. Quote “Everything will be okay in the end. If its not okay, its not the end.” - John Lennon |
Kyara Rutten
Conference Manager What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to become a pediatrician, so I can help and hopefully cure children. I always have loved children and helping people and as a pediatrician I hope I can fulfill my dreams. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? Jennifer Anniston, because she can be and do everything. She is not just beautiful but she reminds me with the fact that you can be anything if you are just chasing your dreams. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? The MUN weekend and see everything we have accomplished. Last year was amazing and I am looking forward to see what is going to happen this year. Quote “Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” - Mahatma Gandhi |
Maryam Karimi
Conference Manager What do you want to be when you grow up?
Something within the medical field. I enjoy learning about the human anatomy and the way organisms live. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My mother. She is the hardest working person i have known and i want to follow her example to achieve my personal goals. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward to the future 2026 MUN because it the first time I am a part of the OC. Its intriguing to learn how things function behind the scenes. Quote "Dreams don’t work unless you do." - John C. Maxwell |
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Matvey Samykin
Head of Administration
Head of Administration
What do you want to be when you grow up?
In the future, I’d like to do something related to science—perhaps experimental work or giving lectures—because I enjoy exploring how things work and sharing knowledge with others.
Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them?
Keanu Reeves, as he is one of the few popular actors who was not spoiled by his money and popularity.
What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN?
I believe the thing I look up to the most in this MUN, is seeing my part of the job to be effectively put to work. And thereby i will have a noticeable effect on this event as a whole.
Quote
"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."
- Sun Tzu
In the future, I’d like to do something related to science—perhaps experimental work or giving lectures—because I enjoy exploring how things work and sharing knowledge with others.
Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them?
Keanu Reeves, as he is one of the few popular actors who was not spoiled by his money and popularity.
What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN?
I believe the thing I look up to the most in this MUN, is seeing my part of the job to be effectively put to work. And thereby i will have a noticeable effect on this event as a whole.
Quote
"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."
- Sun Tzu
Nora Brugman
Head of Housing and Hospitality What do you want to be when you grow up?
I do not know what I want to be when I grow up yet, but I know that I want to help people. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My favorite persons are my brother and sister, because they are always supporting me. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward the most to meeting new people and making new memories with my friends. I also look forward to the MUN weekend to see what we have accomplished as group. Quote "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try" - John F. Kennedy |
Lynn van Spellen
Deputy Head of Housing and Hospitality What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a criminal lawyer. I have known that for a couple of years now. I have always been very serious about justice and things going fairly. I find it important that my job has the ability to help people who need it. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? Amal Clooney. She is known for having worked on war crimes, genocide, and political imprisonment cases, especially at the international level. She is a real role model for me because she achieved everything that I hope to achieve one day. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward to seeing the result of something that we as the OC will be working on for next months. To finally see everything we put together. I also look forward to my first MUN altogether! Quote “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” - Thomas Edison |
Thijs van Honschoten
Head of Press
Head of Press
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Something in the theatre, film, entertainment industry. I really enjoy acting, singing, entertaining, so I would like to use that hobby for a living.
Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them?
My favorite person is not a real person; for it is Ken from the Barbie movie. That is the most relatable man I know. There were two quotes I liked in particular from him were he was saying something meaningful, one of those is "To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn't about horses, I lost interest anyways." — Ken. For the other one, scroll a little bit down.
What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN?
Making the opening video together with the genius Murtada Altae, it's going to be a cinematic masterpiece that will be Oscars worthy.
Quote
"I'm a liberated man. I know crying's not weak."
- Ken
Something in the theatre, film, entertainment industry. I really enjoy acting, singing, entertaining, so I would like to use that hobby for a living.
Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them?
My favorite person is not a real person; for it is Ken from the Barbie movie. That is the most relatable man I know. There were two quotes I liked in particular from him were he was saying something meaningful, one of those is "To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn't about horses, I lost interest anyways." — Ken. For the other one, scroll a little bit down.
What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN?
Making the opening video together with the genius Murtada Altae, it's going to be a cinematic masterpiece that will be Oscars worthy.
Quote
"I'm a liberated man. I know crying's not weak."
- Ken
Julian Gitz
Head of Catering What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doctor, to try and help others as much as I can. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? Lebron James, because he is the best player in the NBA, yet he remains humble. He still does things that he considers funny on the daily and stays true to himself. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? To the punishments being dealt out. They are always hilarious to watch and create lasting memories. Quote “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” - Sun Tzu |
Tetiana Borysenko
Deputy Head of Catering What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to become a lawyer because I’m driven to advocate for others, fight injustice and create impactful change. Law offers the opportunity to tackle complex issues, defend rights and make a true difference in society. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My role model is Jane Birkin. She inspires me with her authenticity, artistic boldness, and dedication to humanitarian causes. She embraced individuality, broke strict norms with elegance and was not afraid to use her voice to support human rights. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I am looking forward to unlocking new perspectives and expanding my overall knowledge. Furthermore, MUNs are not only about the academics, they are also about building meaningful connections with its participants. Therefore, I am thrilled to meet new people and build lasting bonds. Quote “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi |
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Simona Karkalasev
Head of Finance
Head of Finance
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I do not know specifically what I would like to be when I grow up, but I think that experiences like MUN will assist me in making further choices in my life.
Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them?
Josip Broz Tito is a person that inspires and amazes me. Tito was the longest-serving president of Yugoslavia. He was the person that held together multiple nations across the Balkan. Tito was not only the best leader for Yugoslavia, but also one of the strongest leaders as even Stalin feared his power.
What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN?
I look most forward to the gathering of all the people from around the world to join and take part in our conference. As well as watching some of the debates that will be taking place during the weekend.
Quote
“You will find that if you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that is all you will ever see.”
- Uncle Iroh
I do not know specifically what I would like to be when I grow up, but I think that experiences like MUN will assist me in making further choices in my life.
Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them?
Josip Broz Tito is a person that inspires and amazes me. Tito was the longest-serving president of Yugoslavia. He was the person that held together multiple nations across the Balkan. Tito was not only the best leader for Yugoslavia, but also one of the strongest leaders as even Stalin feared his power.
What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN?
I look most forward to the gathering of all the people from around the world to join and take part in our conference. As well as watching some of the debates that will be taking place during the weekend.
Quote
“You will find that if you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that is all you will ever see.”
- Uncle Iroh
Nisha van Haalen
Expert Advisor What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a doctor because I love helping people and I am very interested in how the human body works. If this does not work I want to organize events/companies such as MUN’s! Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? I would say my family but in this case I will specifically say my sister, since she is the one who introduced me to MUN. She thought me a lot of things in life and made me come out of my comfort zone. If she would have never done MUN, I would have definitely never done MUN and had such an amazing time! What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? The party, which always has the best decorations and the best music. I love how you can dance with people you never have seen before. Quote “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” - Fred Devito |
Sven Klein-Gunnewiek
Expert Advisor What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to become an entrepreneur to contribute to a better world in my own way. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? Barack Obama, because he is a strong communicator and at the same time a calm leader under pressure. Lastly he inspires change and that might be the most important thing in this world. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? To the Cals Model United Nations conference of 2026, because it will be my last MUN conference at Cals and I’m hoping for some more good memories. Quote “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - Barack H. Obama |
Carlijne Vons
Expert Advisor What do you want to be when you grow up?
I would love to be a lawyer. I love debating and critical analysis, so I think this would be a fun job. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My role model is Jonghyun, because he challenged harmful societal norms and supported marginalized communities. He used his platform as an artist to advocate on topics such as mental health, misogyny and education. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward to attending an MUN together with our OC and of course to, CalsMUN 2026. Quote “Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.” - Les Brown |
Jessamy Repi
Expert Advisor What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don’t have a specific dream job, but after school I want to go to university. After I finish my masters degree, I really want to travel the world. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My parents. They inspire me to work hard and push me to be the best version of myself. I look up to them for their hard work and appreciate everything they do for me. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward most to see how CalsMUN is organized by the next generation. I personally took a step back due to final exams next year, but I am excited to help out wherever needed in the weekend and during the preparations. Quote “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” - Albert Einstein |
Zera Steiginga
Expert Advisor What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to go to university and get my bachelor and masters. After that I hope to travel the world, and see as much of it as I can! Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My favorite person is my mom. She is strong, confident and always has a positive outlook on life. She pushes me to be the best version of myself, and that anything I want is possible. What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? After many years as a delegate and my contributions to the CalsMUN OC, I'd love to chair at CalsMUN 2026! Quote “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” - Aristotle |
Jinda Vijver
Expert Advisor What do you want to be when you grow up?
I am not sure what I want to be. I know I want to become my own boss someday. Maybe something with baking things, or maybe of a big company. That is something I do not know yet. The only thing I know is that when I am older, I want to be a wife, a mother and eventually and hopefully a grandmother. Who is your favorite person or role model, and why do you admire them? My role model is my grandma. She is now 91 years old and she lives alone, since my grandpa died. She is such a strong woman! She gets up every single day, joined poker clubs, a swimming club and a biking club. She has worked so hard to become who she became and I admire her for that! What do you look forward to the most at CalsMUN? I look forward to seeing how the OC of 2026 finds its own way of making this conference their own amazing experience. I have enjoyed the past three years with CalsMUN so so much! And I am so proud of what this OC has accomplished so far and I can’t wait to see how it turns out! Quote “The way to get started, is to quit talking and begin doing” - Walt Disney |
Amy Sofogianni
MUN Director Our MUN director Amy Sofogiannis has guided enthousiastic Cals students through ten MUN's already. This year she will help us again with the 11th edition of CalsMUN! Ms. Sofogiannis teaches English at Cals College Nieuwegein and together with Mrs. van der Sar, she takes care of all the MUN related activities. They truly are the heart of CalsMUN.
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Tamara van der Sar
MUN Director Our MUN director Tamara van der Sar has helped with three MUN's already! This year she will be helping us again to make sure that CalsMUN 2026 will be an amazing experience for everyone involved! Mrs. van der Sar teaches geography at Cals College Nieuwegein and together with Ms. Sofogiannis, she takes care of all the MUN related activities. They truly are the heart of CalsMUN.
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