Board and MC

Contact: info@yho.network

President

Sanja Šišović

(MMSA)

Sanja Šišović is a dedicated public health advocate and activist with over a decade of experience in the health sector.

Her journey began as a young volunteer in Montenegro, where she engaged in peer health education. Since then, she has coordinated numerous national and international health programs focused on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, mental health, reproductive health, and non-communicable diseases. Sanja has been an integral part of the International Youth Health Organization since its inception. Over the years, she has served as a board member, regional coordinator, and vice president. Her efforts are centered on meaningful youth engagement in health, with a strong emphasis on empowering and involving youth with fewer opportunities, as well as young professionals, to drive change. Sanja resides in Montenegro, where she is the Program Director of the Montenegrin NGO CAZAS, an organization specialized in public health. Her extensive experience in global health and youth policy, combined with her leadership skills and international work, makes her mission to improve youth health and well-being more attainable for the International
Youth Health Organization.

Vice-President

Urška Erklavec

(No Excuse Slovenia)

Urška Erklavec is commited to public health advocacy since 2008. In 2024, she assumed the role of Head of the newly established Service for NGOs at the National Institute of Public Health in Slovenia. Prior to this position, starting from 2020, she worked at the Slovenian Ministry of Health, focusing on various health initiatives during Slovenia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2021, and later shifting her focus to child and youth health at the Public Health Directorate. Since 2020, she has been an active member of the Young Gasteiners, and from 2022 to 2024, she served as a dedicated Task Force member. Previously, she served as President of the Slovenian NCD Alliance and President of No Excuse Slovenia. With an educational background in pharmacy, Urška Erklavec brings a diverse range of skills and experiences to her work at the YHO.

Regional Coordinator – South and South-Eastern Europe

Laura Plešnar

(Lithuanian Medical Students’ Association)
Laura Plešnar, MD, is a dermatology resident known for her international outlook and commitment to healthcare advancement. A graduate of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, she holds fluency in Croatian, German, and English, along with basic French and Korean skills.Her leadership shines through roles like Regional Director for Europe at IFMSA, where she coordinated international initiatives. She actively engages in humanitarian efforts, participating in ERASMUS+ projects and disaster medicine training.
Laura’s accolades include the Rectors Award for her contribution to the public health project “Lov na Tihog Ubojicu.” A dynamic trainer at international events like IFMSA Egypt Cleopatrain and CroMSIC Croatia Adria Train, she contributes significantly to mental health and disaster medicine education. Her diverse background and global health passion make her a valuable addition to the Youth Health Organization, aligning with the organization’s mission of promoting youth health and well-being.
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Regional Coordinator – Central and Eastern Europe

Mădălina Mihaela Antoci

(National Youth Council of Moldova)

As a graduate of the ,,Raisa Pacalo” Center of Excellence in Medicine and Pharmacy, Madalina -Mihaela Antoci brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. She has participated in national and institutional medical conferences, publishing two major scientific articles in obstetrics and gynecology. Her dedication to youth health is evident through her work on mental health initiatives for young people in Moldova and refugees in need of support. As a Board Member of the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM), Madalina is spearheading efforts to establish a consultative chamber under the Ministry of Health, fostering stronger communication between young people and state institutions. Her role as President of Erasmus Student Network Moldova has further amplified her impact, contributing to national and international initiatives. Madalina’s humanitarian work extends to ERASMUS+ projects and specialized training programs, promoting mental health and medical education among youth. Her diverse background, passion for global health, and leadership skills make her a driving force within the Youth Health International Organization, where she works to advance youth well-being and foster cross-regional collaboration for a healthier future.

Free Board Member

Ani Beraia
(Youth for Public Health)

Ani Beraia is a Public Health specialist from Georgia. She is a CEO and co-founder of the youth organization -Youth for Public Health and a young researcher at the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, where she works for the Cancer Screening Program and the Cancer Registry development. She is an invited lecturer at the University of Georgia for the Health promotion course. She has been working for youth health and health prevention since 2014. She also has volunteer experience in youth health and health prevention nationally and internationally. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate from the UiT-The Arctic University of Norway. Her Ph.D. project is on cancer incidence in Georgia. 

Free Board Member

Ülkü İlayda Mercimekci

(Civil Life Association)
Ülkü is a Psychologist who graduated from Ankara, Turkey. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Addiction and Anti-Doping Studies. She spent most of her student years volunteering in various civil society organizations such as the Turkish Psychological Association and the Civil Life Association. Her first job after graduation was as an International Programs and Projects Specialist at the International Green Federation. She has been designing numerous projects with young people for years and continues her work in this field.

Free Board Member

Berina Bulatović

(CAZAS)
Berina Bulatović is dedicated to advocating for young people and ensuring their voices are reflected in key decisions. Working within the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, she represented youth perspectives in the development of the first Youth Strategy in the Federation of B&H, with a specific focus on healthcare. As co-chair of the Bosnia and Herzegovina working group in the Western Balkans Youth Lab project, she was involved in creating a methodological framework for mental health activities, now applied in healthcare practices.
Berina has also been active in creating ways to engage and educate young people about their rights, using innovative and participatory approaches to amplify their involvement. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Psychology, she combines her academic expertise with practical experience to empower and support younger generations.

Free Board Member

Matthew Baldacchino

(KNŻ Malta)

Matthew Baldacchino (he/him) has worked in health spaces since 2010, first serving on the board of the Malta Medical Students’ Association as National Public Health Officer, as well as a brief period with the IFMSA as a Regional Assistant for Europe within the Standing Committee for Public Health. He graduated as a medical doctor in 2015 and shifted career paths in 2017 on obtaining his medical license, deviating into digital media and journalism, before diving into volunteering and activist work in youth, health and climate spaces. He currently serves as the Commissioner for the Youth Community with the National Youth Council of Malta (KNŻ Malta) as well as an EU Climate Pact Ambassador for Malta and Gozo 2024/2025. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Global Health at the University of Glasgow, where he also serves as a Student Ambassador and Cultural Ambassador to the School of Social and Political Sciences. His dissertation will be focused around sexual and reproductive health rights and access in the Maltese islands.

Monitoring Commitee

Member

Andrej Martin Vujkovac
(No Excuse Slovenia)
Andrej is a recently graduated Medical Doctor from Ljubljana. He spent most of his student years working in Youth Organisations, such as the Slovenian Medical Students International Committee (SloMSIC) and International Federation of Medical Students Associations, where he served as a volunteer and later in Executive board positions. His first employment after graduation was in Youth Network No Excuse Slovenia, where he worked as a Public Health Associate. His work has included designing prevention programs for Youth, advocating for better health policies in the field of addictions, and training young activists who want to make the world a better place.
Member
Jan Peloza
(CAZAS)
Jan is the co-founder of the Youth Network No Excuse Slovenia and in the past, he has been serving as a director of the Institute for Youth Participation, Health and Sustainable Development, Foundation Mobin, president of the Alcohol Policy Youth Network, and an alternate board member of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health which is chaired by the World Health Organization, where he has worked as a consultant for many years on topics of Alcohol, Tobacco, Meaningful youth engagement, strategic communications, and advocacy. He holds a master’s in social marketing on the topic of problematic gambling and a bachelor’s in computing and informatics.
 

Member

Lukas Galkus
(Lithuanian Medical Students’ Association)
Lukas Galkus is a medical doctor from Lithuania and a health activist with a working background in Lithuanian Medical Students’ Association (LiMSA) and Lithuanian Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition. Over the last 6 years, he has been active in the public health sector representing youth voices both on a national and international level. Lukas is currently serving as a board member in European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare). He is interested in research in the fields of health promotion, prevention (especially alcohol, tobacco, and drugs), health economics, and youth work. Previously he led Alcohol Policy Youth Network as the resident of the organization.