About GILPP

Henry Deneen

President

Henry has been an attorney for more than 40 years, and also served as a Municipal Judge. He served as Chief Legal Counsel for then-South Carolina Governor, David M. Beasley from 1995 through 1997. Henry currently serves as the CEO of Global Hope Network International and as President of the Geneva Institute for Leadership and Public Policy.

In 2014, Henry earned a Doctorate in Executive Leadership with a focus on Emotional Intelligence and has since authored a workbook on Emotional Intelligence titled “Pathways to Transformation: A Workbook for Emotional Intelligence Growth”.

Henry’s wife, Celia, is a trauma counselor who leads teams to work among refugees and disaster victims around the world. Henry enjoys their four grandchildren and global travel, especially to intersect with Global Hope personnel and partners.

Trey Cason

Coordinator

Originally from Atlanta in the US, Trey studied Social Work at the University of Georgia and earned his Masters in Community Partnerships from the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University. Trey has dedicated more than 15 years to working with vulnerable populations including people in homelessness and refugees, and has significant experience in public policy and international development.

Trey helps coordinate operations at GILPP and publishes the GILPP Quarterly. Trey and his wife live in Thailand where he enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and learning about SE Asian culture.

Julie Hahn

Project Lead

Raised in southern California in the US, Julie holds an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavior and is currently pursuing further studies in Behavioral Economics and Policy. Her career has transitioned from conducting research in longitudinal clinical studies to focusing on policy studies and science and technology innovation, within the realm of international development cooperation.

Her work is particularly focused on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently based in South Korea, she enjoys hiking, scuba diving, exploring local grocery stores during her travels, and delving into the nuances of human-environment interactions and relational design.

Marisa Were

Intern

Marisa is deeply committed to human rights and aims to use her skills, experience, and education to advocate for marginalized communities. As an intern at Global Hope Network International (GHNI), she has the opportunity to support multiple teams, including GILPP and the Grants Team, assisting in empowering communities to overcome poverty through sustainable, community-led initiatives. With an academic background in History and International Relations, Marisa hopes to gain further humanitarian experience through this internship before pursuing a Master’s degree.

Maddie Hutchison

Volunteer

Maddie is a Texas native with a degree in International Relations and Peace Studies, currently residing in Massachusetts. With experience in administration, marketing and design, event planning, and fundraising, Maddie is excited to bring her skills and passion for sustainable development to GILPP in a volunteer capacity!

Eduard Heger

Strategic Executive Team

Eduard Heger, Slovak politician, father of 4 children, a passionate runner and cold-water swimmer. Before entering politics, he worked on high-level management positions in the private sector.

In 2020, he became the Minister of Finance and later, the Prime Minister of Slovakia. He led Slovakia through the period of pandemics, energy crisis and double-digit inflation. He prepared one of the best Recovery and Resilience Plans within the EU focused on reforms and investments in the medical field, education, innovation, digitization, and the environment.

In the position of the Prime Minister, he gained significant experience as well as many good contacts and special personal relationships with European leaders.

Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein

Strategic Executive Team

Prince Nikolaus Ferdinand von Liechtenstein has over 40 years of experience working in international relations as a Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe and international organizations in Geneva. He served as Liechtenstein’s Chief Negotiator for the Agreement on the European Economic Area and as ambassador to Switzerland, Belgium, the European Union, and the Holy See. A lifelong advocate for human rights, Prince Nikolaus earned a law degree from the University of Vienna after which he conducted research at the International Red Cross in Geneva and practiced law at the Liechtenstein courts and state administration. Prince Nikolaus serves on numerous boards and is active in the field of international development. Prince Nikolaus is married to H.R.H. Princess Margaretha de Luxembourg and they have three adult children.

Vlad Agapov

Strategic Executive Team

Vlad Agapov holds a master’s degree in international economics and finance. He is a successful entrepreneur and pastor, serving as an advisor to various members of Parliament across Europe. He sits on the boards of NGOs in the United States, Brazil, Switzerland, and other European countries, contributing his expertise in international relations, strategic development, the future of education, logistics, and advancing religious freedom. Together with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Eduard Heger, and Austrian Member of Parliament, Gudrun Kugler, he co-founded THE FEAT (The First European Action Tank), which focuses on building bridges among politicians.

Vlad and his wife have four children and currently reside in Zurich, Switzerland.