Our Policy Team coordinates the organisation’s political positions and advocacy efforts. It monitors relevant EU-level developments, drafts position papers, and works with the Member parties to align messaging and priorities. It also provides strategic input into campaigns and communications from a policy angle.
Thomas Kranz – Team Leader Policy
Thomas Kranz is a hacker, consultant, and activist with over 30 years of experience working in cybersecurity. From the Baltic states’ independence movement in the 80s and 90s, he has continued to be involved in work against the misuse of technology by government. He has taken part in consultations and given evidence to UK and EU government working groups and committees, on issues including digital ID, encryption, surveillance, and privacy.
He has presented talks at several hacker conferences on the misuse of AI and the need for more hackers to be involved in policy-making. He also regularly runs workshops on privacy technologies, defeating digital surveillance, and using open source alternatives to Big Tech services.
Ojochogwu Enape – Policy Analyst
Ojochogwu holds degrees in Law, International Relations and Diplomacy, and Digital Law and Technology, alongside CIPP/E and ISC2 CC certifications. Her work sits at the intersection of data protection, AI governance, and EU regulatory policy. As a Policy Analyst with the European Pirate Party, she leads the development of policy positions and consultation responses to EU institutions, coordinates the research team, and ensures alignment between policy outputs and Pirate values across digital rights, privacy, and democratic participation.
Gianluca Palombi – Researcher
Gianluca Palombi is a recent public policy graduate with an interest in public affairs, particularly those related to housing, energy, and social policies. Experienced in socioeconomic research and policy-focussed writing, he has contributed to different European Pirates’ papers and discussions mainly related to digital governance, civil liberties, and regulations.
Alex Collado – Researcher
Alex Collado is a researcher focused on European law and governance. He has contributed to research and policy projects with academic institutions, NGOs and international organizations, including work on EU migration policy, digital governance, European defense and EU-funded initiatives. Alex has also been involved in youth engagement and European dialogue, organizing and supporting projects connected to EU governance and policymaking. Currently pursuing advanced studies in European and International Law, he continues to work on research and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening European cooperation and democratic governance.
Iman Awada – Researcher
Boglarka Kiraly – Team Assistant
Shilpi Pandey – Researcher
Aydin Alfatli – Researcher
Aydin Alfatli is a researcher working at the intersection of AI governance and EU regulatory policy. He is a Master’s candidate in Political Sciences at ULB Sciences Po in Brussels, where his thesis assesses the drafting of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice under the EU AI Act against indicators of transparency, inclusiveness, effectiveness, and accountability. Building on this work, he is extending the same analytical lens to other EU regulations and legislative procedures.
His academic background is rooted in political sociology, which continues to shape how he approaches technology policy: alongside the regulatory and institutional dimensions, he focuses on the sociological reflections of technological developments and the social effects of policy implementation. Trilingual in Turkish, French, and English, he has also worked as a certified interpreter. His research interests span EU regulatory governance, the political economy of AI standard-setting, and the role of epistemic communities in shaping technology policy.
Berrin Yeshil – Team Assistent
Berrin Yeshil is an undergraduate student of International Relations with a strong focus on European affairs, diplomacy, and international security. Her academic work explores themes such as European integration, governance, human rights, and transatlantic cooperation.
She completed an internship at the Diplomatic Institute of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, where she gained experience in diplomatic studies, foreign policy analysis, and international communication. She has also taken part in youth-oriented and policy-related initiatives connected to European dialogue, civic engagement, and international cooperation.
Her interests include European policymaking, NATO and European security issues, and the role of international organizations in global governance. She is currently completing her undergraduate studies and aims to pursue a career in diplomacy and international policy, contributing to strengthening European cooperation and democratic governance.
Thorlaug Augustsdottir – Policy Analyst
Vacancies
Researcher
Policy Researchers are responsible for producing concise, well-structured policy context papers (typically 300–500 words) that help frame emerging political and legislative issues at the European level. Researchers will investigate relevant developments, gather credible sources, identify key stakeholders and policy debates, and assess alignment with the European Pirate Party manifesto and programme.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts are responsible for transforming research outputs into coherent policy papers, consultation responses, briefing documents, and political recommendations. The role includes identifying policy priorities, assigning research tasks, reviewing drafts, synthesising findings, and producing high-quality outputs suitable for both political and public audiences.
Policy Coordinator
The Team Coordinator is responsible for planning workflows, setting priorities, monitoring progress, and ensuring effective collaboration across the policy team. The role includes coordinating policy development timelines, facilitating communication between analysts and leadership, identifying capacity needs, and helping maintain consistent quality standards across policy outputs.
Advocacy officer
The Advocacy Officer is responsible for monitoring relevant legislative and political developments, identifying opportunities for engagement, and helping communicate Pirate policy positions to stakeholders, civil society organisations, policymakers, and partner movements. The role includes supporting advocacy campaigns, preparing briefing materials, coordinating outreach activities, and helping translate policy work into practical political action.
Team Deputy
The Deputy Policy Team Lead helps manage the day-to-day operation of the policy structure, supporting coordination across Policy Researchers, Policy Analysts, Advocacy Officers, National Liaison Officers, Team Coordinators, Team Assistants, and External Subject Matter Experts. The role focuses on ensuring effective collaboration, maintaining organisational continuity, and supporting the delivery of high-quality policy and advocacy outputs aligned with the European Pirate Party manifesto and strategic priorities.
Team Assistant
The Team Assistant helps ensure smooth internal operations by supporting scheduling, meeting preparation, task tracking, internal communication, and document management. The role also includes helping maintain timelines, coordinating follow-ups with team members, and assisting with onboarding and organisational processes.