Alliance of Democracies

We are a small team with a big purpose.

"Democracy is facing unprecedented challenges, and at the Alliance of Democracies, we are committed to standing on the frontlines of its defense.

Though our team is small, our ambition is boundless - we work tirelessly to support democratic voices, promote collaboration, and drive impact where it matters most."

Our team

Jonas Parello-Plesner

Executive Director

Jonas oversees the overall management and fundraising efforts of our organization, including the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit. With experience across global power centers—Washington, Beijing, and Brussels—he brings a deep understanding of international affairs.

He is a frequent commentator in both Danish and international media and contributes a regular column to Berlingske.

Maria Fogh Duelund

Chief Operating Officer

Maria oversees the daily operations of the Alliance of Democracies, managing everything from finance to human resources. With 15 years of leadership and general management experience across both the private sector and the military, she brings a unique perspective to her role.

A trained military interpreter in Russian and Serbian, Maria was deployed to Kosovo in 2003–2004 as part of NATO’s peace-support operation. She is a strong advocate for democracy, individual civil liberties, and the rule of law.

Danielle Piatkewicz

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Danielle leads our strategic initiatives, oversees the operations of the Alliance, and plays a key role in organizing the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit. She has worked with The German Marshall Fund of the United States and the European Institute of Peace across global hubs, including Warsaw, Brussels, Washington, D.C., and Prague.

In addition to her role, Danielle is a research fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, specializing in transatlantic, Central, and Eastern European foreign and security relations.

Amalie Salomon Jankjær

Program Manager

Amalie leads our initiatives focused on 'business and technology for freedom and democracy,' which include our partnership with Google.org. She is also committed to advancing our efforts on an Economic Article 5, aimed at enhancing economic resilience among democracies. With a solid background in public affairs, she has experience working in the space of green energy for a global energy developer. Amalie holds a master’s degree in international business and politics, with a specialization in Chinese trade relations.

Eduke Nadesh

Communications Assistant

Nadesh supports the Communications team with the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and other communications initiatives. She holds a BSc in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea, Cameroon, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Culture, Communication, and Globalisation at Aalborg University, Denmark.

Elisabeth Kungla

Communications Coordinator

Elisabeth oversees our foundations communications activities, external outreach, media engagements, and social media. With a background in journalism, she has worked in both print and television across Estonian newsrooms, bringing valuable media expertise to her role.

James Holtum

Senior Strategy Director

James works across our communications, programs, events, and other initiatives to advance democracy. He previously served as a spokesperson for a political group in the European Parliament and, from 2017 to 2022, was Communications Director at Rasmussen Global, where he worked with democratic governments, including Ukraine.

Kristel Langkilde

Junior Associate

Kristel assists with operations and administration for the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. As part of her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising in Manchester, she’s taking a year in industry to build on her background in event planning and international logistics. With prior experience in merchandising and supplier coordination across global markets, Kristel is managing travel and speaker organisation.

Maria Roslyng Jensen

Program Associate

Maria holds a Bachelor’s in International Business and Politics from Copenhagen Business School and is currently in her second year of a Master’s in International Business and Politics at CBS. She has prior experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers and GN Store Nord, where she gained valuable insights into the corporate and international business landscapes.