Jordan Thorne, EMA 2023, Board Member

Dear EMAlumni Friends,

As proud recipient of the "Best party planner" award in our EMA yearbook, I would love to take my enthusiasm for connecting people to another level and join the EMAlumni Board.

As alumni, we are in a very lucky position that we have a huge pool of people that understand what it’s like to work in human rights. It can be a field filled with negative emotions: from anger at ongoing injustice and despair about what we can do, to a seemingly endless stream of job rejections. Being so in touch with all that is wrong in the world means that connecting with each other to make things right is not only a powerful tool for change, but also a great support mechanism.

What motivates me to run for the Board elections?

EMA was a wonderful period in my life and also one that I feel will never end. Every time I meet with a friend from the Master’s, I leave feeling recharged and a bit more hopeful about the future. This feeling is what the Board represents to me; the opportunity to recharge, learn from each other, and create change together.

I participated in a recent occurrence of the Global Campus Alumni Mentoring Program, and the advice and inspiration my mentor gave me left a lasting impression. She helped me understand my motivations behind working in this sector, the impact I can have, and the importance of relationships with others. The power of activities like this makes me really excited about the potential of the EMAlumni Association.    

What do I bring to the Association?

• I know how to bring people together: Whilst, yes, we did have some great parties in Lido, my favourite event that I ran was a "speed dating" event, in which we all had short but meaningful conversations with people we did not usually speak with. 90 people is already a large group of people to connect and stay in contact with; almost 2500 EMAlumi is a lot more. Scaling up my investment in EMA by working to connect the broader alumni community is a challenge I would approach with enthusiasm and creativity.
• Varied experience: After graduating, I undertook an EMA internship with the International Organisation for Migration in Beijing and currently still work with the Mission as a consultant, organising high-level initiatives and events, and overseeing policy research. Importantly for Board membership of a global network, I have worked effectively across dispersed teams and multiple time zones throughout my working experiences. I am also a keen volunteer, having supported migrants, asylum seekers, and Indigenous communities, and am enthusiastic about promoting meaningful cross-cultural and inclusive dialogue within the EMA network.

What do you see for the future of the Association?

I see the future of the EMAlumni Association as one in which we take full advantage of our network, with activities relevant for all members. If elected, here are some ideas I’d love to help bring to life:

• Inclusivity for every stage of the alumni journey: Tailor initiatives for both recent graduates navigating job uncertainty and more experienced alumni who may want to give back or pivot careers.
• Creative and accessible ways to stay engaged: Launch informal and low-pressure formats like thematic "speed-connecting" sessions or storytelling events. Encourage social media takeovers to show the various career paths and daily lives of alumni.
• Global connectivity: Maximise use of time zone-friendly virtual formats to ensure alumni working across continents feel seen and included.
• Showcasing diverse alumni paths: Highlight alumni working in underrepresented or unconventional spaces to inspire recent graduates and remind each other that there are many ways to contribute to justice.
• Capacity building: Expand beyond traditional mentoring to focused skill-sharing, with members able to run workshops on career skills, either via short informal sessions or structured mini-courses.
• Amplifying alumni voices externally: Share our collective expertise through co-authored opinion pieces, workshops at conferences, or collaborations with other networks, positioning the EMAlumni Association as a credible voice on pressing human rights issues.

Thank you for considering me!

Jordan Thorne, EMA 2023