About – Staff

IPI STAFF

Barbara Trionfi

Executive Director

Barbara Trionfi is Executive Director at the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists dedicated to safeguarding and fostering media freedom and promoting quality, independent journalism.

Barbara joined IPI in 2000, as a press freedom adviser for the Asia-Pacific region, where she had previously studied and worked for over four years, carrying out research in the field of human rights and freedom of expression. Later, as press freedom manager, she oversaw IPI’s global press freedom monitoring and coordinated IPI’s global advocacy.

With an academic background in international relations and human rights, Barbara has taught courses at Webster University, Vienna in Media Ethics, Media Literacy and Cultural Diversity and the Media.

Her field of expertise covers different areas related to press freedom and freedom of expression, including self-regulatory media accountability systems, safety of journalists, and international mechanisms to protect press freedom.

Scott Griffen

Deputy Director

Scott Griffen joined IPI in 2012 as press freedom adviser focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. As deputy director, he helps manage IPI’s long-term project work and press freedom advocacy, and oversees IPI’s external and internal communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Yale University and a master’s degree in global ethics from King’s College London.

Helena Soares

Development and Programmes Manager

Helena Soares works closely with the press freedom team and oversees institutional fundraising opportunities for IPI’s long-term projects in support of press freedom and freedom of expression worldwide. Before joining IPI in Vienna, she worked as a Fundraising Officer for Global Witness in London, where she assisted in the management of extensive grants portfolios, donor stewardship and building relationships with international partners. Helena holds an MA in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University.

Ravi R. Prasad

Director of Advocacy

Ravi R. Prasad joined IPI in April 2018 and leads global advocacy initiatives. He was a journalist for over 20 years and covered conflicts in Sri Lanka, Kosovo. He has reported for The Pioneer, The Times of India, The Statesman, BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle, The Christian Science Monitor amongst others. Later he worked in the field of advocacy and communications with Oxfam, ActionAid, ICARDA in Syria, Child Helpline International and UNICEF. He holds a degree in science from Allahabad University and a Masters in Reconciliation and Peacebuilding from the University of Winchester in the UK.

Milica Miletic

Conference and Events Manager

Milica Miletic plans, manages and develops IPI conferences, events and seminars, including the IPI World Congress, IPI’s biggest annual press freedom event. In addition to event management, she contributes extensively to event-related programme development, selection of topics and speakers, and design and marketing. Prior to joining IPI in 2009, she worked for the Media Center Belgrade and the South East Europe Network for Professionalisation of Media (SEENPM). She holds degrees in journalism and media studies from the University of Belgrade and is a member of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia.

Javier Luque Martínez

Head of Digital Communications

Javier Luque Martínez coordinates advocacy and communication on IPI’s digital platforms. He holds a master’s degree in International Journalism from Cardiff University and bachelor’s degrees in journalism and psychology. Prior to joining IPI, he worked as a foreign correspondent in Los Angeles, covering the National Basketball Association (NBA) for several online publications and over 40 TV channels across the United States and Latin America. He also previously worked as a crime reporter for Cadena SER, the main nationwide radio station in Spain.

Christiane Klint

Membership and Administration Manager

Christiane Klint has been working with IPI since 1993 with a primary focus on communicating with IPI’s members and acquiring new members. Christiane also provides support and planning advice on congresses, conferences and other IPI activities, as well as other administrative tasks. Christiane grew up in Mexico City and attended the German school there. She also studied at York University in Toronto and at the University of Vienna.

Martin Leonhartsberger

Head of Finance

Martin Leonhartsberger is a certified public accountant and has over 15 years experience in finance and administration working for companies such as GEWISTA WerbegesmbH, PROGRESS Werbe, VerlagsgmbH, Altstoff Recycling Austria AG, Manpower GmbH and more recently Philips Austria GmbH.

Martin ensures the smooth operation of all of IPI’s financial and administrative needs.

Renan Akyavaş

Press Freedom Programme Officer

Renan Akyavaş covers violations of journalists’ rights for IPI’s website and social media channels, with a particular focus on Turkey and IPI’s #FreeTurkeyJournalists campaign. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from Central European University (CEU) and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boğaziçi University, Istanbul. Previously she worked as editor-in-chief of CEU’s Human Rights Journal and as a research assistant at Boğaziçi University while earning her bachelor’s degree.

Oliver Money-Kyrle

Press Freedom Programme Manager

Oliver Money-Kyrle is a media development expert and press freedom activist with over twenty years’ experience defending the rights of journalists in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Turkey. He joined IPI in September 2019 to head up the #FreeTurkeyJournalists campaign. Prior to that he was the Director of Projects with the International Federation of Journalists managing their global programmes and campaigns on journalists’ rights. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Bristol and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Boston University Brussels.

Minna Heikura

Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow

Minna Heikura works as a Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI during spring 2020, with special interest on social media. She holds a bachelor of media from Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences and currently she is finishing her master’s degree in journalism in Tampere University. Previously she has worked as a journalist in two local offices by Finnish national broadcast company Yle and several Finnish newspapers.

Ilmo Ilkka

Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow

Ilmo Ilkka works as a fellow covering press freedom issues, focusing particularly on Eastern Africa. He has worked previously as a journalist in the Finnish daily newspaper Turun Sanomat, as well as the radio station Radio Moreeni and the magazine Kookmin Review. Ilkka holds a BA in English philology and will graduate with a dual degree of MA in English language and literature and MSc in journalism and media studies from Tampere University.