Meet our team Get to know the interdisciplinary Migration Matters team

Sophia is a co-founder and the managing director of Migration Matters. Her work focuses on the intersection of migration, narrative change, and learning, where she designs projects that translate research and lived experiences into accessible media, storytelling, and dialogue formats. She has over 15 years of experience in project management and network development and has previously worked at Mediendienst Integration, Kiron Open Higher Education, and the Migration Policy Institute. Sophia holds a Master’s degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University.

Karoline joined our Executive Board in August 2019 and has more than 12 years of experience in the field of migration. She currently researches German and European migration policy questions at the Expert Council on Integration and Migration in Berlin, having previously worked with the IOM in Geneva and Cairo. Karoline holds degrees from Oxford University and the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Rebecca joined our Executive Board in February 2024, bringing a strong background in research and seven years experience in the fields of migration, access to education and work for refugees, as well as capacity-building of migrant organisations in Germany and the MENA region. Rebecca has worked for British Universities and non-profit organizations in Berlin, most recently at the Association of German-Syrian Aid Organizations (VDSH). She holds a PhD in French and Francophone studies from the University of Leeds.

Bernadette is an independent film and media producer known for developing innovative projects at the intersection of art, science, and education. After studying film production at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin and European Media Studies at Universität Potsdam, she worked as a film producer and cultural manager. Through interdisciplinary collaborations with designers, artists, and scholars, she produces films, podcasts, and events that spark reflection on complex sociopolitical issues. She served as a Migration Matters executive board member between 2017-19 and as creative director and media producer from 2017-25. More about futureimaginaries.org

Artem joined Migration Matters as an intern in January 2026. He is currently studying Economics, Politics, and Social Thought at Bard College Berlin. Artem brings previous experience in media consulting and will be supporting Migration Matters with communications, organizing events, and fundraising work. Migration is a personal topic for him: originally from Ukraine, he has experienced migration-related challenges firsthand and has closely observed similar experiences within his community.

Julia is a futures researcher and strategist specializing in foresight, participatory design, and public engagement. Her work focuses on how societies navigate long-term transformations, including climate change, emerging technologies, and demographic change. She holds a Master’s degree in Futures Studies from Freie Universität Berlin and brings a background in anthropology and collaborative design. Within the Future Imaginaries of Migration project, she contributes expertise in futures methodologies and public engagement, supporting the exploration of new visions for how migration can shape societies.

Karoline is a film editor in Berlin who has worked on numerous Migration Matters productions. She edits documentary, informational, and campaign films for various organizations and museums, as well as long documentaries that run successfully at international festivals. She studied history at the Humboldt University in Berlin and editing at the HFF “Konrad Wolf” in Potsdam-Babelsberg. She has been a freelance editor since 2008. Learn more about her work at karolineschulz.com.

Liv is a communications and visual media designer. She sees design as a powerful tool to make complex information accessible. Her ambition is to create scalable change and use design to inspire a better tomorrow. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the Münster School of Design and her Master’s in Information Design at the University of the Arts Berlin. Since 2024, she supporting Migration Matters in the development of the visual identity, infographics, and animations for the “GAPs Return Migration” series.

Paula is a communications designer with a focus on information and media design. Her work explores how content can be communicated in a clear, accessible, and responsible way, particularly at the intersection of design, research, and society. She studied at the Münster School of Design and completed her Master of Arts in Information Design at the Berlin University of the Arts in 2026. Since 2024, she has been co-developing the visual identity and infographics for the “GAPs Return Migration” series. Learn more about her work at paulabambach.com.

Anna is a communications designer who prefers to develop empathetic designs for projects that are in the artistic and socio-political realm. She studied communication design at the Merz Akademie Stuttgart and graduated in 2005 with a Master of Arts in European Media. Since then she has been working as a designer in agencies and as an independent designer in Berlin and Lake Constance. You can learn more about her work at www.annavanodijk.com.