From left: Sven Gerst, Tone Bjorndal, Pauline Kastermans, Danylo Korbabicz, Ab Brightman, Anders Rehnberg and Ahmad Al-Rachwani
Last weekend in Istanbul, at the General Assembly of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), I am extremely proud to say that I was elected Vice President!
For those unfamiliar, IFLRY is the Global umbrella organisation for liberal youth and student organisations around the world, of which Liberal Youth is affiliated to. IFLRY brings together an amazing community of young people, and has given so much to Liberal Youth members who get involved internationally, so I can only be excited at all the chances we get to repay it.
Liberal Youth has a long and successful relationship with IFLRY. I know that back in the days of LDYS we had members of IFLRY’s Bureau (that is, its Executive Committee) – and still today my election follows two years of our own Bobby Dean’s hard work as Vice President. Along with this, for the past two General Assemblies I have had the pleasure of leading one of the largest and most active delegations present, of Liberal Youth members.
Elected alongside me in Istanbul was our fantastic new President, Pauline Kastermans (Jonge Democraten, Netherlands), Secretary General, Tone Bjorndal (Unge Venstre, Norway), Treasurer, Danylo Korbabicz (Young Liberals of Canada), and three more Vice Presidents; Ahmad Al-Rachwani (Future Movement Youth, Lebanon), Anders Rehnberg (LUF, Sweden) and Sven Gerst (JuLis, Germany).
We have a great team for the two years ahead, and are already realistic and proactive about the work we need to do to make IFLRY an even greater federation for liberal young people. My own mandate is to make us more transparent and accountable, digitally inclusive, far more proactive at supporting campaigns, advocacy and best practice sharing, and working with the incredible African Liberal Network’s new Youth Advisory Council to ensure IFLRY has a space for many more African voices.
So cheers to all those who supported me, here’s to the work and the years ahead! And if you’re a young member who wants to get involved with our awesome international work, just email me: [email protected]
* Ab Brightman is the International Officer for Liberal Youth and Vice President of the International Federation of Liberal Youth
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3 Comments
Well, I for one welcome our new Brightman overlords.
Ab
Congratulations !We should hear more from you and your organisation .I take a great deal of interest in the international Liberal movement so welcome this .
Why , by the way , is Liberal Youth changing to Young Liberals? I would say , if a change was necessary , a change to Young Liberal Democrats would be far more in keeping with our fellow Liberal oriented parties abroad ,many of which , like the terrific Democratic Alliance in South Africa , emphasise being Democrats ! It is also a very interesting thing , that despite the wider party nominally having joined up with the Progressive Alliance abroad , the US Democratic Party Youth wing , Young Democrats , is a signed up member of your organisation , International Federation of Liberal Youth , good for them !
Anyway , you are doing good things and have wider support !
“… and working with the incredible African Liberal Network’s new Youth Advisory Council to ensure IFLRY has a space for many more African voices.”
Yes, I can see that possibly an ‘international’ organisation with 5 out of its 7 exec members from northern European nations, and no one from most of the large continental landmasses (Asia, Africa, South America…), might have a slight credibility deficit to make up…
But best wishes, and I really hope the organisation continues to grow and inspire.