Secretary General

Dr. Joan Hernández-Serret

Professor and doctor Joan Hernández-Serret has been Secretary General of the European Council of Religious Leaders, Religions for Peace’s regional Interreligious Council in Europe, since May 2023.

Dr. Hernández-Serret teaches sociology, culture and religious diversity courses for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs at universities such as the Faculty of Communication and Humanities of the International University of Catalonia (UIC), the Catalan School of Public Administration, the Higher Institute of Religious Studies of Barcelona (ISCREB) – Faculty of Theology, University of Barcelona (UB), University of Sant Joan de Déu, and in the KAICIID interreligious e-learning course.

He is also the Director of the Official Interreligious Trust in Spain – GTER, the Director of the Diocesan Secretariat of Interreligious Relations of the Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Barcelona and the representative of Religions for Peace in Spain. He was co-director of the IV Parliament of World Religions in Barcelona in 2004 and worked as co-director of the international, multi-religious, and inter-generational event in Spain “At a Crossroads: An Intergenerational and Multireligious Response to the Social and Environmental Crisis“ in 2022.

Partnerships Development Officer

Rev. Peter Jörgensen

Peter supports the secretary general in the development of interreligious cooperation work between religions as relevant civil society actors and the political institutions at the European level. Identifying opportunities for participation of RfP Europe in European political discourses where they align with the key priorities of Religions for Peace. Peter is based at our central administrative office in Berlin. He has been instrumental in establishing the practical functions of our Association in Germany.

Peter also holds the role of Scientific Assistant, Religious Education & Didactics of Religious Education- University of Augsburg. He previously coordinated the Association of Evangelical Free Churches (VEF) and also served as Commissioner at the seat of the federal government, as German representative at the World Assembly for Religions for Peace 2019.

Project Officer

Marike Van Bentum

Marike has worked at the Berlin office of Religions For Peace Europe e.V. since January 2023, where she supports the secretariat and coordinates the Berlin Senate’s Metropolitan Regions project together with the Senate Department for Culture and Europe.

Marike studied International Relations and Public Law at the University of Erfurt. In her various positions at the Foundation Peace Dialogue of the World Religions and Civil Society (Ring for Peace), she helped organise the three conferences of Religions for Peace in Lindau (Lake Constance) in 2019 – 2021. Afterwards she worked as a program coordinator for the German Federal Foreign Office in the International Diplomats Training Division. Most recently, Marike was able to contribute to the implementation of various international conferences and mediation formats focused on peace and stability while working at the German Society for International Cooperation (giz).

Administration/Project Officer

Mattea De Munnich

Mattea began her relationship with Religions for Peace by interning with the Religions for Peace international secretariat in New York City in the programmes department, where she gained experience working on interfaith projects such as the Templeton Science of Forgiveness Handbook. Mattea is now working with Religions for Peace Europe by closely supporting the work of the Secretary General and the secretariat. She also provides support to the Berlin Senate’s Metropolitan Regions Project as well as providing support to the GTER-Religions for Peace Spain.

Mattea has experience working in monitoring and evaluation through the Canada World Youth programme, where she worked on the EqwipHubs project in Dakar, Senegal, which helps youths to build more sustainable futures. She studied International Studies at Leiden University, with a specialization in Latin America and religion.