Who are we?
Meet the Via Alpina Team – Small But Mighty!
Welcome to our team page! Even though there are only two of us, we carry the Via Alpina vision through eight Alpine countries and connect landscapes, languages and people who share a passion for sustainable mountain experiences.
What’s more, our team continues to grow as we are backed by a network of dedicated volunteers who support us in every way. If you want to be part of this journey, don’t hesitate to contact us – we look forward to hearing from you! Find out more here.
Nora Leszczynski – Project Manager
Via Alpina is a project close to Nora’s heart. She is responsible for project development, communication and coordinating the partners in the Alpine countries. Her diverse background in geography and philosophy is a great favour!
Even though she has not yet had the opportunity to hike the Via Alpina herself, she spends every free minute in the mountains and particularly enjoys multi-day tours, via ferratas, trail running and snowshoe hikes.
Julija Krautberger – Communication manager
Julija is our storyteller with a poetic touch! With a background in public relations and marketing and several years of experience in NGOs and CSR projects, Julija is able to use her passion for words to bring Via Alpina to life. Responsibility for the website and our social media channels is in good hands with her!
When Julija pursues her passion for the mountains, she often uses this time to write poetry, take photos and live out her creativity.
As a team, Nora and Julija bring vision and creativity to Via Alpina. Together, they coordinate projects, nurture partnerships, and develop communication strategies that keep the trail lively. They also love meeting new volunteers, gathering stories from hikers, and are always on the lookout for new ways to make Via Alpina an unforgettable experience for all who embark on its paths.
Even stronger thanks to our volunteers!
Sascha Dubach
Sascha, with his diverse interests, supports Nora and Julija as a volunteer in various areas. The Via Alpina is a matter close to his heart, and he gladly dedicates his free time to it. In 2025, the 25th anniversary of the Via Alpina, he will hike the route from Trieste to Monaco.
Nature is his great adventure playground. He prefers to keep his gear to a minimum, loves to be outdoor and likes to travel mindfully. He finds it exciting to encounter new situations, adapt accordingly, find solutions, and learn new things.
Fabio Brugger
In his free time, Fabio spends a lot of time in the mountains, either hiking, mountaineering or on via ferratas. Hiking the Swiss section of the Via Alpina was an incredibly wonderful experience for him. As a volunteer, he wants to give something back and enable other people to experience the same moments of happiness that he was able to experience on the route himself.
As part of his volunteer work, Fabio is mainly deployed at local events, preferably on the Via Alpina itself, of course. However, he may also write articles for selected events or help with other marketing activities in the background.
Matteo Giomo
Matteo is a great enthusiast of hiking trails. Hiking trails are his way of challenging himself and understanding himself, feeling at one with nature, and, when shared, creating unbreakable bonds.
Driven by curiosity, Matteo loves to study, measure, and explore the mountains firsthand, with the goal of protecting and preserving these fragile environments.
Walking the Via Alpina and contributing to the protection of the natural treasures along the route is a dream he will realize sooner or later.
Maria Neacsu
Maria Neacsu is a freelance graphic designer with a deep passion for mountains and nature. As a Via Alpina volunteer, she combines her creativity with her love for the outdoors, contributing to projects that celebrate and protect the beauty of the Alpine landscapes. With a strong appreciation for sustainable travel and outdoor adventures, she is dedicated to using design as a tool to inspire others to explore, respect, and preserve nature. Whether she’s working on a creative project or hiking a new trail, Maria finds endless inspiration in the wild and untamed spirit of the mountains.
Manuel Gleich
Hiking has always been his passion—exploring remote trails, pushing his limits, and immersing himself in the beauty of nature. Over the years, he has embarked on numerous long-distance hikes across the globe, each journey deepening his connection with the mountains and the wild landscapes they offer. Now, it’s time for a bigger challenge: the Via Alpina Red Trail, a demanding trek through the heart of the Alps. But this journey is not just about adventure; it’s also about giving back. The mountains have given him so much, and now he wants to contribute by making the Via Alpina more attractive for young and old enthusiast hikers.
Jon Abbott
Jon Abbott started volunteering for the Via Alpina in 2025. He brings expertise in areas such as mapping, project management, system design, process improvement, media creation, and data analysis. His travels have brought him to numerous mountain ranges around the world, including the Himalayas, Andes, and of course the Alps.
He most enjoys outdoor pursuits such as backpacking, bicycle touring, skiing, trail running, camping, photography, scuba diving, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.
Ellen Boucké
Having run the Via Alpina Red herself in 2024, Ellen is excited to contribute to the Via Alpina Volunteers team. With her master’s degree in Multilingual Communication (Dutch, English, and Italian), she will support the communication team.
Ellen is passionate about mountains, linguistics, and multilingualism, and she continues to explore the Alps—not only geographically, but also culturally and linguistically.
In 2025, she will run her all-time favourite section of the Via Alpina again for the fourth time: the Western Alps.
Nicoletta Neacsu
Nico is a Romanian freelancer in the field of sustainability, passionate about finding innovative ways to create a more balanced relationship between people and the environment.
Hiking and spending time in the mountains help them reconnect with nature and recharge their energy. As a volunteer in this organization, Nico contributes to the administrative and financial aspects, enjoying working with data and optimizing processes—especially through Excel.
Being part of this community allows Nico to combine her passion for sustainability, outdoor activities, and structured problem-solving, making a meaningful impact in the field of mountaineering.
Sabina Topčić
Sabina is thrilled to share her passion for the mountains and the environment with you as she embarks on this exciting journey. With a strong background in volunteering and environmental protection, she has spent countless hours working with a local mountaineering association, where she gained invaluable experience in maintaining trails, promoting responsible hiking, and raising awareness about the delicate balance of mountain ecosystems.
While she has yet to set foot on a ViaAlpina route, her love for hiking, especially during the winter months, fuels her enthusiasm to eventually experience the stunning landscapes of the Alps along this iconic trail. The rugged beauty of these mountains has always captivated her, and she looks forward to exploring ViaAlpina’s many breathtaking routes when the time comes.
Annabel Jackson Prow
Bel loves to write about adventure, landscapes and transformation and she is passionate about movement through mountains. With a background in geography, sustainable mountain development and travel writing she is excited to be a Via Alpina volunteer.
When not writing, Bel loves to run, hike and ski tour in the British mountains and the Alps. She is looking forward to new adventures on the Via Alpina this year.
Valentine Schmidhauser
Valentine discovered the Via Alpina in Switzerland in 2020, before setting off from Trieste to Monaco in 2023. This adventure was an unforgettable experience that had a profound and transformative effect on her. Volunteering for the Via Alpina is a way for her to give something back and help preserve it, so that others can enjoy this unique experience. As a volunteer, Valentine would like to contribute to communication projects, in particular by writing articles and creating audiovisual content. She may also be out in the field, helping with events or gathering information. A great opportunity to embark on a new adventure!
Anna Rüffer
For Anna, the Alps and the Via Alpina are a very special place. In the summer of 2023, she hiked the entire Via Alpina from Trieste to Monaco – an adventure whose memories will always remain unforgettable for her. In her free time, Anna can be found on various long-distance hiking trails in the Alps, on alpine tours, via ferratas or on her racing bike.
Anna would like to share her experiences with all interested Alpine enthusiasts and supports them as a volunteer, particularly in the areas of social media, content creation and also on site on the Via Alpina itself.
Timothy James Parker
Tim loves spending his free time trekking, camping, snowboarding, and being outdoors. He’s never happier than when he’s in the Alps, so naturally, he finds the Via Alpina amazing!
As a volunteer, Tim is excited to contribute to communication projects and help with other initiatives whenever possible. He looks forward to many summers on the Via Alpina—and hopes to complete the entire trail in one go someday!
Sophie Niederkofler
Sophia is passionate about slow travelling and wants to actively shape the exchange between different people and with nature and all its inhabitants in the Alpine regions as a volunteer. She wants to continue exploring the Via Alpina in all its facets and motivate others to set off on their journey. For her, the mountains are a unifying element – a place that brings people together, creates space to breathe deeply and at the same time enables adventure. She is particularly interested in sustainable ways to experience and preserve this unique landscape.
Daniela Hadersdorfer
Daniela is a passionate hiker whose journey along the Via Alpina transformed her life. With every pass she crossed, she found not only breathtaking landscapes but also a sense of purpose.
Now, as the Via Alpina celebrates its 25th anniversary, Daniela gives back to the trail that gave her so much. Her “love letter to the Via Alpina” includes organizing engaging events, crafting content, and spearheading fundraising initiatives.
Daniela’s deep love for the mountains is contagious, inspiring more hikers to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. For her, the Via Alpina is more than just a trail: it is a place where stories begin, where nature is protected, and where every hiker finds a piece of themselves along the way.
Ema Rezar
Ema is passionate about hiking and spending time outdoors, finding true joy in exploring nature on foot. Long-distance hikes hold a special place in her heart, as they offer the chance to fully immerse in the landscapes, embrace the rhythm of the trail, and escape from the daily rush. This year, Ema is setting out on the Camino Frances in May. Yet, the Via Alpina remains a dream waiting to be realized—one that she hopes to conquer in the near future – and until then she will contribute to the ViaAlpina community as a volunteer.