Staff

David Harland has been HD’s Executive Director since 2011. David previously worked for the United Nations, including in Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti and Timor Leste, including as acting head of government.  He was author of the UN Secretary-General’s landmark report on the Fall of Srebrenica. He currently serves on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation, was Chair of the World Economic Forum conflict prevention council and was adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Affairs (SAIS). David has published widely on the issues surrounding conflict and international relations, in the New York Times and elsewhere. Earlier, he was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University’s Department of Government, where he taught Chinese politics.  David has a Master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, as well as a graduate diploma from Beijing University. His graduate research was on compliance with public international law, and on territorial disputes in the South China Sea.  David is from New Zealand. He is married to Tanja, and they have one daughter. 

Marc Hofstetter joined HD in 2009 as Deputy Executive Director. He was previously Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), and the Executive Director of the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco-growing Foundation. His earlier experience includes working at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), including as their Head of Delegation in Iraq and Tajikistan, and he has also worked as a Project Manager for the World Economic Forum. Marc holds two Master’s degrees, one in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Lausanne, and the other in International Relations from the Fletchers School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

After graduating from the Institute of International Relations in Geneva, Alexandre Liebeskind joined Paribas bank in 1992. He was first assigned to the bank’s headquarters in Paris for a couple of years, and then returned to Geneva as Head of the marketing and communications department of the Swiss branch. In 1997, he joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), carrying out assignments in Israel and Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Liberia, Nepal, Iraq and Sudan where he lead the ICRC’s operations in Darfur from 2004 to 2006. He was then called to the ICRC’s headquarters in Geneva to co-ordinate operations in the Horn of Africa. In 2009, he was appointed Secretary of the Committee and Personal Advisor to the President of the ICRC, serving both Jakob Kellenberger and Peter Maurer, before joining the HD’s Africa office in 2013. In May 2013, he was re-elected for a second mandate as Member of the Board of Directors of Doctors without Borders Brussels’ Operational Centre (MSF OCB).

Babatunde Afolabi joined HD in 2016 as Senior Programme Manager overseeing the organisation’s initiatives in Nigeria and The Gambia. In 2019, he was appointed as HD’s Africa Regional Director. Prior to joining the organisation, Babatunde served as Political Affairs Officer and Head of Section at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission during which time he played active roles in the establishment of the ECOWAS Mediation Facilitation Division. He was also a member of the team that conceptualized and implemented the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF). Babatunde was involved in efforts to resolve several conflicts across West Africa providing mediation support to various peace processes and serving as the Secretary to the ECOWAS Council of the Wise. Babatunde has also undertaken independent consultancy on mediation, conflict prevention and project management for several countries, international and non-governmental organisations as well as academic institutions. His other experience includes working for the Centre for Democracy and Development in Nigeria, as well as teaching and publishing on peace and security issues. His latest book, Politics of Peacemaking in Africa: Non-State Actors’ Role in the Liberian Civil War, was released in 2017. Babatunde has a doctorate in International Relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, as well as a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s Degree in Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Carine Prestat joined HD in 2011 as Head of Finance and was appointed as Director, Finance and Administration in 2019. She has spent more than fifteen years in Finance and Human Resources in other organisations across the not-for-profit and telecoms sectors. Her previous experience includes four years as the Finance and Administration Officer for the CARE International Secretariat in Geneva and one year as an Administrator for the International Committee of the Red Cross in South Sudan. Carine has a Master’s degree in International Relations from Geneva’s Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

David Gorman joined HD in 2000 and currently heads HD’s Eurasia Programme. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of peacemaking. David started his career in the Middle East and has since worked in Africa, Southeast Asia and now Eurasia. He has lived in the Philippines, Indonesia, Liberia, Bosnia, as well as the West Bank and Gaza, and he now resides in Cyprus. David has published several articles on peacemaking and was profiled in the award winning film ‘Miles and War’ as well as in Die Zeit, Der Spiegel and the Boston Herald. He has a graduate degree from the London School of Economics.

Katia Papagianni joined HD in 2006 and is the organisation’s Director for Policy and Mediation Support. Her work focuses on the design of peace processes and, more specifically, on national dialogues and constitution-making processes. As part of her work at HD, she has supported various peace processes, including in Liberia, Libya, Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine and the Philippines. Katia was also seconded to the United Nations to support national dialogue efforts in Yemen where she shared comparative insights on the design of national dialogue processes. Before joining HD, Katia worked for the National Democratic Institute, as well as for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, and for the United Nations Development Programme. She has been based in Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq. Katia holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Princeton University, and a Doctorate in Political Science from Columbia University. She has taught on the subjects of peacebuilding and state-building at both Geneva’s Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies’ and at Columbia University.

Michael Vatikiotis left his role as the Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review to join HD in 2004. A writer and journalist for more than twenty-five years, he is fluent in both Thai and Indonesian. During his career, he has been based as a journalist in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Michael set up HD’s first regional office in Asia in Singapore in 2006. He has a degree in History and Geography from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and a doctorate from Oxford University. He is the author of three books on Southeast Asian politics and two novels set in Indonesia.

Romain Grandjean joined HD in 2007 as part of the international team deployed in Central Africa Republic. He currently oversees HD’s activities in the MENA region, with a particular focus on Maghreb and Mashreq. Romain previously worked for the International Crisis Group for 5 years including more than two years as a Field Researcher based in the Middle East. He also worked for several years as a Political Analyst with international electoral observation missions in Africa, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. He has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

Tom Gregg was formerly Associate Director at the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University. He previously worked for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations as a Special Assistant to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, as a Head of Region (Southeast Afghanistan) and in Political Affairs. He has worked as an advisor to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the private sector in the fields of political risk and strategic communication.  Tom has also worked at the Australian Council for International Development and the Australian National University. He has written widely on topics including foreign policy, and fly fishing in Afghanistan.  Tom holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Australian National University where he was a Hedley Bull scholar.

Beatrice Mégevand-Roggo moved in 2012 from her role as Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) to become HD’s Special Representative for Syria and then Senior Programme Manager for the Middle East. She was previously the ICRC’s Regional Director for Europe and the Americas. While at the ICRC, Béatrice worked around the world in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus. She has also worked as a freelance journalist, an Assistant Professor at Università Statale in Milan (Italy), and as a consultant for Non-Governmental Organisations assessing and monitoring development projects in Africa and Latin America. Béatrice holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Università Statale in Milan, where she focused on contemporary history and international relations.

David Petrasek had been Director of Policy at HD for four years prior to becoming a Senior Adviser with the organisation in 2008. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, and he has also taught courses in international human rights and humanitarian law at Osgoode Hall Law School in Canada, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Sweden, and at the University of Oxford. David has previously been Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of Amnesty International and he has worked on human rights as well as humanitarian and conflict resolution issues for the International Council on Human Rights Policy and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). He has also worked as a consultant with numerous international organisations, including the OHCHR which he recently advised on its strategic planning. David is a co-editor of openGlobalRights, a global digital forum for debating human rights strategies. He has a J.D. from the Osgoode Hall Law School and an L.L.M. from the London School of Economics.

Eric Richardson is a Senior Adviser in HD’s Asia programme. He is an international attorney and negotiations expert whose diplomatic career included postings in and on China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Libya, Tunisia, Israel and Palestinian areas, the US Mission to the UN in Geneva, and New Zealand.  He has also focused on foreign affairs issues for the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster. Eric speaks Mandarin Chinese, French and English.  ​Eric graduated with a Bachelor in International Relations from Stanford University, a Master in Law and World Politics from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate in Law from University of Michigan Law School. 

Ambassador Haile Menkerios has about 30 years of experience in conflict resolution. A career diplomat, he served as Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (UNSG) and head of the UN Office to the African Union (2013-2018). Prior to this, Amb. Menkerios served as Special Envoy of the UNSG for Sudan and South Sudan (2011-2013) and Head of the UN Mission in Sudan (2009-2011), as well as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs in New York (2007-2009). Since he joined the UN in 2001, Amb. Menkerios held several other senior UN positions including in field missions dealing with issues of peace and security. His engagements during his career  included successful mediation efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, the African Great Lakes Region, Madagascar, and The Comoros. Prior to his time with the UN, Amb. Menkerios served as Eritrean Permanent Representative to the UN (1997-2000), Special Envoy to Somalia and the Great Lakes Region and Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union during the critical period of Eritrea’s separation from Ethiopia. He joined HD as a Senior Adviser in July 2018.

Freddy Nkurikiye is HD’s Special Representative of West and Central Africa. He rejoined the organisation’s Central African Republic (CAR) team in 2013, having previously served HD as its CAR Office Manager during HD’s first involvement in the country in 2007-2008. Freddy is an expert on political dynamics and development issues with a detailed knowledge of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has previously worked as an expert on a number of conflict management programmes with the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, Interpeace, Synergies Africa, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Those included the peace process and political dialogue in Burundi; the political dialogues in Togo and the Central Africa Republic (CAR); the reconciliation and transitional justice processes in Ivory Coast, Mali, Burundi and CAR; as well as youth empowerment programmes in Burundi and Togo. Freddy has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Geneva and worked as a Junior Lecturer in Corporate Finance at the University of Geneva from 2003 to 2007.

Liam is developing an economic mediation initiative for HD after a career in banking, agriculture and international relations. He previously led the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific desk at the World Economic Forum and has held a number of roles over the last decade focused on leveraging the positive social impacts of business in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Liam holds Masters and Undergraduate Degrees in Science, Economics and International Affairs from the University of Queensland, McGill University and the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Liam is from Australia.

Babatunde Afolabi joined HD in 2016 as Senior Programme Manager overseeing the organisation’s initiatives in Nigeria and The Gambia. In 2019, he was appointed as HD’s Africa Regional Director. Prior to joining the organisation, Babatunde served as Political Affairs Officer and Head of Section at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission during which time he played active roles in the establishment of the ECOWAS Mediation Facilitation Division. He was also a member of the team that conceptualized and implemented the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF). Babatunde was involved in efforts to resolve several conflicts across West Africa providing mediation support to various peace processes and serving as the Secretary to the ECOWAS Council of the Wise. Babatunde has also undertaken independent consultancy on mediation, conflict prevention and project management for several countries, international and non-governmental organisations as well as academic institutions. His other experience includes working for the Centre for Democracy and Development in Nigeria, as well as teaching and publishing on peace and security issues. His latest book, Politics of Peacemaking in Africa: Non-State Actors’ Role in the Liberian Civil War, was released in 2017. Babatunde has a doctorate in International Relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, as well as a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s Degree in Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Ahmed Yassin holds a Doctorate degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies  (SOAS) at the University of London. He also holds a master degree from the University of Birmingham. Between 1983 – 2003 he served in several positions within the National Museum of Kenya, rising to the position of Director General in an acting capacity. Later he joined the National Cohesion and Integration Commission between  2009 – 2013. In addition to being full time staff at the National Museum of Kenya, he also works as a Chief Research Scientist. He joined HD in May 2016 as a Lead Facilitator in North East Nigeria.

Anne Nduta Kinga holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and is an affiliate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She has four years’ experience in internal/external audit and accounting. Prior to joining HD in 2014, she worked for Total Kenya Ltd.

Caroline Nyaga joined HD in 2009 and currently supports the organisation’s mediation initiatives in central Nigeria. Prior to joining HD, she worked for the Kenya Human Rights Commission as a Programme Associate on its Human Rights Outreach Programme. She also completed an internship with the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) as part of its community activism programme. Caroline has a degree in Social Sciences from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Master’s Degree in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.

Dorothy Njoki Ndungu had been a Grants Manager for Development Alternatives Incorporated before she became a Project Officer for HD in 2012. She has significant experience in managing grants and liaising with international donors having also worked on the Kenya Transition Initiative which was funded by the United States, and the Drivers of Accountability Programme-Kenya which was funded by the UK, Canada and Denmark. Prior to that, Dorothy was a Programme Coordinator at the Nairobi Peace Initiative – Africa. She has a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi.

Kazeem Sogbetun joined HD in 2017  as the Administration and Finance Manager in Nigeria. Prior to HD, Kezeem worked as a Global Fund Tuberculosis Project Accountant affiliated with the National Tuberculosis, Burulli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) in Nigeria. He has also worked as a Senior Finance Officer in Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), a Non-Governmental Organization and Principal Recipient of Global Fund Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Projects Grants in Nigeria from 2009-2016. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is a chartered accountant, a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is also an associate member of Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria (CILRMN).  

Mary joined HD in 2018 and is based in Nairobi, where she supports HD’s Africa operations in charge of the management of finance, administration and human resources for the region. Prior to joining HD, Mary was the Head of Finance and Operations at CrossBoundary LLC, managing the firm’s wide operations in Africa and Washington DC. Previously, Mary worked for Acumen Fund Inc as Finance and Administration Manager where she executed the implementation of operational systems for finance, grant reporting, investments and talent management. Mary also worked for Rockefeller Foundation for five years and was instrumental in establishing the administrative and financial operating systems for the Africa Regional office. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Administration from the United States International University (USIU) is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and currently completing her Masters in Human Resource Management.

Mohamed Abdullahi Omar is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Somaliland. He became HD’s Special Representative of the Horn of Africa in 2014. As Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was in charge of transnational political, economic and security matters. He has led political, economic and state-building programmes for more than twenty-five years and he was one of the architects of the talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Government of Somaliland, during which he acted as the lead political negotiator. Mohamed has also worked in academia and on social development programmes in the United Kingdom and undertaken other development work. His expertise ranges from diplomacy, political work, social reforms and counter-terrorism to negotiations and programme management. His speaks a number of languages including Dutch as well as Somali and English. He has a degree in Psychology from Holland and a Master’s degree in Social Policy as well as a doctorate focused on the global political economy, both from the United Kingdom.

Mohamed Wardere became a Project Manager with HD in 2015. He has more than two decades of experience in managing public, private and humanitarian programmes and projects. He has previously worked for various international aid agencies including Action Contre la Faim, Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Caritas, the Danish Refugee Council and Africa Development Solutions, in Somalia, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, South Africa and South Sudan. He also served as Deputy Country Director with Action Contre la Faim before joining HD. His work has included assignments in the Horn of Africa designing and managing donor funded emergency, transitional and developmental programmes. His wide experience has given him an understanding of both humanitarian aid and the management of programme and project cycles. Mohamed is also skilled in community engagement, training and capacity-building, inclusion, community-driven development as well as monitoring and evaluation. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering obtained from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya.

Naana Marekia came to HD in 2014 from the Nairobi Peace Initiative – Africa (NPI-Africa) where she worked as a Programme Coordinator in their Research, Learning and Policy programme. In this role, Naana co-ordinated a research project between NPI-Africa and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding on transitional justice which focused on the efficacy of truth commissions in Africa. She has also been the Kenya Project Manager for a comparative study on violence and political transitions carried out by NPI-Africa, Africa University’s Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance from Zimbabwe, and South Africa’s Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. Naana has a degree in International Relations from the United States International University – Africa and a Master’s degree in Peace Studies from Bradford University in the United Kingdom.

Neha Sanghrajka joined HD in 2014 and she currently manages the organisation’s work in Mozambique. As part of her role, she is working on the ongoing mediation process in the country. Her previous experience includes working for the Panel of Eminent African Personalities chaired by Kofi Annan which mediated the 2008 Kenyan electoral crisis. Neha has also advised senior officials on policy and political strategy, and she is experienced in managing teams who are working with governments in politically sensitive environments. She has experience in mediation, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution, electoral processes, policy-making and project management, as well as in-depth knowledge of the African Union and the United Nations. She has a background in legal and international affairs, focusing on mediation and diplomacy.

Sarah Kahaisha joined HD in 2013 and currently supports HD’s projects in the Horn of Africa and Mozambique. Prior to joining the organisation, she worked for three years in South Sudan with a faith-based, non-profit organisation supporting its economic and education empowerment programmes for women and youth, and providing soft skills training as part of its leadership training programme. She later joined the secretariat office of a privately-owned institution in Nairobi where she was tasked with setting up institutional management systems, and ensuring compliance and quality control of the institution’s systems and educational programmes for vetting by the Commission for University Education in Kenya. During that time, she also worked as part of various academic steering committees and co-ordinated the logistics and the organisation of publicity and outreach activities for the institution. Sarah Kahaisha holds a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Business Administration and Management from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya.

Veronica joined HD in November 2016 having previously worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for over 8 years. She attained a Bachelors’ degree in Finance and a Masters in Strategic Management both from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Coupled with a Higher Diploma in Project Management, she has significant experience in human resource policies and principles, logistics and finance. She gathered skills in the structures and procedures for NGO’s as well as humanitarian works having also worked for the BBC Media Action which is the humanitarian arm of the BBC.

Victoria Odhiambo holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Strathmore University in Nairobi as well as an Advanced Diploma in Human Resource and Business management from the Association of Business  Managers and Administrators, United Kingdom. She is currently pursuing her ACCA qualification (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Before joining HD in 2011, Victoria worked as an accountant and acting Finance and Administration Manager for the African Academy of Sciences. She also served as African Representative in the ECPAT International Child and Youth Advisory Committee.

Xav C. Flowers joined HD in 2016 as a Dialogue/Mediation Facilitator, having previously worked with the organisation as a technical advisor on efforts to manage tensions surrounding the Liberian National Election in 2011. In his current role at the United States Institute of Peace, he also facilitates training for African Peacekeepers before their deployment. Xav has significant experience across Africa and he was previously the Country Manager for International Alert in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. He also worked on the 2005 National Election in Liberia as the Country Representative for the International Republican Institute and this work culminated in the first ever code of conduct for political parties. Xav has also worked for Women for Women International in a variety of roles, including as Country Director. While with the organisation, he managed programmes to support vulnerable women in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. He has worked with the U.S. Embassy in Guinea as well as serving as the Humanitarian Assistance and Refugee Monitor for the USAID Mission. He began his career as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon. Xav holds a Master’s degree in African Development and Public Policy from Howard University in Washington D.C.

Yodit Lemma holds an MSc in Development Studies from the University of London, SOAS and a BA in International Relations from Agnes Scott College. She has many years of experience working in the area of political and conflict analysis, as well as peace mediation, gender and insecurity in  East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Prior to joining HD, Yodit managed the Small Arms Survey’s Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) project for Sudan and South Sudan and served as the Regional Conflict, Gender and Insecurities Policy Advisor for Oxfam’s Regional Horn and Central Africa Office. In 2012, she worked as a Peace Mediation consultant on South Sudan for HD. Prior to that, she had worked as Political Reporting Officer for the United Nations Mission to South Sudan, during which time she reported on the Lord’s Resistance Army and worked on local reconciliation efforts. From 2010-11, Yodit also served as the Special Assistant to the UN Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, based in Khartoum, and from 2007 – 2008, she was a Project Officer with HD’s Africa Regional Office working primarily on electoral dispute resolution efforts in Somaliland as well as gender and mediation across Africa. 

Michael Vatikiotis left his role as the Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review to join HD in 2004. A writer and journalist for more than twenty-five years, he is fluent in both Thai and Indonesian. During his career, he has been based as a journalist in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Michael set up HD’s first regional office in Asia in Singapore in 2006. He has a degree in History and Geography from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and a doctorate from Oxford University. He is the author of three books on Southeast Asian politics and two novels set in Indonesia.

Adam Cooper joined HD in 2010. He currently manages the organisation’s recently established cyber-mediation project and remains involved in confidential work in Asia. From 2012-2018, he re-established HD’s work in Myanmar and developed a country programme to address the crisis in Rakhine State and support Myanmar’s peace process between the Government and ethnic armed groups. He was also instrumental in establishing different tracks of dialogue at a regional level. Prior to joining HD, Adam worked in a number of humanitarian and political roles in Asia, particularly in countries in transition. He previously co-ordinated election observation missions across the continent for the Asian Network for Free Elections, and assisted the Maldivian Democratic Party to prepare for elections as a political adviser. He also helped with United Nations relief efforts after the 2004 tsunami. Adam has a degree from Oxford University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Alex Douglas currently works on a range of HD projects across Asia on peace processes, forced migration, and communal violence. From 2013-2015, he managed HD’s project to reduce communal violence in Myanmar. Before joining HD, Alex was working for the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) where he focused on humanitarian emergencies, managing natural resources and social protection in both Australia and Indonesia. He was previously involved in monitoring violence and elections for the Carter Center, in Nepal and Liberia. Alex has two degrees from Flinders University in Australia, one in International Studies and the other a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice.

Amalia Venezuela joined HD in 2012 as the organisation’s Administration and Accounting Manager in the Philippines. She has more than twenty years’ professional experience, having previously spent more than a decade working for development initiatives as a Finance Officer on projects run by the World Bank and agencies of the United Nations. She spent the first ten years of her career working for a commercial bank. Amalia is a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines.

Amanda Hsiao is the Beijing-based Project Manager for HD where she coordinates all China-related programming and oversees the South China Sea project. Prior to joining HD in 2015, Amanda was an analyst on the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. She was based in South Sudan for the Center for American Progress, she wrote extensively on the political and humanitarian state-of-play in the two Sudans, including on post-secession negotiations between the two countries. She also served as a Program Analyst for AECOM International Development, a contractor to USAID’s South Sudan Transition and Conflict Mitigation Program. Amanda Hsiao holds a Masters in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of the University of Princeton and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Pomona College. 

Amy Kong joined HD as an Accountant in 2013 from her role at an NGO which was working to help people with disabilities. She had previously worked for a listed company in the steel industry and as a Regional Accountant for a multinational company supplying medical devices. She has a Diploma from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Group and a certificate from the Business Analytics and Reporting Programme of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore.

Andrea Bernarte was working for the Government of the Philippines before she became HD’s Project Associate for the country in 2016. While working for the Department of Transportation and Communications, Andrea was involved in the procurement of consulting services as well as Public-Private Partnerships. She has a degree in Psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University and she is a licensed Psychometrician in the Philippines.

Annieza Mohamad became a Project Officer at HD in January 2016 having previously been the Finance Officer and Co-ordinator for the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies. Her other experience includes working in areas such as human resources, co-ordination and bookkeeping for the Government of the Philippines, as well as an Adult Trainer, teaching people to read and write. Annieza has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Mindanao State University, Maguindanao.

Apitchaya (Erng) Kawinlertsatien joined HD as Logistics and Administrative Associate in 2018. Prior to this, she worked in Haddad Brands which partner with the licensors of iconic clothing brands in designing, marketing and in their global distribution. She worked as Assistant Merchandiser in Bangkok, assisting in tracking production and quality, as well as other administrative matters.  Apitchaya has a Bachelor’s Degree from Bangkok University International College where she majored in Communication Arts.

Aung Aung Shein left his role as a Political Officer and Project Manager in the political section of the British Embassy in Yangon to join HD as a Project Officer in 2015. He had previously been a Training Manager for the International Rescue Committee providing legal awareness training for Karanni refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border, and running capacity-building programmes for Myanmar community-based organisations based in Thailand. Aung has also worked for UKAid as a Programme Officer and he spent seven years as a Senior Protection Officer with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Aung has a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Yangon University.

Aung Myo Htwe joined HD’s Myanmar team as Project Officer in September 2015 and he is also an adviser to a number of community-based organisations in the country. He has more than ten years’ experience in peacebuilding and community development as well as issues related to conflict and gender. In Myanmar, Aung has worked as a Program Manager for the organisation, Search for Common Ground, as a Conflict Adviser for the United Nations Population Fund, and as a Consultant for the World Bank. He has also worked as a Senior Program Officer for the International Rescue Committee in Thailand. As a result of his experiences with marginalized communities in both countries, he has developed expertise in fostering peace, building capacity to address grievances, and mediating conflict. Aung has a degree in Geography from Yadanapon University in Myanmar, and a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the University for Peace, Costa Rica.

Eric Richardson is a Senior Adviser in HD’s Asia programme. He is an international attorney and negotiations expert whose diplomatic career included postings in and on China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Libya, Tunisia, Israel and Palestinian areas, the US Mission to the UN in Geneva, and New Zealand.  He has also focused on foreign affairs issues for the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster. Eric speaks Mandarin Chinese, French and English.  ​Eric graduated with a Bachelor in International Relations from Stanford University, a Master in Law and World Politics from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate in Law from University of Michigan Law School. 

Hemant rejoined HD as its Myanmar Country Representative in July 2018. Hemant has over seven years of experience with HD, working on a number of confidential mediation projects from 2002 to 2010. In one of his roles, he worked with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in the mediation of the Kenya conflict in 2008.  Besides HD, he has completed assignments with the UN’s World Food Programme in Timor-Leste and the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In recent years Hemant was based in Manipur in North East India, along the India-Myanmar border, in an effort to research and promote the Second World War experience and heritage of this conflict-affected region. He set up a WWII battlefield tourism venture and circuit focused on the Burma Campaign that took in locations on both sides of the India-Myanmar frontier. He has since published two books on the topic:  ‘The Battlefields of Imphal: The Second World War and North East India’ (Routledge, 2016) and ‘Imphal 1944: The Japanese Invasion of India’ (Bloomsbury/Osprey, 2018).

Ibrahim moved from the Red Cross to join HD as the organisation’s Project Officer in the Philippines in 2013. He had worked for the Red Cross Movement for the previous four years, working for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, undertaking fieldwork, fundraising and organisational development for the Philippine Red Cross, as well as working as a Reporting Officer for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. He has a degree in International Studies from the De La Salle University in Manila and he is currently studying for a Master’s degree in the same subject, also at the De La Salle University.

Iona joined HD’s Philippine Office as Project Manager in late 2016. She has worked in the Philippine Government as a staff member in the House of Representatives and, more recently, with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as Head of the Secretariat supporting the Government Peace Panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In that capacity, she was directly involved in the negotiations leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and in its implementation until July 2016. Prior to civil service, she was involved in sustainable development NGOs and also spent time in broadcasting and publications. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Palawan State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines. 

Leon Oei joined HD as a consultant in 2017. He works on preventing escalations in tensions in the South China Sea. Prior to joining HD, Leon spent three years at a foreign embassy in Singapore facilitating international trade within Southeast Asia. Leon holds an MSc. in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) where he held the RSIS scholarship from 2015-2016. He graduated magna cum laude from the Singapore Management University with a BSc. in Political Science and Economics.

Mg Ni joined HD as a Project Associate in 2014 to support its work in Myanmar having previously been a Project Associate with the UNHCR working on Camp Coordination and Camp Management in Myanmar. In this role, he liaised with the local government over issues relating to internally displaced people. Mg’s other experience includes working as a Base Logistician in Myanmar for Action Contre La Faim. Mg has a degree in English Literature from Sittwe-Rakine State University.

Myint Myint is working in HD’s Yangon office as Finance and Administration Manager. Myint Myint also worked for the International Rescue Committee (IRC-Myanmar) for over 8 years starting as a finance assistant and then to a finance coordinator in 2008. Myint Myint has worked at Accel International Co. Ltd., for over 12 and half years as a senior accountant in the account receivables section. Myint Myint hold B.Com (Hons.) from Institute of Economics Yangon.

Ni Jue joined HD as a Human Resource and Logistics Associate in 2017. Prior to this, she worked in a Japanese art gallery as a Gallery Assistant in Singapore, assisting in art exhibition planning, logistics and administrative matters. In the gallery, she worked for one of the most renowed Japanese artists Yayoi Kusama and planned exhibitions for many other contemporary artists in Asia too. Ni Jue has a Bachelor’s Degree from National University of Singapore where she majored in Chinese Linguistics and Chinese Studies.

Nilar Oo moved from being the Deputy Director for Operations and External Relations for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to become HD’s Deputy Country Representative for Myanmar in 2013. At the IRC, she was responsible for expanding the organisation’s programmes and liaising with Government Ministries and other stakeholders. Earlier in her career, Nilar spent more than eighteen years with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and when the ICRC withdrew its expatriates from Myanmar for three years in the 1990s, Nilar maintained its contacts with the authorities in Myanmar and supervised its programmes in the country. She has extensive experience of working with ethnic armed groups, including visiting detainees in prison and conducting quiet diplomacy to improve their conditions. Nilar has a degree in English Literature from Rangoon Arts and Science University, a Master’s degree in Peacebuilding from Coventry University in the United Kingdom, and an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Norainne Abas became HD’s Project Associate for the Philippines in 2016, having been previously involved with the organisation as a volunteer since 2013 and as a liaison officer between HD and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission from early 2014 to late 2015. Norainne previously worked at the Sharif Awliya Academy as a Classroom Adviser and a Math Teacher. She has a degree in Computer Engineering from the Notre Dame University – Cotabato City.

Qiyang Niu joined HD’s Asia team as a Project Associate in 2018. Prior to this, he worked as a political correspondent for Shenzhen Media Group in Washington D.C. covering news on U.S. Asia and Eurasia policy at the Department of State, the Pentagon, the White House, and major think tanks in D.C. area. Previously, Qiyang was a project assistant at EastWest Institute for its Track-II diplomacy team and a research intern for Central Asian affairs at UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. He holds a Master’s degree in European and Russian Studies from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in Russian Language and Literature from Nanjing University.​

Amb. Rafael E. Seguis joined HD in November 2016 as Senior Advisor. Before joining HD, he worked for the Philippine Government for more than fifty years and became the Chairman of the Philippine Government’s Peace Negotiating Panel with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2008. His most recent role was in the Home Office as Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns (previously named Special Concerns) and Undersecretary for Administration. As Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns, he also represented the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Cluster for National Security and Peace. He has held other senior positions in the department including Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs in the 1990s, and Assistant Secretary for Fiscal Management in the 1980s. In addition, he has broad experience in the Foreign Service as Philippine Ambassador to Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Indonesia, East Timor and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has also served in various capacities in the Philippine Embassies in Rome, Bangkok, Cairo, Tehran and Tripoli. Mr Seguis has represented the Philippines in regional and international conferences, and he has been a member and, at times, head of the Philippine Delegation to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Council of Ministers Meetings since 1997.

Rob Gardner joined HD in the Asia Regional Office in Singapore as Regional Finance and Administration Manager in 2018. He is responsible for managing and coordinating finance, HR and legal compliance issues across the Asia region. Previous to this role Rob has worked in the iNGO sector for the last 12 years in international, regional and country finance roles for Médecins sans Frontières, Volunteer Service Overseas and Médecins du Monde. Before that, Rob held finance roles both the private sector, mainly in telecommunications, and in New Zealand’s public sector. Rob graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Canterbury in New Zealand and is a Chartered Accountant with the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.

Shienny joined HD in 2002 to assist the organisation with its operations in Aceh, Indonesia. In 2003, she joined the organisation ‘International Relief and Development’ (IRD) in Iraq for a year, before returning to HD in 2004, where she has been working ever since. Shienny worked on a number of HD related activities in Asia, including in Timor Leste from 2007-2009, as well as on issues related to the east of Indonesia since 2008. She specialized on a number of substantive themes, as well as on process-related questions in her work with numerous government- and non-governmental partners. Prior to joining HD, Shienny worked as Marketing Manager with Grant Thornton, an international financial company. She holds a Diploma in Business studies from the UTS University, Sydney, Australia.

Su Wai Phyo worked as an Administrative Assistant in the International Rescue Committee’s Operations Department for four years before joining HD in 2013. Prior to this, she had also worked for FXB International as an Assistant to its Medical Coordinator in Myanmar. Su Wai has a Science degree from the University of Yangon and a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Yangon Technological University.

Suzanne Damman is currently the Senior Programme Manager for Asia. She re-joined HD in 2015 as Project Manager in the organisation’s Philippines Country Office, having previously worked for HD at headquarters for two years from 2007-2009. In the intervening period, Suzanne worked for the Netherlands Red Cross, initially focusing on the Asian region from their headquarters in The Hague before moving to become their Programme Manager in the Philippines. She has also worked for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva. Suzanne has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and and she holds an MSc in Global Health from the University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute in the United Kingdom.

Theerada Suphaphong is HD’s Country Representative in Thailand. Prior to joining HD in 2009, she was the Bangkok-based Co-ordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus which aimed to increase awareness of issues relating to Myanmar among members of parliaments in the region. She has also worked as a Researcher attached to the Thai Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Theerada has a degree from the University of Oregon in the United States as well as a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University.

Willem Punt joined HD in 2017 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, where he worked as a Policy Advisor on mediation within the Department for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid. Prior to this, he worked at the Security Policy Department and European Union Department of the Ministry. Willem holds a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution and Governance from the University of Amsterdam as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Leiden.

Zaceu Lian is an expert on the politics of Myanmar and he joined HD as a Senior Project Officer in 2014. He previously worked as a translator for the 2012 talks in Yangon between the Government of Myanmar and the Chin National Front. He had also held several related leadership roles, serving as the General Secretary for both the Burmese Community Organization of Manitoba and the Chin Christian Fellowship of Canada, as President of the Chin Student Union of North America, and as Assistant General Secretary for the ‘Committee for Non-Violent Action in Burma’. Zaceu has spoken to the media and at conferences on many occasion as an expert on the political situation in Myanmar. He has also published articles on the country in journals and magazines. Zaceu has a degree in Political Science, Rhetoric & Comunications from the University of Winnipeg in Canada, and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto, where his main research subject was ‘Institutional Design for Divided Societies: A Blue-Print for a Multi-ethnic Burma’.

David Gorman joined HD in 2000 and currently heads HD’s Eurasia Programme. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of peacemaking. David started his career in the Middle East and has since worked in Africa, Southeast Asia and now Eurasia. He has lived in the Philippines, Indonesia, Liberia, Bosnia, as well as the West Bank and Gaza, and he now resides in Cyprus. David has published several articles on peacemaking and was profiled in the award winning film ‘Miles and War’ as well as in Die Zeit, Der Spiegel and the Boston Herald. He has a graduate degree from the London School of Economics.

Cristian joined HD’s Eurasia team in 2017 and has since worked on the organisation’s projects in Ukraine, Central Asia, and other parts of the former Soviet Union. Prior to joining HD, Cristian worked at the Programme for the Study of International Governance at the Graduate Institute Geneva and was a visiting researcher at the Russian International Affairs Council in Moscow, Russia. His scholarly research on economic sanctions and European-Russian relations has been featured in various academic conferences and publications. Cristian studied Political Science at University College Utrecht in The Netherlands, American University in Kosovo, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and the George Washington University in the United States.

Irina Satrovaite is currently a Finance Officer, after becoming the Finance and Administrative Co-ordinator for HD’s Eurasia office in 2016. She has previously held roles of project manager, executive assistant, administrative and logistics consultant. She has worked for OVH in France, United Nations and official.fm in Switzerland and various private companies in Lithuania. Irina has a degree in Political Science from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University.

Joscha joined HD in 2018 to work on the organisation’s projects in Ukraine. He has extensive experience in the humanitarian sector having worked at the ICRC headquarters, with OCHA in Kiev and in Kosovo with GIZ. Before coming to HD, Joscha was working in Kabul, where he managed the REACH initiative’s support to the Emergency Response Mechanism in Afghanistan. Joscha studied political science and sociology and graduated in International Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies at the Universities of Frankfurt and Darmstadt.

Judyta Wasowska joined HD in 1999 and she is currently a Project Manager with the organisation’s Eurasia team. She has previously worked at the UNHCR’s Regional Office in Caracas in Venezuela as the Senior Secretary to the Regional Representative, and subsequently had a similar role in the Assistant High Commissioner’s office at the UNHCR’s headquarters in Geneva. She has also worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Emergency Response Unit of the United Nations Development Programme. Judyta has a diploma from the Institut supérieur d’Interprétation et de Traduction in Paris and a degree in Spanish literature and civilizations from the University of Sorbonne – Paris IV.

Dr Laurent Vinatier has been working with HD as an Adviser on the organisation’s activities in Ukraine since 2014. His previous experience includes working as a consultant for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Small Arms Survey. During his career, Laurent has undertaken a number of assessments of political risks focusing on Russia and Turkey as well as Islamist movements. He holds a doctorate in Political Science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, during which he specialised in conflict management. Laurent has written four books and numerous articles on his areas of expertise.

Paul Dziatkowiec had extensive diplomatic experience when he joined HD as a Project Manager in 2012. He had previously been Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner in Nairobi and, as Deputy and Acting Ambassador, covered a range of countries including Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. At the same time, Paul was Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi. As a diplomat, he has also worked in the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv, and acted periodically as Australian’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. He has also represented the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva, worked as a Human Rights Officer in the Australian Foreign Service, and as a Peace Monitor in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Paul has a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Queensland University, as well as three Master’s degrees in International Law, International Relations, and International Policy Studies from the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Sydney respectively.

After graduating from the Institute of International Relations in Geneva, Alexandre Liebeskind joined Paribas bank in 1992. He was first assigned to the bank’s headquarters in Paris for a couple of years, and then returned to Geneva as Head of the marketing and communications department of the Swiss branch. In 1997, he joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), carrying out assignments in Israel and Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Liberia, Nepal, Iraq and Sudan where he lead the ICRC’s operations in Darfur from 2004 to 2006. He was then called to the ICRC’s headquarters in Geneva to co-ordinate operations in the Horn of Africa. In 2009, he was appointed Secretary of the Committee and Personal Advisor to the President of the ICRC, serving both Jakob Kellenberger and Peter Maurer, before joining the HD’s Africa office in 2013. In May 2013, he was re-elected for a second mandate as Member of the Board of Directors of Doctors without Borders Brussels’ Operational Centre (MSF OCB).

Soline Aubé came to HD in 2014 from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs where her most recent role was Humanitarian Attaché to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. She has also worked as a Desk Officer for the Ministry’s West Africa-based co-operation and cultural services in Paris. Her other experience includes being part of an Election Observation Mission with the OECD in Armenia and working for the NGO, La Cimade, as a legal adviser for asylum seekers and migrants. Soline specialized in International Humanitarian Law while studying for her Master’s degree in Humanitarian Action and Crisis Management from Sciences-Po in Toulouse.

Aboubacar Mahamadou has been working with development organizations since 2010. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in project management, as well as a degree in economics and management from the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. He has extensive knowledge of field data collection. His earlier experience includes working as a supervisor of labor intensities projects with HIMO in Gorom-Gorom municipality. In 2014-2016, he also worked with AFRICARE as part of the RAPS project (Assistance Rapide au Pastoralisme dans le Sahel) providing support to pastoralist activities in the Sahel region. Besides, he worked with VSF (Vétérinaires Sans Frontière) in the frame of the ‘Seed for Solution’ project providing assistance to Malian refugees and local populations. He joined HD in 2016 to work on conflict prevention and management in pastoral communities residing in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

Abdel Kader Sidibé joined HD in 2012 and became the organisation’s Head of Mission in Mali in 2014. He had previously advised and supported local Malian authorities in the framework of a decentralisation and local development process. As part of this initiative, Abdel Kader undertook a study of the social links in the Gao region and was also a member of a think tank on the management of natural resources. He also worked as a Project Manager for the Catholic Relief Services where he was in charge of sanitation and food security issues. Abdel Kader has a Master’s degree in History and Geography from the École Normale Supérieure in Bamako and he has extensive knowledge of Mali as well as Niger and Burkina Faso.

Alkamiss Ag Intalla holds a degree in history and geography from the École Normale Supérieure (ENSup) in Bamako, Mali. He has been working with various NGOs and development programs/projects in the Gao region for 16 years. He was previously a coordinator of the Center for communal councils (Centre des Conseils Communaux) as part of the national program of Mali providing technical assistance to territorial governing bodies (known as “Dispositif technique national d’appui aux collectivités territoriales au Mali”). He also worked as a technical adviser to the Association of Municipalities of Mali (Association des Municipalités du Mali, AMM) in the Ansongo region, where he monitored the efficiency of skill transfer from State to territorial governing bodies. His earlier experience includes working as an adviser on local governance issues in the frame of the program on shared governance (Programme Gouvernance Partagée, PGP) funded by USAID in Mali. He also worked as a volunteer for the ICRC over the crisis period from April 2012 to January 2013. Prior to joining HD, he worked in 2014 as an adviser to Nationale Tassaght (a non-governmental organization) in the frame of a post-crisis pastoralism project on reducing conflict linked to the scarcity of pastoral resources. The project was funded by the French development agency and implemented in the Gao region.

Almoustapha Amadou joined HD in 2014 to advise the organisation on strategic planning, decentralization and pastoral resources management issues in the Sahel region. He had previously led a study on the management of pastoral resources in nomadic areas and overseen a conflict management project in the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger). Almoustapha also worked as an Adviser on pastoralism and natural resources management for the Nederland Development Organization for fifteen years. He has extensive experience of strengthening rural organisations to enable them to influence national policies relating to the management of pastoral resources. He has also worked extensively on creating enabling environments for the practice of pastoralism and managing cross-border natural resources management initiatives. Almoustapha has a degree in agricultural engineering from the Malian Institut Polytechnique Rural de Katibougou.

Amanaya Irrichid holds a certificate of professional competence in conflict management. He is a specialist of pastoralism issues, as well as an active civil society member in Niger. He has worked with various NGOs in the area of development projects/programs management for 17 years. Prior to joining HD in 2015, he worked as a consultant and expert in pastoralism and peace culture with SNV Niger in the border areas between Niger and Mali. He also worked with AHAROG as a coordinator, and he was the President of the Chamber of conciliation for NGOs and development associations based in the north of Mali. He has managed several projects including a project about the rehabilitation and creation of pastoral water points funded by USADF; a project about the camel milk business funded by SNV; and a project about the strengthening of trust-based relations between defense and security forces and the communities residing in the north of Niger funded by UNDP. He was previously a technical assistant involved in peace and development activities conducted in the Tahoua region. In 2013-14, he was general secretary and resource person for the regional committee for peace.

Augustin Koulas became HD’s Political Adviser on the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2014. He previously worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with the World Bank in the CAR, a Regional Programme Co-ordinator with the EU Delegation in the CAR, and a Programme Officer with the international NGO – COOPI. He is also a former Deputy Prefect and Head of the Administrative Services in the CAR’s Ministry of Land Administration, a role he held for four years. Augustin has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Bangui and a Certificate in Economic Planning and Organisational Management from L’Ecole Nationale d’Economie Appliquée in Senegal.

Boubacar Moussa holds a Master´s degree in social and organizational psychology from Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in business and project management from the Niamey Institute of Commerce and Business Administration (École supérieure du commerce et d’administration des entreprises, ESCAE) in Niger. Before joining HD in 2016, he worked with various NGOs for 5 years. He was previously with the network of pastoral organizations from Niger (Collectif des associations pastorales du Niger, CAPAN) and with CONCERN, a humanitarian NGO for which he worked as an investigator and investigation team supervisor. He also worked with Action pour le Bien Être (APBE) as an M&E manager in the frame of their JPAD project run in collaboration with IOM in the districts of Tchintabaraden and Tassara in the Tahoua region of Niger. Prior to that, he was a field office manager for AHAROG in Niamey.

Cansu Okçu became Project Assistant for the Sahel projects in March 2019, after joining the Francophone Africa team of HD in 2018 as an intern. A lawyer by training, Cansu holds a Bachelor’s degree in international relations, law, from the University of Geneva and is currently pursuing a bilingual Master’s degree in International and European law.

Catherine Badji joined the organisation in 2016 to manage the administration and accounts of HD’s Senegal office in Dakar. She had previously spent two years as an Accountant on a rural project for a microfinance organisation in Senegal (La Coopérative d’épargne et du crédit du Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et Pastorales du Sénégal). Catherine has also worked for the Global Insurance Index Facility (GIIF) project as an Administrative and Financial Officer. She has a Master’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the Catholic University of West Africa.

Constance Videment became HD’s Regional Co-ordinator for Francophone Africa in 2014, having previously worked as the Regional Desk Officer for Southeast Asia at Save the Children. Her experience with international NGOS also includes working for the International Rescue Committee in Burundi and Liberia, and for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Mines Advisory Group in Laos. Constance has undertaken conflict studies at both Kings College London and at Sciences Po in Paris, France.

Gwenola Rageau has been advising HD since 2012 with a particular focus on the inclusion of civil society in peace processes. She also works as an independent consultant on governance, mediation and security issues for a range of organisations. Gwenola previously worked for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), contributing to the development of a regional approach to peace and security as well as establishing and co-ordinating a network of state and non-state actors from 15 West African countries. Her other experience includes taking part in an assessment of international engagement in fragile states for the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and spending two years managing working groups for the National Police Reform process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Earlier in her career, Gwenola worked as a journalist in both France and the United States. She taught a seminar on Africa at the L’École des Hautes Études Politiques in Paris and occasionally speaks at conferences on conflict and inclusion issues in Africa. She has a Master’s degree (postgraduate level) in Political Science.

Issa Guindo majored in sciences (Terminale D) at Dori Provincial High School in Burkina Faso and holds a Brevet d’étude du premier cycle (BEPC). Before joining HD in 2015, he worked with Save the Children on health, nutrition, school canteens and food provision programs. Prior to that, he was an administrative manager for Dori CHR. He also worked as a UNHCR grants manager and refugee groups manager for Medicos del Mundo (MUFAN). Besides, he worked as an auditor for the Board of the Centre de suivi citoyen et d’analyse des politiques publiques (CDCAP) and as a focal point for the Sahel region at the same institution.

Mamadou Diouf is Leitner Family Professor of African Studies and History at Columbia University, where he also heads the Institute of African Studies. Prior to teaching at Columbia, Mamadou taught at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and at Cheikh Anta Diop University, in Dakar, Senegal. His research interests include urban, political, social and intellectual history in colonial and postcolonial Africa. Mamadou is the author of several publications including Histoire du Sénégal: Le Modèle Islamo-Wolof Et Ses Périphéries (2001) and La Construction de l’Etat au Sénégal, with M. C. Diop & D. Cruise O’Brien (2002). He is also the author, editor and co-author of several other works including, The Arts of Citizenship in African Cities: Infrastructures and Spaces of Belonging (2015) and Les arts de la citoyenneté au Sénégal. Espaces Contestés et Civilités urbaines (2013), both edited with Rosalind Fredericks; Tolerance, Democracy and Sufis in Senegal (2012); Rhythms of the Afro-Atlantic World: Rituals and Remembrances (2010), edited with I. Nwankwo; as well as New Perspectives on Islam in Senegal: Conversion, Migration, Wealth, Power and Feminity (2009). Mamadou holds a Ph.D. from the University of Paris-Sorbonne (France).

Mame-Khady Diouf joined HD in 2014 and is the organisation’s Head of Mission in Senegal. She previously spent six years working on the Africa Programme of the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in areas such as conflict transformation, governance, state-building, peacebuilding and capacity-building. While with the Wilson Center, Mame-Khady’s work focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Liberia in Sub-Saharan Africa. She also has extensive work experience in designing and facilitating workshops in negotiation, mediation and leadership for different stakeholders, as well as in programme management, including the regulation of financial and contractual requirements and deliverables on United States’ funded projects. Mame-Khady has a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the American University in Washington, DC.

Massimo Larcinese joined HD in 2012 to co-ordinate the finances for the organisation’s operations. He has previously worked as Finance Coordinator for the Swiss section of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). During his time with MSF, Massimo co-ordinated the finances for humanitarian interventions in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as well as in Lebanon. Massimo has a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Geneva.

Patrick Kilchenmann has been advising HD since April 2015 and he also has his own consultancy company, Dropstone, which provides advice to governments, humanitarian organisations, development agencies, NGOs, foundations and the private sector. Patrick has more than twenty five years of professional experience, acquired in Switzerland and through long term international assignments in Mali, Haiti, Nepal and Sudan. He has extensive field experience in Africa, the Middle East, Far East, South Asia and the Balkans. Before founding his own company in 2013, Patrick worked for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), for the private company SKAT, for HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, and for the ICRC. His fields of expertise encompass networking with armed groups, humanitarian access, security management, support to infrastructure rehabilitation projects, water supply and sanitation, road construction and maintenance, geology and hydrogeology, governance, institutional strengthening, as well as change and information management. Patrick has a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Geneva, and a postgraduate specialization in Hydrogeology from the University of Neuchâtel (CHYN) and the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL).

Peter Mokwe joined HD in 2018 as the Head of Mission for the Central African Republic. Previously, he worked for the United Nations Development Programme in Guinea as Gender Expert. As a gender and development subject matter expert, he has passionately engaged in analyzing and ensuring the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in key processes to ensure the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and vulnerable groups. He has previously served with the United Nations, as Gender Affairs Officer with the UN Peacekeeping mission in Liberia (2012-2014), Gender Affairs Officer United Nations Secretariat, Department of Peacekeeping Operations (2015) and Gender Expert with the United Nations Development Programme in Guinea (2017-2018). Before taking up international assignments, he worked with national and international Non-Governmental Organizations in Cameroon and the University of Buea, on development, managing projects, research and teaching. He holds a Master of Science degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Buea, Cameroon.

Pierre Hazan is a former Diplomatic Correspondent specialized in humanitarian action and international justice, and has been a close observer of many conflicts over the years. He has worked for the daily newspapers Libération (Paris) and Le Temps (Geneva). A Fellow at Harvard Law School (2005) and the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. (2006), his published works include the publications: Justice in a Time of War; Judging War, Judging History – Behind Truth and Reconciliation; and La Paix contre la Justice?. He was the guest editor of a Special Issue of the ‘International Journal of Transitional Justice’ on “Beyond Borders: A New Regional Architecture of Transitional Justice?” (published, March 2017). He is also a member of the Institute for Integrated Transitions Law and Peace Practice Group. In recent years, Pierre has collaborated with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He was also a UN expert with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights for two reports: the Report on the writing and teaching of history, and the Report on memorialization processes. Pierre is a professor at the Academy of Journalism and Media at the University of Neuchâtel.

Salif Ibrahim has worked as a consultant with HD in Mali since March 2015. He was previously with Nouveaux Horizons, an NGO for which he worked as a food security program coordinator and supervised a project about food security, emergency response and sustainable enhancement of the livelihoods of crisis-affected households in Mali’s Gao region. This project was implemented in the Gao and Ansongo regions in cooperation with Action contre la Faim Spain (ACF-S). He also supervised DANIDA, a health emergency project led in the Gao region (including in the municipalities of Gao, Soni-Aliber and N’Tililt) in cooperation with Save The Children, as well as a community health project funded by CARE-Mali. Besides, he worked as a community-based development agent on another two projects: ‘Livestock farming in the north-east of Mali’ and ‘Assistance to development efforts linked to livestock farming in the north-east of Mali’. Salif has excellent knowledge of the territory and communities of the Gao and Ménaka regions, as well as a proven record of collaboration with national and international NGOs in these regions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in business and human resource management. He also gained further qualifications in project design and development; moderation techniques; communication; MARP; project M&E; advocacy and lobbying; program/project planning; decentralization; administrative and financial management; local governance and accountability.
 

Sandrine Da Costa joined HD as its Logistics and Administrative Associate for Francophone Africa in January 2018. She previously spent five years in the International Trade sector in Benin, the French West Indies and in the UK.  She came to HD from Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Geneva where she was working as an Event Project Coordinator. During this time, she gained expertise in Event Management, Logistics Coordination, Intercultural Communications and Administration. Sandrine has a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication with International Business from University of Surrey in the UK.

Romain Grandjean joined HD in 2007 as part of the international team deployed in Central Africa Republic. He currently oversees HD’s activities in the MENA region, with a particular focus on Maghreb and Mashreq. Romain previously worked for the International Crisis Group for 5 years including more than two years as a Field Researcher based in the Middle East. He also worked for several years as a Political Analyst with international electoral observation missions in Africa, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. He has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

Aleka Kessler re-joined HD in 2017 as a Project Associate for Syria, having previously interned with HD’s Mediation Support and Policy Unit. Prior to joining HD, Aleka worked with Médecins Sans Frontières and the United Nations Association Mexico on strategic partnerships. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, where she specialized in humanitarian affairs, negotiation and conflict resolution. In addition, Aleka studied at Galatasaray University in Istanbul and at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Amr Jomaa is Project Officer for the Middle East division and joined HD in January 2018 after joining the team as an intern in July 2017. He focuses on Track II mediation and stakeholder engagement in the region. Previously, Amr worked with the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, the Lebanese Center for Human Rights as well as the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in French Law, a University Diploma in American law, and a Master’s degree of International Law from Université Jean Moulin Lyon III. Amr also gained a Master’s degree in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law from Université Paris II Panthéon Assas.

Aws Jabbar al Tamimi joined HD as an Advisor for Iraq in March 2016. He has worked as a radio and print journalist inside Iraq and in the region since 2003. He has also worked for NGOs, and as a political consultant in Iraq. Aws divides his time between Iraq and neighbouring countries. A graduate of Baghdad University, he received his Masters from the University of Jordan.

Beatrice Mégevand-Roggo moved in 2012 from her role as Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) to become HD’s Special Representative for Syria and then Senior Programme Manager for the Middle East. She was previously the ICRC’s Regional Director for Europe and the Americas. While at the ICRC, Béatrice worked around the world in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus. She has also worked as a freelance journalist, an Assistant Professor at Università Statale in Milan (Italy), and as a consultant for Non-Governmental Organisations assessing and monitoring development projects in Africa and Latin America. Béatrice holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Università Statale in Milan, where she focused on contemporary history and international relations.

Céline Fasana joined HD in 2017 as a Logistics and Administration Coordinator for the Near East and North Africa team. She holds a Bachelor degree in Business and Administration from HEG. Céline has more than 2 years of experience in event planning and administration. Her previous employers were the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the International Business Machine and Procter & Gamble. Céline is fluent in both English and French.

Christopher Thornton re-joined HD in 2011 having been an intern with the organisation in 2009. He is currently consultant for HD’s projects in Libya and Tunisia after serving as its Project Manager. He has worked on Libya since 2011 and travelled extensively throughout the country. He has also spent a year in Tunisia working on inter-party dialogue around the country’s electoral process. Before joining HD, Chris held research and policy positions at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He has a Master’s degree in History from the University of Edinburgh and a second Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, where he won the Mariano Garcia Rubio Prize for International Law.

Claudia Botezan holds a BA in French/Romanian language and literature from the University Lucian Blaga in Romania.  Before joining HD in 2013, Claudia worked for the World Trade Organization as an Assistant for the Documents Reproduction and Distribution Section and as an Office Manager for an advertising company in Switzerland and engineering company in France.

Coralie Schindelholz holds a degree in Tourism Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining HD in 2013, Coralie worked for an International Event Management Company as a Project Assistant, for a Swiss Wealth Management Company as an Events Assistant, and as an Events Assistant for an American Multinational Technology and Consulting Corporation.

Dalhia El Battat joined HD in 2017 and is now the Project Manager for Iraq and Lebanon. She previously worked for HD on its projects in Syria, Tunisia and Libya. Before HD, she worked for the United Nations department of Political Affairs and Peacekeeping operations in the Middle-East and the Great Lakes region. As a political affairs officer in Lebanon, her work focused on political and security issues affecting the country’s stability. Prior to this, Dalhia spent several years working for the UN in the Democratic Republic of Congo on peacebuilding issues and gained experience in local mediation processes, security sector reform and governance of natural resources. She has also worked in North Africa, the Gulf and South East Asia between 2006-2010 on research and policy projects in areas such as decentralization and local governance. She has a Master’s degree in International development from The Centre for European Studies in France and the University of Utrecht in Netherlands.

Felix Tusa became a Project Officer for HD in 2016, having previously worked as a Desk Officer for the Middle East at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), a centre that specializes in security sector reform. While at DCAF, Felix worked in Tunisia, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on projects related to security governance. He has a degree in History from the University of Oxford and a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Geneva’s Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

Francis Ward works in HD’s MENA regional department, focusing on political mediation processes. Before assuming his current position in 2013, Francis worked with HD to assist with the national transitional process in Libya and to facilitate multiple local tribal and ethnic conflict mediation processes in the country. Stationed in Libya since 2011, Francis previously worked on negotiating humanitarian access and providing humanitarian assistance in frontline areas. Before Libya, he was based in Afghanistan where he worked on humanitarian and development projects across the central and northern provinces. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nottingham (UK), and a Master’s degree in War Studies from Kings College London (UK).

Nir Rosen has been writing and consulting on humanitarian and political issues in the Middle East since 2003. He began advising HD on its Syria initiative in 2012, and on Iraq since 2016. He has also worked as a humanitarian consultant for more than 9 years, for a variety of organisations including for Refugees International in Iraq, for Human Rights Watch in Yemen, for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Iraq, and for the International Crisis Group on Syria. In addition, Nir has authored two books: In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq, a study of the first two or years of the US war in Iraq; and Aftermath: Following the Bloodshed of America’s Wars in the Muslim World, on sectarianism, civil war, refugees, occupation, resistance and counter-insurgency from Iraq to Lebanon and Afghanistan. Nir has also worked on several documentary films about Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. He has also worked in Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries in the Muslim world.

Nohad joined HD in 2012 as Eastern Lybia Representative. She has more than twenty five years of experience in the humanitarian field, working for the International Committee of the Red Cross during both the civil wars in Lebanon and Libya, and then for the Libyan Red Crescent. Nohad has been involved in many mediation efforts, and ceasefire processes in the Libyan Political National Dialogue Agreement, and has organized and facilitated a number of high-level conferences on Women in Peace Building, national reconciliation, and conflict resolution. She also initiated the Women on Peaceful Coexistence project which works with Libyan women activists and NGOs in Benghazi. Nohad holds a BA in Sociology from University St. Joseph in Beirut (Lebanon) and is a certified physiotherapist form the University of Medicine in Milan (Italy).

Patrick Haenni became a consultant for HD in 2009 before joining the organisation as Special Adviser for the Middle East and North Africa region in 2012. He is an expert on social movements, religious practices and Islamic politics, and he has written several books on these subjects. His previous experience includes more than a decade in Egypt working for the Centre d’études et de documentation économiques, juridiques et sociales, which is related to France’s National Centre for Scientific Research. Patrick has also worked for the International Crisis Group in Lebanon as an Analyst, and for the Swiss Religioscope Institution, as a researcher focusing on the sociology of religions. Patrick has a doctorate in Political Sociology from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.

Salmin Eljawhari joined HD as the organisation’s Administration and Finance Assistant in Libya in 2013 from her role as Office Coordinator for Mercy Corps. She had previously supported a number of youth projects in Libya, including ‘Cleaning up Benghazi’ or the Libya Almadanya (Civic Libya) initiative. She also led the establishment in Benghazi of the first resource center for civil society of Hamzet Wasel, a social venture that works to revive and enrich the social cultural fabric of urban communities in the Arab region. Salmin also co-founded the Bokra Youth Organization in Benghazi. During the 2011 Libyan revolution, she was the Chief Editor of the Uprising of the Free – the first youth newspaper published in English. Salmin has a degree in Dentistry from the University of Tripoli.

Tamara Shakarchi joined HD in 2015 and is currently a Project Officer for the Libya team. Her previous experience includes working for the communication and fundraising department at HD and for non-governmental and international organisations in Lebanon, Switzerland and the United States. Tamara has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s degree from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

Tracey joined HD as Logistics Consultant for Iraq in October 2017. Prior to joining HD, she has worked for eleven years for a diverse range of organizations, including Spring Communications, Bluefin trading s.a.r.l, Quantum Resources, M&C Saatchi and the Hilton Group. In this role, Tracey was responsible for facilitating and coordinating between departments and operating units. Tracey holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from College Saint Louis in addition to a Diploma in Business and Marketing from Worcester College, Massachusetts.

Tom Gregg was formerly Associate Director at the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University. He previously worked for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations as a Special Assistant to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, as a Head of Region (Southeast Afghanistan) and in Political Affairs. He has worked as an advisor to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the private sector in the fields of political risk and strategic communication.  Tom has also worked at the Australian Council for International Development and the Australian National University. He has written widely on topics including foreign policy, and fly fishing in Afghanistan.  Tom holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Australian National University where he was a Hedley Bull scholar.

Dennis McNamara has more than three decades of international humanitarian experience during which he held several senior positions across the United Nations before becoming HD’s Senior Humanitarian Adviser in 2007. Prior to joining HD, he served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy to Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, and as UNHCR Director of International Protection. Dennis has also worked in UN Peacekeeping Operations and as Director in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He was Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in Kosovo as well as at Deputy UN Administrator at the Assistant Secretary-General level in Timor Leste. Prior to this, Dennis headed the Human Rights Component of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia. Dennis has an Honours degree in law from Auckland University and practiced as a lawyer in the UK and Kenya before joining the UN.

Astrid Reitz became a Logistics and Finance Co-ordinator in HD’s Humanitarian Mediation Programme in 2012. Her previous roles included being an Office Manager and a Personal Assistant for a Swiss Wealth Management Company and a French Consulting Company, as well as working for an American Student Tour Operator in Lucerne. Astrid has lived in Switzerland for over a decade. She has a degree in International Business Administration from the European Business Hochschule in Berlin.

Christine Sandström came to HD in 2010 from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She had previously worked in Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Uganda and Afghanistan with the ICRC as well as being based at its headquarters in Geneva as its Deputy Head of Operations in North America and Western Europe. Earlier in her career, Christine also worked as a consultant in Moscow and in corporate banking for Credit Suisse. She has two Master’s degrees, in War Studies from Kings College London and in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

Clancy transitioned from private law to humanitarian mediation. He was previously a consultant with HD and the Center on International Cooperation at NYU, and worked for a global anti-slavery organisation. Clancy holds Master degrees in Law and International Affairs from Columbia University, Sciences Po and the University of Western Australia.

Ouseph Tharakan came to HD in 2007 from the International Trade Centre which supports both the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organization. He had previously been involved with UNCTAD in New Delhi in India. Ouseph has also worked for the South Centre, an intergovernmental organisation focused on developing countries. His involvement began when he was selected as part of the South Centre’s ‘Young South Volunteer programme’ which seeks to build the experience of young professionals from the developing world in the multi-lateral diplomatic circuit in Geneva. He then became a Fellow in the South Centre’s Global Governance unit. Ouseph has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Essex, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Delhi in India.

Safeer Ul Hussain Ahmadi joined HD’s humanitarian programmes in 2015. He is a medical doctor with extensive international mediation and public health delivery experience. Prior to joining HD, he was an Officer in Charge and a Political Affairs Officer for the United Nations. He has also worked for the National Democratic Institute, the National Development Stability Support Consultancy and UNHCR.

Katia Papagianni joined HD in 2006 and is the organisation’s Director for Policy and Mediation Support. Her work focuses on the design of peace processes and, more specifically, on national dialogues and constitution-making processes. As part of her work at HD, she has supported various peace processes, including in Liberia, Libya, Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine and the Philippines. Katia was also seconded to the United Nations to support national dialogue efforts in Yemen where she shared comparative insights on the design of national dialogue processes. Before joining HD, Katia worked for the National Democratic Institute, as well as for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, and for the United Nations Development Programme. She has been based in Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq. Katia holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Princeton University, and a Doctorate in Political Science from Columbia University. She has taught on the subjects of peacebuilding and state-building at both Geneva’s Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies’ and at Columbia University.

Aurélie Villar came to HD in 2005 from a retail company in London where she was leading their sales training. Her previous experience was in the travel industry, working as a Product Assistant for several tour operators in Geneva and focusing on Latin America and Asia. Aurélie has a degree in Public Relations and Tourism as well as a diploma from the International Air Transport Association.

Benjamin Smith joined HD in 2018. He manages the organisation’s approach to learning and operational support to the field. Before joining HD, Ben worked with the United Nations (UN) for thirteen years, specializing in mediation and political affairs, the security sector, peacekeeping and transnational crime. He was based with the UN in several countries, including Nepal, South Sudan, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Most recently, he was head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s programme to combat human trafficking in SE Asia and the Pacific. Prior to that, he was the Africa Team Leader for the UN Mediation Support Unit, where he also acted as the departmental lead on ceasefires and security arrangements. He was also the Officer-in-Charge of the SSR Sections in the UN Mission in South Sudan and the UN Mission in Nepal. At the start of his UN-related career, Ben negotiated UN General Assembly resolutions on behalf of the EU and the UK Government. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Master’s degree in Modern History and Modern Languages from the University of Oxford.

Chizitera joined HD in 2019. Prior to this she worked as a Project Specialist in the Centre for Regional and Geopolitical Affairs at the World Economic Forum. She also worked for the private Swiss foundation PeaceNexus in their Nyon and Yangon offices and focused primarily on conflict sensitivity. Chizitera also worked for the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund in Geneva on Preventing Violent Extremism and for Addax Petroleum in Lagos, Nigeria. She has a Master’s in Development Studies (specialising in conflict) from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Affairs, Geneva and a bachelor’s degree in Human Geography from the University of Manchester. She has published on women in peace negotiations and conflict in Nigeria on the World Economic Forum blog and Thisday newspaper in Nigeria.

Christina Buchhold joined HD’s Mediation Support and Policy Programme in 2015. She previously worked for several different organisations, including as a project analyst for the European Union’s Arms Trade Treaty outreach programme at the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, and as a research assistant on arms trade and military expenditure issues at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. In addition, Christina worked as research assistant on violence against humanitarian providers at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies as well as for non-profit organisations in Romania, Lebanon and Uganda. She has a Master’s degree in Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame in the United States and a Magister degree in comparative religious studies from the University in Münster in Germany.

Ian Wadley joined HD in 2013 and manages the organisation’s approach to strategy, evaluation and learning. His prior professional experience includes working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a Protection Delegate, and consulting on governance and rule of law projects for UNDP and the UK Department for International Development. His earlier work includes advisory and litigation roles with an Australian law firm, and the design and conduct of public sector performance audits for the Western Australian Office of the Auditor General. He is a lawyer, an accredited mediator and a Gateway Review team member, holding Masters degrees in public international law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Geneva’s Graduate Institute (IHEID), along with a doctorate from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law on natural resource disputes. He was a Rotary Peace Fellow at UC Berkeley 2002-2004, and a Graduate Research Fellow at the Harvard Program on Negotiation 2004-2005.

Jonathan Harlander joined HD’s Mediation Support and Policy Programme in 2014. He contributes to the conceptualisation and organisation of the Oslo Forum, is the Secretary of HD’s Senior Management Team and oversees the development and release of HD’s publications. He also conducts research on national dialogues and digital technologies and is regularly invited to speak on those topics at international conferences. Among other organisations, Jonathan has collaborated with the UN’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, swisspeace, the Berghof Foundation and DiploFoundation. Jonathan holds a BA in Political Science and Law and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies in Geneva, where he specialised on negotiation and conflict resolution.

Michela joined HD in 2019, following more than eight years of experience in government and the UN system working on humanitarian, development and peacekeeping issues. In her most recent role within the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Michela supported monitoring and evaluation of Australia’s global humanitarian assistance program. She previously developed policy for Australia’s engagement in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, and managed overseas aid programs in a range of contexts. Michela was a Field Coordination Officer for the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, and has also has worked on human rights and migration matters. She holds a Master in International Security from Sciences Po Paris and a Bachelor in International Affairs from the University of St. Gallen.

Sabrina Quamber joined HD’s Mediation Support and Policy Programme in 2017. As part of the Oslo Forum team, she contributes to the conceptual and practical development of the retreat. She is also the focal point for inclusion learning across the organisation’s portfolio. Before joining HD, Sabrina worked with the UN Peacebuilding Support Office in New York, the Risk Management Unit for the UN in Somalia, DAI, Search for Common Ground Pakistan, and the Jinnah Institute where she managed an India–Pakistan Track 2 dialogue series. She holds a master’s in International Security Policy and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Sebastian joined HD’s Mediation and Policy team in 2017. He focuses on strategic planning, analysis and learning as well as operational and executive support. He previously worked as Field Coordinator with UNDP Sudan’s Peacebuilding Unit in Darfur, and as Project Officer at the Overseas Development Institute. His earlier work includes analysing the Colombian armed conflict for the German Embassy in Bogota and supporting an MP in the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid in the German Parliament. He has published or contributed to various articles and monographs in the field of international relations and holds an MA in Diplomatic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and a BA in International Relations from the University of Geneva.

Marc Hofstetter joined HD in 2009 as Deputy Executive Director. He was previously Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), and the Executive Director of the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco-growing Foundation. His earlier experience includes working at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), including as their Head of Delegation in Iraq and Tajikistan, and he has also worked as a Project Manager for the World Economic Forum. Marc holds two Master’s degrees, one in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Lausanne, and the other in International Relations from the Fletchers School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Carine Prestat joined HD in 2011 as Head of Finance and was appointed as Director, Finance and Administration in 2019. She has spent more than fifteen years in Finance and Human Resources in other organisations across the not-for-profit and telecoms sectors. Her previous experience includes four years as the Finance and Administration Officer for the CARE International Secretariat in Geneva and one year as an Administrator for the International Committee of the Red Cross in South Sudan. Carine has a Master’s degree in International Relations from Geneva’s Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

Alexandra joined HD in 2018 as part of the Donor Relations and Fundraising team. Alexandra brings in extensive experience acquired while working over 12 years on major gift strategy, global fundraising campaigns and events, as well as complex project and relation management. Prior to joining HD, she served as Philanthropy Relations Manager at WWF International where she contributed to conceptualizing, developing and raising significant funds from institutional and individual global donors for WWF’s largest major gift campaign. Specializing in International Humanitarian and Environmental Law, Alexandra holds a Law Degree from University Jean-Moulin Lyon III, an LL.M. in International Law from UQAM and a post-master degree in International Environmental Law from University Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Alexis de Siebenthal came to HD in 2008 from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the World Trade Organization and European Free Trade Association where he had been working as an assistant for more than three years. Alexis had previously been in the travel industry, working in the road and traffic information department at Touring Club Suisse, and in communications for the air travel organisation, skyguide. He studied translation at the University of Geneva.

Béatrice Gentilhomme joined the HD Finance team in April 2018. She previously held the roles of Financial Analyst, ERP Information System Coordinator, Financial and Management Controller. She worked in various private companies in France, the UK and Switzerland, including 4 years at Fondation Hirondelle. Béatrice has a degree in Finance & Accounting and a master in Business Administration.

Chris Rotas has been with HD since 2007 and led on adapting how HD raises income. He oversees the organisation’s relations with its donors and co-ordinates its fundraising efforts. He has a background in business development and operations as a Project Controls Manager for Brown & Root, as a Senior Management Consultant at Touche Ross and Coopers & Lybrand, and as a Key Account Director at the energy and communications company SIG in Geneva. This work included assignments across the United States and Europe and postings to Singapore, Indonesia, Oman and South Africa. Chris has a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, an MSc in Project Management from the University of Texas at Austin, and a diploma in Corporate Finance from the London Business School.

David Escudero had been working as an Accountant for the private airline PrivatAir for four years before he became HD’s Accounting Associate in 2016. While at PrivatAir, he shared responsibility for Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable as well as other financial tasks. He had previously worked as part of a two-person finance team with ICEM (the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions) which, in addition to being an international trades union, was also supporting a campaign against HIV/AIDS. He has also worked in the social sector at the Geneva-based Hospice Général as an Accounting Assistant in the Department of Refugees. Earlier in his career, David worked in a range of other areas including auditing, banking, as well as in luxury retail as an Accounts Payable Accountant for Polo Ralph Lauren and Elizabeth Arden. He has a Swiss Maturity Diploma and a Federal Certificate in Commerce.

Dorte joined HD’s Donor Relations and Fundraising team in 2019. She brings extensive experience on fundraising in the conflict prevention/peacebuilding sector. Before joining HD, she worked as a Project Coordinator with the Middle East and North Africa division of DCAF (the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance), where she was in charge of the division’s fundraising and donor relations, including managing DCAF’s Trust Fund for North Africa. Until 2011, Dorte worked with Saferworld in London, first on Fundraising, and later as Project Coordinator on its Europe and Central Asia team, where she worked on conflict analysis and community safety in the Western Balkans. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Geography from the University of Copenhagen.

Emilio joined HD as Communications Associate in 2018. Prior to this, Emilio has worked in communications for various international, governmental and non-governmental organisations in Switzerland and in the Philippines. Emilio has a degree in Development Studies from the Ateneo de Manila University, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies (Conflict and Development) from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

Flore Brannon has worked in communications at HD since 2002 and she is currently the Communications Manager. She previously undertook several internships in journalism and communications including with UNICEF, la Tribune de Genève and the London-based Daily Telegraph. Flore has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Lyon as well as a Master’s degree in International Journalism from City University in London.

Hien Pham joined HD as the organisation’s Accounting Associate in 2008. She has more than a decade of experience in finance and accounting, and she previously worked as an Accountant for the company, Geneva Bioinformatics (GeneBio) SA. Hien has a Swiss Federal Certificate in Commerce and she has attended accounting courses in Geneva.

Marie Terrisse has been with HD since 2002 and she is also an artist who regularly exhibits in Geneva. Marie has a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Design from Wimbledon College of Arts in the United Kingdom.

Patrick Fontana joined HD in 2011 and is the organisation’s IT Manager. Before joining HD, he worked as a freelance IT consultant and lived in the Caribbean, Hawaii and Peru. Patrick has also worked as a Systems Engineer for two watchmaking brands linked to the Bulgari Group. He had also gained experience in the humanitarian field by volunteering with the organisation ‘Terres Des Hommes’ which focuses on protecting children’s rights.

Talinn Yazmaciyan came to HD in 2014 from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) where she was Country Programme Senior Finance Manager. She has more than fifteen years’ experience working as a Senior Accountant and Trade Accounting Analyst in various accounting, trade and asset management companies including KBT fiduciaire SA, Capital International and Bunge SA. Talinn has a Swiss Federal degree in accounting.

Vesna Nikolic came to HD in 2008 from a recruitment agency based in Geneva where she worked as a Junior recruitment consultant in charge of the technical department’s placement process. This included interviewing candidates, advertising positions as well as managing the administrative follow-up. Vesna was trained as a Human Resources specialist. She holds a Swiss Human Resources Assistant Certificate as well as an Advanced Swiss Federal Certificate of Vocational Education and Training with a specialisation in HR Management. She also has a business school degree from CeC André-Chavanne, and a diploma in tourism.