FOUNDER, MANAGING DIRECTOR & SENIOR POLICY ANALYST

Dr. Cecilia Cannon has over 20 years of experience in policy and academic research, teaching, and policy communications. She currently directs a UN OHCHR project on the racialised and intersectional impacts of the securitisation of migration and other non-traditional military threats. She previously led the research for the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants’ June 2024 report, examining factors that enable or hinder migrants’ contributions amid rising xenophobia. Dr. Cannon served as Academic Adviser to the UN for its 75th anniversary and has consulted for various NGOs and international organizations since 2013. From 2011 to 2018, she was Head of Research at the Graduate Institute’s Global Governance Centre, and directed the Graduate Institute’s Executive Master in International Negotiation and Policy-making from 2019 to 2021. From 2020 to 2023 she served on the Board of the Academic Council on the United Nations System. Her research focuses on the reform and effectiveness of international organisations, the role of non-state actors in global governance, and migration policy. Dr. Cannon has created several digital tools to bolster research uptake in policy circles. Earlier in her career, she managed marketing/ communications for IOs and NGOs in Geneva and Sydney. She holds a PhD in International Relations/Political Science from the Geneva Graduate Institute.

CO-FOUNDER, STRATEGIST, DATA VIZ & DATA PROJECTS

Naledi Hollbruegge is a data analyst and information visualisation specialist with extensive experience working with IOs, NGOs, governments, scholars and the private sector, as a data analyst, data visualisation specialist, and trainer. She is also a social researcher, experienced in academic research and the application of research methods and psychology principles in real-world settings. She is passionate about understanding social problems with data, using information visualisation as a communication tool and increasing impact by helping organisations become more evidence-driven. She holds a master’s in Social and Cultural Psychology from the London School of Economics.

STRATEGIST, INCLUSIVE INNOVATION & HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Sandra Uwantege Hart is a humanitarian specialist and consultant with 15 years experience managing humanitarian programs with UN agencies and INGOs in over a dozen countries globally, implementing projects in cash and voucher assistance, financial inclusion, food security, and livelihoods recovery. She now works as a technical expert, advisor and researcher for local and international organisations and social impact-focused companies exploring inclusive innovation. Currently, most of her work consists of being an interlocutor between the humanitarian and technology sectors - conceptualising, designing and managing community-inclusive, context-adapted Web3 (blockchain) and digital payment systems. In 2020, Sandra co-founded the startup Umoja Labs (formerly Emerging Impact) and is the award winning creator of Oxfam International's Unblocked Cash Project (2018-2021). Her work has been featured in academic publications, international conferences & speaking engagements, and media publications. Sandra is a dual national of Rwanda and the U.S. and holds an Anthropology degree (BA) from Princeton University, and a Master's degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute (IHEID).

DIRECTOR, MIGRATION SHIFT HUB

Marie McAuliffe is the Director of PoliSync’s Migration Shift Hub. She is the former head of the Migration Research & Publications Division at IOM and Editor of IOM’s World Migration Report – a position she held for nine years. She is an international migration specialist with over 25 years of experience in migration as a practitioner, program manager, senior UN and government official and researcher. She serves on the editorial boards of journals International Migration and Migration and Development, is an Associate Editor of the Harvard Data Science Review, and is a regular contributor to the World Economic Forum’s blog series. Marie is senior fellow at the Global Migration Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute and a Sir Roland Wilson Fellow at the School of Demography at the Australian National University. She serves as an independent expert on the Methodological Assurance Review Panel on Migration Statistics for the UK’s Office of National Statistics. She is a member of MIT’s Global Technology Review Panel, and the IUSSP’s panel on international migration. Marie has led research and policy teams in South Korea, Russia, Central Asia and Türkiye. For three years (2012–2014), Marie directed the $6.5 million Australian irregular migration research program, which resulted in an ANU Press book edited by Marie (with Khalid Koser).  Marie is the 2018 recipient of the Charles Price Prize in demography for outstanding doctoral research (Hazara refugee migration). She has been regularly called upon to advise Presidents, Ministers, senior officials and CEOs on migration and displacement, including former UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, in his capacity as Chair of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

MANAGER, PROGRAMMES & ADMINISTRATION

Rebecca Bailey is a specialist in global health and sustainable development. She has over 25 years of experience in managing programmes for international organisations such as the World Health Organization and IntraHealth International. Rebecca is proficient in the full cycle of project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, research, and advocacy to translate evidence into policy and action. She has created and led project teams in more than 20 countries, in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, to develop work plans and budgets, drive and monitor progress, and report on performance while ensuring optimal use of resources. Rebecca has overseen implementation research studies, designed and organised workshops and training courses, and led the production and dissemination of more than 100 information products, including technical briefs, presentations, guidance documents, implementation tools, training packages, conference abstracts, and manuscripts. Rebecca holds a Master of Science in Public Health, a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences and Communications, and Certificates in Project Management, Adult Education, and Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

PROJECT DIRECTOR

Flore de Taisne is a consultant with 15 years experience across technology, emerging markets and social impact. She began her career working as an international development consultant in monitoring and evaluation for organisations including the UN, the World Bank and government agencies, across Afghanistan and the Middle East. In 2016 she co-founded ISHKAR, a company connecting customers with artisans in frontier markets, for which she was recognised as a Forbes 30 under 30 social entrepreneur.  Most recently, Flore led and scaled the Middle East and North Africa operation at a global remittance fintech company, and now works as a cross-border payments expert and advisor for local and international organisations. Flore holds a History degree (BA) from King's College University, and a Double Master's degree in Economic Policy from London School of Economics and Sciences Po Paris.

PROJECT DIRECTOR & STAKEHOLDER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIST

Eleni is a Brand Communications Specialist with 20+ years of international and multicultural marketing experience both within Australia and Greece. Building an emotional dynamic between all stakeholders, consumers & the brand is her passion. Today, brands that are authentic, enable people & deliver constructive product or service solutions inspire & succeed. It is such brand visions that resonate with Eleni. As such, her Communications Strategy and Project Implementation experience spans across Government Cross-cultural Social Campaigns in Health, Migration and Human Rights with a focus on Violence towards Women and Children, as well as the Health Rights of illegally-trafficked women in Australia or the culturally-diverse citizens of Australia, Sustainable Energy primarily PV and Support Services to Patients with Chronic diseases, among other demanding private sector projects. With her core belief in building authentic brands and communications strategies that make a difference, she is solutions-oriented as well as results driven, and will see her projects through to fruition. Eleni holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a double major in Communications and International Business, from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

WORKSHOPS COORDINATOR AND SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

Valentina Lazzarini, with a background in administration and banking, transitioned to development studies. She holds a BA in International Relations and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in development studies, specializing in Mobilities and Migration at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Her diverse professional experience includes project management roles in NGOs and private companies, focusing on human resources and process optimisation. A skilled polyglot and empathetic listener, Valentina excels in conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, and developing surveys. Her academic expertise extends to desk research on migration, border securitization, global inequality, and sustainable development. As part of her master’s program, she conducted field research in rural Cameroon for an agroecology feasibility study. Currently, Valentina manages an agroecology initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a local NGO and contributes to the Migration Initiative’s research unit at the Graduate Institute.

JUNIOR POLICY ANALYST AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Hanna Kalichava is a communications specialist with a focus on migration and international development, bringing experience from international organizations and NGOs. She has led strategic communication efforts, media relations, and public information campaigns on topics such as safe and regular migration, refugee protection, the Sustainable Development Goals, children’s online safety, and combating human trafficking. She also has experience in youth engagement and partnerships, having collaborated closely with government, civil society and private sector. She is particularly interested in leveraging innovative approaches to enhance communication strategies. Hanna holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in International and Development Studies at the Geneva Graduate Institute. She remains actively engaged in migration advocacy through her communications work with the Migration Initiative at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

PROJECT DIRECTOR & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

Annabelle is a management professional and communications strategist with over 15 years of private sector experience. She has held various strategic and operational roles in consultancy, retail and property in Australia and worked briefly in media in France. Her experience spans strategic planning and budgeting, marketing, communications, operational excellence, transformation, system implementation, product management, process optimisation, and project and change management. Annabelle specialises in building cohesive and collaborative teams to deliver optimal outcomes. Annabelle holds a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), with a major in Government and International Relations, from the University of Sydney, and a Double Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Affairs from the Australian National University. During her studies, she completed an exchange at Sciences Po in Paris. She is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor at the University of New South Wales.

PROJECT DIRECTOR, HUMANITARIAN ACTION AND REFORM

Kathryn (Katie) Striffolino is a senior humanitarian policy expert, human rights investigator, geopolitical strategist, and analytical forecaster with over 18 years of experience working across some of the world’s most complex crises. She has advised governments, UN agencies, NGOs, Foundations, and think tanks on humanitarian emergency response, sanctions, and financial flows in high-risk jurisdictions, civil society, and international system reform, as well as human rights and geopolitical risk management.

Katie previously served as Director of Global Humanitarian Policy at Mercy Corps, where she led U.S. and global policy strategies on humanitarian response, protection, and multilateral engagement. Prior to Mercy Corps, she held key senior roles at InterAction, Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee, contributing to award-winning research, analysis and policy outcomes. She has worked in or on crises across Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Mexico, Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan.

Katie holds a BA in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of New Hampshire and an MA in Refugee Studies and Forced Migration from the University of London. She is a trusted advisor and strategic thinker frequently sought out by media, multilateral bodies, and senior policymakers for her insight on operating in high-risk and politically sensitive environments.

WORKSHOP TRAINER, SANCTIONS TRAINING FOR HUMANITARIAN ACTORS

Dr Emanuela-Chiara Gillard is a Consulting Fellow in Chatham House’s International Law Programme and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict. Emanuela has over two decades’ experience in the field of international law and humanitarian action.  In the past decade a particular focus of her work has been the interplay between sanctions, counterterrorism measures and humanitarian operations.  She has addressed these issues from operational, policy and academic perspectives. She regularly advises humanitarian actors on sanctions issues affecting their operations and participates in policy discussions on how to minimise the adverse impact of sanctions on humanitarian action. Emanuela holds B.A, LL.M. and Ph.D. degrees in law from the University of Cambridge. She is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.

WRITER, EDITOR AND PUBLISHING CONSULTANT

Lucie Stevens is a writer and editor with over 20 years’ experience working both in-house and as a freelancer. She specialises in delivering complex editorial projects for government agencies, NGOs and educational institutions. During her time at Australian independent publishing house Longueville Media, Lucie worked on projects for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, and think tank the Lowy Institute. While living in Berlin, Lucie worked with publisher The Curved House to develop and produce a series of education outreach programs for the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency. Prior to moving to Berlin, Lucie was the Program Manager and Policy Officer for the Australian Society of Authors. She holds a BA Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Editing and Publishing, both from the University of Technology, Sydney, and an MA in Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.

POLICY ANALYST

Farzan Sabet is a senior subject matter expert, researcher, and project manager focusing on Middle East security, economic sanctions, and nuclear weapons with +12 years experience at the United Nations, research centers, the private sector, and academia. He is affiliated with the Sanctions and Sustainable Peace Hub at the Geneva Graduate Institute and works as a senior consultant for governments, multinational corporations, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations. His analysis and commentary has appeared in leading media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. Farzan was previously Researcher in the Middle East WMD-Free Zone Project at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Governance Centre, Nuclear Security Predoctoral Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, and Visiting Fellow at Georgetown University’s Department of Government. He holds a MA and PhD in International History and Politics from the Geneva Graduate Institute and a BA in History and Political Science from McGill University.