Our Team

Tom Hart is the Senior Desk Manager with ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2016. He currently oversees the Research Desk teams and projects, including both weekly and supplemental data production. He previously led the creation and expansion of the Methodology department. Tom received his BA in International History, and Politics from Carleton University in Ottawa, where he focused on colonial relationships, intercultural interaction, and geocultural perspectives. Tom is fluent in English and French.

Franziska Pfadt is the Research Desk Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2018, and currently coordinates ACLED's regional research desks, overseeing staffing, reporting, and task allocations. Franziska holds an LLM in International Law from Leiden University and a BA in Political Science and Law. Prior to joining ACLED, she worked in several non-profit organizations acquiring extensive experience in process and knowledge management.

Olga Dalbinoë is the Associate Partnership Coordinator at ACLED. She joined the organisation in 2019 and has been working as a Researcher in the Western Europe and Latin American desks. Olga has an extensive experience in international law and working with non-profit organisations

Bhavani Castro is the Research Desk Coordinator at ACLED, having previously managed the South America Research desk, and has been with the organization since 2018. She oversees the collection of data on political violence and demonstrations in the South America region and is responsible for managing the team members. She holds an MA in International Security from the Institut d´Études Politiques de Paris – Sciences Po Paris, and a BA in International Relations from the University of São Paulo. Her research interests include ethno-nationalist conflicts, communal violence, organized crime groups, and non-state armed groups and gender. She is fluent in Portuguese, English, and French.

Yohaire Zumbado-Madrigal is a Partnership Officer at ACLED. She has been with the organization since June 2021, previously working as a Caribbean Researcher and Assistant Research Manager at the Central America desk. Yohaire holds a MA in Social Sciences Applied to the Environment from Pablo de Olavide University and a B.A. in International Relations, with a Specialization in Diplomacy, and Foreign Policy, from the National University of Costa Rica. Yohaire has extensive experience in research, M&E, diplomacy, and electoral observation. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese.

Katayoun Kishi is the Head of Data Science at ACLED. She oversees the management and publication of ACLED data, advises on new approaches to improving data collection and management, and leads ACLED’s data science initiatives. Dr. Kishi holds a PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland with a concentration in comparative politics and quantitative methodology. Her primary research interests are conflict forecasting and its use in humanitarian early warning systems.

Trey Billing is a Data Scientist at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2022. Dr. Billing holds a PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, as well as a BA in Economics from the University of Dayton. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University. Dr. Billing’s interests include conflict dynamics, computational social science, and causal inference.

Rachel Goodman is the Data Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since June 2020. She assists in the management of ACLED's dataset and oversees projects relating to data quality, data literacy, and internal data pipelines. Rachel holds an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Denver and a B.A. in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish from the University of Idaho. She previously worked at the Center on Human Rights Education and has experience researching a variety of political violence topics, including genocide, civil war, and disarmament.

Mariah Elliott is the Data Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since July 2020, previously as a researcher for the US desk. As the Data Officer, she processes and uploads all ACLED data on a weekly basis as well as supports other data management processes at ACLED. Mariah holds degrees in International Affairs and Arabic from the University of Georgia and has experience supporting different data projects, specifically related to the mapping of the Syrian conflict and the measurement of subnational levels of repression globally.

Lucas Fagliano is a Data Literacy Officer at ACLED, and has been with the organization since April 2022. At ACLED he has worked alongside the Data Literacy team to provide trainings in data analysis and data management, including Excel, Tableau and R. Additionally, Lucas has supported the Data team in multiple tasks. Parallel to his work at ACLED, he is an independent researcher on International Relations and Strategic Studies, often employing computational methods to explore issues related to hybrid threats and grand strategy.

Lennart Landman is the Head of Methodology at ACLED, overseeing methodology, quality assurance, and training across all regions. He has previously worked as a researcher on European security and defence issues for the Clingendael Institute in The Hague. Lennart holds an MA in International Relations and is a PhD Candidate at the University of Groningen.

Charles Vannice is the Training Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since 2010, originally hired as an Africa researcher. He currently coordinates methodological training for all new and current researchers, as well as for ACLED’s external partners. Charles holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Central Missouri and a BS in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His interests include insurgency and politically driven conflict with a focus on East Africa and Nigeria. Charles’ past research includes work with the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas, where his focus was on the Indian sub-continent and Afghanistan.

Danyal Kamal is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2015, originally hired as a South Asia researcher. He currently leads the quality assurance team and coordinates data review training across all regions. Danyal holds a BA in General Management from Michigan State University. Danyal has over 10 years of experience working with different non-profit/non-government organizations and has research experience in the fields of governance, radicalization and minority rights in Pakistan.

Fiona Wong is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since August 2019, starting as an East Asia Researcher. In her current role, she coordinates the development and upkeep of methodology guidelines. She holds an MA in Human Rights and Democratization. Fiona has experience working with public policy think tanks and international human rights organizations.

Ashik KC is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018, originally hired as a Pakistan researcher. As part of the Methodology team, he currently oversees application of actors, categorization of actors and several methodology projects to enhance ACLED's data usage in analysis. Ashik holds a PhD in Political Science from University of Warsaw, and an MA in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University. Ashik has over ten years of combined experience of desk and field research in violent political and ethnic conflicts in Nepal, South Asia, South Caucasus, Ukraine and Moldova. His research interests include ethno-territorial conflicts and the role of regional organizations in conflict resolution.

Shanti Valls works as Quality Assurance Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2020, originally hired as a researcher for several countries in Central Africa. He is part of the Methodology team and leads project management of quality assurance projects in coordination with Methodology Coordinators. Shanti holds an MA in Human Development and Sustainability and a BA in Geography, both from the University of Girona. He also holds a PhD in African Studies from the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona. Shanti has six years of experience working in social policy and local governance and over 2 years working at the United Nations.

Shreya Maskara is a Methodology Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since December 2019. She was originally working as a researcher on the South Asia desk covering South India and now works with the global methodology team doing quality control. Shreya has a BA in Economics and English from the University of California, Los Angeles. Shreya has over four years of experience working in politics and research.

Hannah Guedes is a Quality Assurance Assistant at ACLED and has been with the organization since 2019. She has previously worked as an Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay Researcher for the South America desk. She assists the Methodology team in projects related to data quality and accuracy. She holds an MA in Contemporary Latin-American Integration from the Latin-American Integration University and a BA in International Relations from the Fluminense Federal University. Her research interests include organized crime groups, international affairs, and gender. She is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

Myung-Gyun Lim is the Methodology Coordinator at ACLED. Previously, he managed the ACLED's Oceania and Canada expansion project, and worked at the North America and East Asia desks as Research Manager and Researcher respectively. His research interest centers on the effects of threat inflation on inter-state conflicts.

Ankita Phalle is a Quality Assurance Assistant at ACLED, and has been with the organization since September 2020. In her current role, she conducts regular data quality control and methodological reviews. Ankita holds an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Manchester. She has over six years of experience working with organizations in the social development sector in various capacities including teaching, managing programs and operations, and research.

Indrajit Sharma is a Quality Assurance Assistant at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2019, originally hired as an India Researcher. Indrajit holds an MA in Criminology and a PhD in Security Studies. Indrajit has over five years of experience working with different research organizations including the South Asia Terrorism Portal. He has also worked as an Assistant Professor at the School of Police Science and Security Studies at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), India.

Sam Jones is the Head of Communications at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018. Sam oversees ACLED's strategic communications, public outreach, and user engagement. He earned his BA in Political Theory from Franklin & Marshall College and his MA in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights from American University's School of International Service. Sam's research centers on political violence and protest movements, and he previously worked to document human rights violations in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Danny Lord is the Web Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2021. He manages ACLED’s main site and subsidiary web properties. Danny has an MSc in Comparative Political Thought from SOAS University of London, and his research focuses on the politics of peace, conflict, and humanitarian response. He has several years’ experience in digital marketing and SEO in the private sector, covering web development and content management. 

Gina Dorso is a Communications Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2022. Gina supports the execution of ACLED’s outreach and media engagement strategy.  She holds a BFA and MA in Communication Arts from New York Institute of Technology and an MPhil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Gina’s research focuses on the geopolitics of peace processes and transitional justice in South Asia. She has previously worked in communications for the NGO and development sectors in New York and Dublin.

Christina De Paris is a Communications Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2022. She supports ACLED’s brand management, publications, and graphic design work for internal and external communications. Christina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a specialization in visual communication and a Master’s degree in Global Studies. Within the private and nonprofit sectors, she has broad experience in publishing and international development. Her research interests include peace and security, resistance movements, and human geography.

Andrea Carboni is the Head of Analysis at ACLED. In this role, he is responsible for designing and overseeing ACLED's research. He is also a Research Fellow in the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex. Andrea has previously worked as a consultant for several organizations, including Mercy Corps, the European Institute of Peace, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, among others. He holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Sussex and an MA in European and International Studies from the University of Trento.

Timothy Lay is the Associate Analysis Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2018. He manages the production of analysis outputs at ACLED. Tim holds an MA in International Relations (International Humanitarian Action) from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and a BLS with Honors in Asian Studies from the University of Sydney. He has previously held positions on the South Asia desk and managed the Africa desk at ACLED.

Elham Kazemi is an Analysis Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2018, originally hired as a North Africa researcher. She is currently a collaborator on the LASER project and supervises the Africa conflict observatories. Elham holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, and an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame. Elham has over six years of research experience working on conflict and political violence.

Niki Papadogiannaki is an Editorial Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since February 2022. As part of the Analysis Team, she conducts editorial reviews of analysis pieces, infographics, and other written material. Niki holds an MA in Migration Studies and Conflict & Security from the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies. Niki has over five years of work experience in journalism in Washington, DC, and over three years in the humanitarian sector.

Ciro Murillo is a Data Literacy Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2022. He currently supports the data literacy strategy of the analysis department. Ciro holds a BA in Political Science and Government from Universidad del Norte (Colombia). Ciro has over three years of experience working on research about the Colombian conflict and information management support for humanitarian organizations.

Ana is a research analyst at ACLED and has been with the organisation since September 2022. She holds an MA in International Security from Sciences Po Paris, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminology from Keele University. She is especially interested in political violence in the MENA region, and holds a specialization diploma in Security in the Mediterranean, Near and Middle East from Instituto Gutiérrez Mellado. She has over two years of experience working in both the public and private sectors, in the fields of security, political and social analysis, as well as international development and cooperation.

Christian Jaffe is a Research Analyst at ACLED and has been with the organization since July 2020, starting as an Iran researcher. He holds a double MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Kent and the Philipps-University of Marburg and a BA in Foreign Affairs and Middle East Studies from the University of Virginia.

Susanna Deetlefs is an Africa Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since January 2019, starting as a Southern Africa researcher. She currently leads the day-to-day management of the East and Southern Africa regions of the Africa desk.  She holds an MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding from Durham University, United Kingdom, and an MA in Security Studies from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Susanna has over four years of experience working with different organizations, focusing on gendered security, peacebuilding, political violence, transnational organized crime, and research on child soldiers.

Ladd Serwat is an Africa Regional Specialist at ACLED. Ladd has been with the organization since November 2018, originally hired as an Africa researcher. He is involved in team management, data review and analysis, as well as project representation. Ladd holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Sussex, an MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in International Relations from Gonzaga University. Ladd has over ten years of experience working with different non-profit organizations and a particular research interest in land-related conflict.

Ariane Dinalli Francisco is the East and Southern Africa Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since December 2019. She was originally hired as a South America researcher for the Latam desk. Ariane holds a MA in Democratic Governance and Civil Society from the Osnabruck University, Germany, and a BA in International Relations from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ariane has vast research experience, and her work focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to organized crime, security, and peace and conflict studies.

Dr. Dan Watson is Senior Researcher for South Sudan at ACLED and has been with the organization since mid-2018. He oversees coding, research, and analysis on the two Sudans. He has an MA in Conflict, Development and Security from the University of Leeds, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Sussex, where he also works.

Laura Sorica is a Research Manager at ACLED's East Asia Pacific desk and has been with the organization since August 2019. She is currently overseeing political violence and protests in the East Asia Pacific region, including in Japan, Taiwan, Mongolia, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor and throughout Oceania. Laura holds an MA in International and Advanced Japanese Studies and two BAs, one in Political Science and one in Linguistics. Her previous experiences include working in the private sector, the Romanian Embassy in Tokyo, and as an academic researcher in Japan working on security policy.

Aastha Kaul is the South Asia Research Manager at ACLED, and has been with the organization since September 2020. In her current role, she manages the South Asia desk, including its team of researchers and the region's dataset. Aastha holds a BSc. in International Studies from the University of Surrey, and has five years of experience working with organizations within the public policy and international development sector.

Hangyu Lee is an East Asia Pacific Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2020. Hangyu currently manages several countries for the East Asia Pacific research desk. He holds a BA in Global Communication and Culture and an MA in Global Studies from Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg and Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. His research interests include political polarization in South Korea and the role of social media in politics. He is fluent in Korean, English, and Spanish.

Regina Chung is the East Asia Pacific Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since January 2020. She currently reviews data, contributes analytical content, and assists with managing the East Asia Pacific desk. She holds an MA in Global Justice from the University of Sheffield and an MA in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York. Before joining ACLED, she was a journalist, researcher and humanitarian aid worker working with different non-profit organizations, universities, and media.

Elliott Bynum is ACLED’s Asia-Pacific Regional Specialist. She has been with ACLED since September 2017, initially as a Myanmar researcher, then as the research manager for ACLED’s Southeast Asia desk. She also has held analysis and research coordinator positions at ACLED prior to her current role. Elliott has an MA in Social Justice and Human Rights from Arizona State University and a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University. She previously worked as a researcher with local human rights organizations on the Thailand-Myanmar border and as a teacher in Myanmar. Her research focuses on political violence and protest in Myanmar.

Asena Karaçalti is the Afghanistan Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since May 2017. Asena has previously worked as the Central Asia & the Caucasus, and Africa Research Manager at ACLED. She holds a BA in Law from Ankara University, and an MSc in Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies from KU Leuven. Her research interests focus on the transit experiences of migrant and refugee populations and political violence across the Middle East and Afghanistan. She has past experience as a lawyer and as an expert in migration and asylum organizations.

Olha Polishchuk is the Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018, originally hired as the Ukraine Researcher. Currently, she manages a team of researchers covering countries across Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia and oversees the dataset and analysis work for the region. Olha holds an LLM in Law of the Sea from the Arctic University of Norway, an LLM in Human Rights Law with International Law from the University of Kent, and a bachelor's degree from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. She has experience working in the private law sector, with Ukrainian government institutions, and human rights NGOs.

Giulia Bernardi is the Western Europe Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2019. She was originally hired as the Italy researcher. She currently coordinates the management of the Western Europe desk and the publishing of its data on a weekly basis. Giulia holds a double MA in Russian, Central and East European Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master's in International Relations from KIMEP University, Almaty. Before joining ACLED, she had experience in the field of journalism and research in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Giulia is fluent in Italian, English and Russian.

Magda Anastasijevic is the Eastern Europe Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since June 2019, originally hired as a Balkans researcher. She earned her BA in Sociology at the University of Belgrade and studied South-eastern European Studies at the University of Graz and the University of Zagreb. Prior to ACLED, Magda’s research focused on conflicts in former Yugoslavia.

Nicola Audibert is the Western Europe Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2020, starting as a Europe Researcher. He currently assists in the management of the Western Europe Desk and the production of its data and analyses. Nicola holds an MA in European Security from the University of Vienna and joint BAs and MAs in European Affairs from Sciences Po Bordeaux and the University of Turin. Nicola has five years of experience in diplomacy, research, and advocacy applied to European affairs and security.

Nichita Gurcov is the Europe & Central Asia Regional Specialist at ACLED. He has been with the organization since January 2023. Nichita holds an MA in International Politics from the University of Manchester and a BA in Journalism from Moldova State University. He previously worked on conflicts in Moldova and Ukraine.

Maria Fernanda Arocha is the Central America Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018. She currently leads the Central American desk, managing the coding team, supporting the review of data quality, and assisting in data analysis. María Fernanda holds a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict, and Development from the University of Bradford and a B.A. in Political Science from Javeriana University. Her research interests are related to organized crime dynamics, security policies, and their impacts on development conditions in Latin America.

Julia Lins Franciotti is the South America Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018. She oversees the data collection on political violence and protests in South America and is responsible for managing the team members. She holds an LLM in International Law from Leiden University. Her research interests include non-state armed groups, urban violence, and political disorder in Latin America and the Caribbean. She is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and German.

Sandra Pellegrini is a Latin America Regional Specialist at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018. In her role, she supports the analysis of political violence and demonstrations across Latin America. Sandra holds an International Master in Russian, Central and East European Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master of International Relations from KIMEP University Almaty. She has over six years of experience in conflict analysis, investigating political disorder in Latin America and the post-Soviet space.

Rose Davies is the Assistant Research Manager at the South America Desk and previously worked as a US researcher at the North America desk. She holds a Master of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto, and a BA in Sociology and Hispanic and Latin American Studies from Brock University.

Muaz Al Abdullah is a Middle East Research Manager at ACLED overseeing Syria, Iraq, and Iran. He has been with the organization since June 2017. Muaz holds an MA in Political Science and International Relations and has over eight years of experience working with different non-profit organizations and providing security analysis to organizations implementing projects in Syria. His research focuses on reconstruction efforts in the transitional/post-war phase in Syria.

Salma Eissa is a Middle East Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2017. Salma has an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. She has over 10 years of experience in the Egyptian civil society and research and academia sectors and has a keen interest in political analysis and trends and patterns of political violence in the MENA region. She is fluent in Arabic and English.

Ameneh Mehvar is a Middle East Regional Specialist at ACLED. She holds a PhD in International Relations and a master’s degree in Middle East and Central Asian Security from the University of St Andrews. She is a former ESRC postdoctoral fellow at the University of Birmingham, and has previously worked as a political risk consultant. Her research interests include security studies and the international politics of the Middle East. Ameneh is fluent in Persian, English and German, and has a working knowledge of Arabic.

Luca Nevola is Middle East Regional Specialist at ACLED and has been in the organization since November 2018. He was originally hired as Yemen and KSA researcher and subsequently worked as Senior Researcher in MENA Religion and Repression. He currently produces analysis and coordinates research across the Middle East desks. Luca holds an MA and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Milano-Bicocca. He has conducted extensive fieldwork research in Yemen and works as a Yemen analyst for several research institutes focusing on elite politics, political Islam, minority groups, and tribal dynamics.

Kieran Doyle is the Research Manager on the North America Desk and has been with the organization since October 2020. After working for human rights NGOs in Brussels, he became a researcher at the North America Desk, sourcing and coding a few regions before moving to his current position. He helps to coordinate our wonderful team of researchers and assists with reviewing data and drafting weekly analysis pieces. He is in the process of wrapping up a Master's degree in Peace, mediation and conflict studies at Tampere University in Finland and holds a BA in International Relations and French from the University of Denver.

Bianca Ho is the North America Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since August 2021. She previously worked on the Canada expansion project as well as data collection for multiple regions in the United States before moving to her current position. Bianca has a BA in Political Science and Economics from McGill University.

Matt Fluegel-Carew is ACLED’s Head of Programs and Development and has been with the organization since December 2013. He was originally hired as the ACLED’s West Africa Researcher and has previously worked as Research Manager for a number of the project’s regional desks, including South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and East Asia. He is currently responsible for ACLED’s program management, fundraising and development, and partner outreach. Matt holds an MA in Geopolitics & Grand Strategy from the University of Sussex and a second MA in Eurasian Studies from Carleton University, with his research focusing on regional cooperation and conflict management. He has worked previously for Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Department National Defence, and for consulting firms specializing in policy development and political risk analysis.

Zach Field is the Head of Sales at ACLED. He is a collaborative and creative sales executive with over 10 years of team building and leadership experience across both junior and senior teams and across departments, with an emphasis on creating inclusion, strong relationships, a winning mindset, and setting expectations. Zach holds a dual degree in Sociology and International Affairs, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire.

Eva Charidas is the Associate Coordinator for Outreach and Development at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2020. She holds a BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University and an MA in International Conflict and Security from the Brussels School of International Studies. Previously, she has worked on humanitarian operations for both the United Nations and other local organizations in Greece and Palestine.

Juliet is the Associate Client Relations Coordinator at ACLED. She holds a bachelor's degree in both Social Work and Social Education from Spain’s UNED University and an MS in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the Uniervsidad Complutense de Madrid. She is passionate about fighting social injustice and has spent time in a variety of countries including China, Senegal, Spain, Thailand, and the United States. She currently resides in Madrid, Spain.

Emily Rothstein is a Client Relations Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2021. She assists users and clients in accessing the global dataset. Emily holds an MA in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York and a BA in International Affairs and Sociology from the University of Mary Washington. She has previous experience working with various international non-profits and small businesses.

Pablo Padin Perez is an Outreach and Development Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since January 2023. He holds an MA in Diplomacy and International Relations from the Diplomatic School of Spain and an MA in EU International Relations from the College of Europe. Previously, he has worked for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European External Action Service.

Anita Mantzari is a Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since January 2023. She holds a BSc in Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and has specialized in research methodology, statistics, and assessment. Her professional background is in humanitarian aid, where she supported a diverse range of projects in grassroots, national, and international NGOs catering to the needs of displaced populations. 

Hélène is a Program Manager at ACLED. In this role, she oversees current projects, pursues new funding opportunities, manages the start-up of projects and initiatives, and coordinates design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (DMEL) activities. Prior to joining ACLED, Hélène worked for organizations such as the UN, International Crisis Group, the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York, and law firms based in Switzerland, specializing in project management, research, and legal affairs. She holds an LL.M. in International Law from the University of Lausanne, as well as an LL.B. in International Humanitarian Law from the University of Geneva. She is fluent in English, French, and German.

Dipali Tikone is a Senior Human Resources Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2021. She holds an MS in Marketing from American University and a BS in Business Administration along with Marketing from Methodist University. Dipali has previously worked in the HR field with expertise in employee relations, onboarding, HRIS, and benefits management.

Ednah Lusega is the Associate Human Resources Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2022. She is primarily involved in all the functions of the department, including recruitment, HR record maintenance, administrative tasks, and organization policies and procedures in the HR department. Ednah holds an BA in Human Resource Management from Riara University. She is an Associate member at the Institute of Human Resource Management. She has three years of experience practicing HR in different sectors

Michelle Stone is the Associate Operations Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2022. In this role, she supports the administration and management of ACLED's operations and digital office. She holds a BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University and an MA in Human Rights from University College London. She has experience working with non-profit organizations and with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Yann Lüthi is a Logistics Officer at ACED. He graduated with a BA in International Relations at the University of Geneva in 2017 and with an MsC in Crisis and Disaster Management/Humanitarian Logistics from the University of Lincoln in 2020. He has previously worked in Mozambique as a Senior Country Logistics Officer for ACTED, as well as a Logistics Officer in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Jordan, and as a Logistics Intern at Impact Initiatives.

Anastasiia Vozhol joined ACLED in April 2023 as an HR Generalist. She provides support to employees with daily inquiries, manages HR platforms, supports HR department with administrative tasks.

Maria Kahwagi is a Talent Acquisition Officer at ACLED. She has been with the organization since 2023 and is based in Beirut, Lebanon. Maria holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration & Management as well as a Master's degree in Human Resources Management & Leadership from Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth. Maria has five years of experience working in human resources with non-profit organizations.

Andrew is the IT and Security Projects Coordinator at ACLED. He ensures IT and security issues are timely addressed. Additionally, he offers support in setting and overseeing the implementation of the internal IT and Security related strategic goals and objectives. Andrew has over 10 years of relevant experience having worked for firms such as Airtel, KPMG, Deloitte and ICRC. He holds an MBA majoring in Management Information Systems from the University of Nairobi and an undergraduate degree in Business Information Technology from Strathmore University.

Amanda is the Head of Finance at ACLED, overseeing financial operations. She holds a BA in Business Administration with a Masters in Finance, Audit and Accounting. Amanda has experience in external audits both in Spain and Singapore and was previously a finance advisor focused on West Africa for a sexual reproductive health charity in London, United Kingdom. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and Catalan and French are her native languages. She is based in Barcelona, Spain.

David Benoit is the Finance Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since June 2022. David supports the implementation of plans, policies, and procedures for the finance department. He holds a B.S. in Public Administration and has a background public sector finance and operations.

Prof. Clionadh Raleigh is the President and CEO of ACLED. She is also Senior Professor of Political Violence and Geography in the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex. Her primary research interests are the dynamics of conflict and violence, African political environments, and elite networks.

Ashley McIlvain Moran is a fellow with the Comparative Constitutions Project in the University of Texas’ Department of Government, where she teaches on constitutionalism in divided societies. She is also a distinguished scholar at UT’s Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and a member of the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change. She previously worked in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia on democratic development and rule of law issues. Ashley’s current research focuses on post-conflict constitutional development, the evolution of new institutions, and dynamics of state identity and legitimacy.

Loren Tarmo serves on ACLED's Advisory Board and on the Finance Committee. He is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience. He earned his BA in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a master's degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Loren started his career in public accounting, and is proud to have been able to steer his career into the health services arena, where he currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for PatientSafe Solutions in San Diego, CA.

Andrew Linke is Assistant Professor in the Geography Department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He is also a Senior Associate Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). He uses Geographic Information Systems data, spatial statistics, and population surveys to understand the geographies of violent conflict and human-environment interactions. His research has been published in the Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Climatic Change, Environmental Research Letters, Global Environmental Change, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Peace Research, and Political Geography, among other journals. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Social Science Research Council. He is a member of the editorial board of Political Geography.

Jennifer Morse, MHA has been a Board member of ACLED since its formation. Jennifer’s interest in ACLED stems from an appreciation that mapping can illustrate and communicate patterns of behavior that would be challenging to convey in other mediums. ACLED’s ability to track and map real-time events is a critical tool to improve our understanding of conflict and political instability. Jennifer serves as Vice President of Development for Salud Family Health Centers, a non-profit, community, and migrant farmworker health center in Colorado, providing comprehensive healthcare services to 88,000 individuals. In this role, she is responsible for securing funding and advocating for health policy that support access to healthcare for underserved populations. She has worked in this field for 19 years and serves on local, state, and national committees advocating for health policy and system transformation to reduce barriers and increase access to care for all members of the community.

Joshua Busby is an Associate Professor of Public Affairs and a Distinguished Scholar at the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin. He originally joined the LBJ School faculty in fall 2006 as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer. In 2016, Dr. Busby also joined the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as a non-resident fellow. In 2018, he joined the Center for Climate & Security as a Senior Research Fellow.

Prior to coming to the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Busby was a research fellow at the Center for Globalization and Governance at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs (2005-2006), the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s JFK School (2004-2005), and the Foreign Policy Studies program at the Brookings Institution (2003-2004). He defended his dissertation with distinction in summer 2004 from Georgetown University, where he also earned his MA in 2002.