Our Team

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.

Mariah Elliott is a Senior 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.

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.

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 Associate Methodology Coordinator 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.

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.

Aidar works as a Quality Assurance Assistant at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018, originally hired as a researcher for Russia. He conducts regular quality control checks and methodological reviews, and assists the methodology team with overall data quality and accuracy. Aidar holds an MA in European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies from Carleton University and a BA in International Relations and History from University of Toronto. Aidar’s research interests include the emergence of authoritarian states and democratic transition in the post-Soviet space.

Shannon Nichols is a Quality Assurance Assistant, Global Coder at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2021. She was originally a United States Researcher and Senior Research Assistant on the North America desk before joining the Methodology team where she performs quality checks of the data and integrates global source information into the dataset. Shannon holds an MSSc in Peace, Mediation, and Conflict Research as well as a BA in Politics and a BS in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology.

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.

Juan Esteban Mosquera is a Quality Assurance Assistant with ACLED and has been at the organization since October 2018. He holds a Master’s Degree in Development Economics from the University of Sussex, a BS in Economics from Universidad de las Américas. Previously in ACLED he worked as a researcher for Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, at the South America desk, and before that he worked at the Inter-American Development Bank as an assistant for the Country Economist of Ecuador. His research interests are gender equality dynamics, migration, political and domestic violence triggers and social development in Latin America.

Franziska Pfadt is the Global Data Collection Manager 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.

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.

John Dodo is ACLED's Northern & Western Africa Research Manager

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.

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.

Andre Abou is an Assistan Research Manager on ACLED's Africa desk.

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.

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.

Pearl Pandya is the South Asia Assistant Research Manager at ACLED. She joined the organisation in February 2022, as an India Researcher. She has an undergraduate degree in law from King’s College London and a master’s in public international law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She previously worked as a consultant with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in New York and as a legislative assistant to a Member of Parliament (India) in New Delhi.

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.

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.

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.

Cristian Vlas is the Assistant Research Manager at the Eastern Europe desk. His previous focus was political violence in Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, and Romania. His work experience includes four years of reporting on Moldova and the Transnistrian conflict settlement for Moldova.org, monitoring of the use of small arms and light weapons in Moldova at SEESAC's Armed Violence Monitoring Platform. He also worked on reporting and advocacy with the Romanian National Council of Refugees (CNRR). Cristian has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and European Integration from the University of Pécs, Hungary.

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.

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.

Laura Calderon Fuentes is the Assistant Research Manager at the South America desk at ACLED. She has been with the organization since October 2021 and has previously worked as a researcher for the South America team sourcing and coding for different countries, primarily Colombia. Laura holds a BA in International Relations with a focus on Security, Peace, and Conflict from the Rosario University in Bogota and a Specialization Degree in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law from the same 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.

Valentin d’Hauthuille is the Gulf Research Manager at ACLED. In this role, he is responsible for data collection in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, including for the Yemen conflict, and contributes to analysis. Prior to this role, he was the Research Manager for ACLED’s pilot project on religious repression and disorder, which covered seven MENA countries, and he previously worked as a Yemen Researcher. Beside ACLED, he has also worked at UN in Lebanon and in the defense sector in France. Valentin holds an MSc in Middle East Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, UK.

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.

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.

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. 

N'zani is the Senior Communications Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organisation since July 2023. In her capacity, N'zani plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's public outreach and user engagement efforts, and she is responsible for the development and production of outreach materials and public-facing resources. N'zani has a Bachelor Degree in Journalism with a specialization in Public Relations and Marketing from the United States International University of Africa, along with a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism obtained from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. Her research expertise is centered on public policy related to women, peace, and security. N'zani possesses over 9 years of professional experience gained as a communication and public relations specialist from multiple institutions. She has lent her expertise to diverse sectors, including mainstream media, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and corporate firms.

Niki Papadogiannaki is a Senior 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.

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.

Eva Doummar is the Digital Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since January 2024. Eva supports ACLED’s main site and subsidiary web properties. She holds a BA in Media Communication and Publishing along with a Fine Art diploma with a specialization in photography. She has broad experience in digital transformation in the private sector, covering web engagement, SEO and content management.

Ren Ovung has over eight years of experience working in key areas of communication—content, videos, infographics and layout design—for international and inter-governmental organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization and The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. She specializes in applying communication and design principles to create the right tone and effectively convey information that is aesthetically appealing, succinct and accessible. Ren holds an MA in Global Media and Communication from the University of Warwick, UK and a Diploma in Design Studies from LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore and Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, Italy.

Eva Charidas is the Associate Program Coordinator 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 Fundraising 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 Senior Data & Access 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.

Anita Mantzari is a Senior 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.

Eleni is a Program Officer at ACLED. Prior to joining ACLED, she worked five years in the humanitarian aid sector in Greece with grassroots and international organizations, namely the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). She worked mostly on migration, but also disaster management and anticipatory action programs.

Eleni holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of York, an MA in International Relations, Security, Peace, and Conflict studies, and an LL.M in Public International Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). 

Dipali Tikone is the Compensation and Benefits Associate Coordinator 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.

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.

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

Yann Lüthi is a Logistics and Procurement 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.

Lorenzo Guerra joined ACLED on January 2024 as Associate Administrative Officer. He holds a MSc in Global Studies and International Development from Roskilde University and a BA in International Cooperation and Development from Sapienza University of Rome. Lorenzo has previously worked in operations management and administration within the EU and UN systems in Denmark, Ecuador, and Malta.

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.

David Benoit is the Senior 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.

Christen Bagwell is the Payroll Coordinator for ACLED. She has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and is pursuing a MA in Computer Science. She has experience in government finance, travel, and payroll responsibilities and is interested in creating new processes and platforms for finance functions. She is based in Sevierville, TN, US.

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.

Justice Frank Clarke is a member of the Board of Directors and former Chief Justice of Ireland

Mr. Justice Frank Clarke was Chief Justice of Ireland from July 2017 to October 2021. He is chair of a Civil Legal Aid Review Group, which was established in June 2022 to review the civil legal aid scheme. He was appointed President of the Law Reform Commission in July 2022.

Niagalé Bagayoko is a political scientist. She has done extensive field research on security systems in African Francophone countries, Western security policies (France, United States, European Union) in Africa and African conflict-management mechanisms, focusing on the interface between security and development. She has taught at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Science Po) in Paris. From 2010 to 2015, she managed the “peacekeeping and peacebuilding programme” at the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and was a member of the Scientific Committee of the French IRSEM (Institut de recherches stratégiques de l'Ecole militaire). She is now the Chair of the African Security Sector Network (ASSN).

Simon Addison is a member of the Advisory Board, Climate Change Adviser at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and Senior Associate for Climate Governance and Finance at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

Simon Addison is an expert on climate change adaptation, sustainable development and environmental management, especially in complex contexts affected by conflict, displacement, environmental degradation and drought.

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.

Hyun Jin Choi is a member of the Advisory Board and Associate Professor at Kyung Hee University.

Hyun Jin Choi is an associate professor in the department of political science at Kyung Hee University, Seoul. He previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the ACLED team under the supervision of Prof. Clionadh Raleigh. Hyun Jin’s research interests fall within the field of civil war, political violence, and international development cooperation. His articles have been published in numerous refereed journals, including Global Environmental Change; International Studies Quarterly; Democratization, Comparative Politics; Research and Politics, and Journal of Conflict Resolution. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Michigan State University and an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Caitriona Dowd is a member of the Advisory Board and Assistant Professor at University College Dublin.

She is Assistant Professor in UCD's School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe).

Her research focuses on the dynamics of political violence in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to the role of conflict in humanitarian crises and food insecurity; civilian targeting; and the use of new and emerging methodologies for violence monitoring. Employing a combination of quantitative, geographic and qualitative methodologies, Caitriona's research explores patterns of conflict in comparative contexts, in both cross-national and country-focused cases. Caitriona's work has been published in international peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Peace Research, African Affairs, Terrorism and Political Violence, Political Geography, Peacebuilding, The Journal of Modern African Studies and Annals of the American Association of Geographers.

Caitriona currently co-leads an Irish Research Council-funded COALESCE project on the gendered dimensions of food insecurity and hunger in peacebuilding, together with collaborators at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in South Africa.

Philip Epstein is a member of the Advisory Board and Chief Executive Officer at ERI Group LLC.

Philip is an experienced public company executive and investment manager who has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the global mining, energy, renewable and pharmaceutical industries.  A mergers & acquisitions and securities lawyer by training, Philip has focused on helping to found, finance, operate and monetize private and public companies since the 1990s.  

Since 2015, Philip has served as CEO of ERI Group LLC (www.erigroupllc.com), a New York City based private investment and operating company focused on developing US and International projects and companies. Philip currently serves on the Board of Directors of PetroReconcavo S.A. (BVMF: RECV3) and Aviv Pharma Inc.

Previously, Philip practiced corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring law at Fried Frank. Prior to Fried Frank, Philip practiced corporate law at Kaye Scholer where his focus was on finance and securitization.

Since 1992, Philip has played a leading role in raising and deploying approximately $1.8 Billion in capital for both public and private companies.

Philip holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago, an M.A. (Oxon) in Politics and Economics from Oxford University and a J.D. from Northwestern University Law School. Philip has served as a senior advisor to the International Family AIDS Program and is a past Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (NY Chapter).

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.

Gary Milante is a member of the Advisory Board and an independent peace researcher.

He has focused on the intersection of security and socio-economic development throughout his career as an economist, researcher and policy advisor. He is an independent peace researcher and consultant with a focus on the measurement and verification of peace, conflict and fragility, on international financing levels and mechanisms, as well as on scenario analysis and the game theory of conflict.  Dr. Milante worked with the World Bank for more than a decade in the Development Economics Research Group, the Fragile States Group and as lead economist on the World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security and Development. He was the Director for Peace and Development for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and has worked as a consultant and advisor to Interpeace, the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, NATO and governments of developing countries. He received his PhD in Economics from the University of California at Irvine and currently resides in San Francisco, California.

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.

Dr Adnan Naseemullah is a comparative political scientist. He joined the King’s College in September 2014, after teaching at Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Economics.

Dr Naseemullah's first book, Development after Statism (Cambridge University Press, 2017), focuses on the nature of industrial development and the institutional strategies of firms after neoliberal reform. His second book, Patchwork States (Cambridge University Press, 2022), explains patterns of political violence and political competition in contemporary South Asia through an examination of how governance institutions were constructed during colonial rule. His research has also appeared in the Third World Quarterly, Journal of Development Studies, Journal of Strategic Studies, Comparative Politics, Political Geography, Governance, Studies in Comparative International Development, India Review, Asian Studies, Studies in Indian Politics and the Journal of Human Rights.

Andy Tatem is Professor of Spatial Demography and Epidemiology at the University of Southampton and is the Director of WorldPop, leading a group of 40 researchers and data scientists. He is interested in how populations, their characteristics and their dynamics can be mapped at high resolution, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries. His research has led to pioneering approaches to the use and integration of satellite, survey, cell phone and census data to map the distributions and movement patterns of vulnerable populations for disease, disaster and development applications. He runs international collaborations with national governments, UN agencies and data providers, and leads multiple research and operational projects funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, World Bank, GAVI and Children?s Investment Fund Foundation, among others.

Ebimboere Seiyefa is a lecturer in Baze University and Head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy. She is the author of Why Organised Violence Thrives in Nigeria? The Problem of Elite Political Culture. Seiyefa holds a PhD in International Relations and Social Studies from Coventry University. Her recent projects and publications include; Exploring lapses in West Africa’s security architecture and their implications for regional security; Elite political culture and its link to political violence; Climate change impact on regional security in West Africa, and Governance for security and counterinsurgency in Nigeria. Her research expertise and interests include, Political Violence and Governance for security in West Africa. She is also the Head of Research in Conflict Research Network West Africa.