Our people — Peace Insight

Peace Insight is managed by Peace Direct staff based in the UK:

Acting Research Manager/Senior Research Officer: Dimitri Kotsiras

Dimitri manages all of Peace Direct's research initiatives, including our work on the Stopping As Success project and decolonising systems. He is responsible for designing and undertaking field research, as well as coding research findings and authoring research reports. He is also jointly responsible for the development of articles for the Peace Insight website. Dimitri previously worked with Crisis Action and the United Nations reporting on the UN Security Council, and before joining Peace Direct he supported democracy strengthening programmes at Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Dimitri holds a BA in Political Science from Concordia University and an MA in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London. Contact: dimitri.kotsiras@peacedirect.org

Senior Communications Officer: Jennifer Venis

Jennifer is responsible for overseeing our cross-organisational communications strategy. She works across teams to facilitate production of key publications and support the development of messages for all our audiences. Jennifer has a background in journalism, focusing on human rights and international justice, and was formerly the Multimedia Journalist and Content Editor at the International Bar Association. Contact: jennifer.venis@peacedirect.org

Communications Officer: Natalie Roberts

Natalie is responsible for working with colleagues and partners to develop compelling and engaging stories that demonstrate our impact. She is developing our ethical storytelling process, working with colleagues and partners to reach new audiences. She is also focused on specific projects including Peace Gold in DR Congo, and our Facebook and Instagram content strategy. Natalie joins Peace Direct from GPPAC, where she focused on developing stories with partners to showcase their inspiring work and ran their podcast. She holds a BA in Law and a Master’s degree in International Crimes, Conflict and Criminology. Contact: natalie.roberts@peacedirect.org

Peace Insight staff work with a team of local contacts from around the world.

Local Correspondents

Currently based in four locations, local correspondents play a key role in the Peace Insight initiative. They produce editorial content and stories of interest on peacebuilding in their contexts. Their writing, featured in the 'Articles' section of our site, demonstrates the impact of local peacebuilding work, and tells the stories of how local peacebuilders are adapting and responding to recent dynamics around the world.

Ashima Kaul Ashima coordinates the organisation Yakjah in their work in Jammu and Kashmir. An independent journalist by profession, she has an active interest in interfaith dialogue.

Local peacebuilding experts

Local peacebuilding experts are a key part of the Peace Insight initiative. They submit quarterly updates shared on the 'Articles' section of the website, which shed light on peacebuilding work taking place in their contexts. In addition to contributing engaging content and stories on peacebuilding, they provide information and updates on peacebuilding groups featured on the site.

Boubacar Thera is Peace Direct’s Local Peacebuilding Expert in Mali. Boubacar is Programme Officer at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF). He is the former national coordinator for the West African Network for Peace in Mali (WANEP). In addition, he is a doctoral researcher in public law at Cheikh Anta Diop University (Dakar, Senegal) and the University of Legal and Political Sciences of Bamako (Mali). Prior to this he worked for a variety of NGOs and other organisations, and as an interpreter.

Read more from Boubacar Thera

Dr. Prince Charles Dickson is Peace Insight's Local Peacebuilding in Nigeria. Based out of Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Prince Charles is a peace practitioner and policy analyst with decades of experience in media, public policy, psychology and development practice. He is currently the Team Lead for the Nigerian-based Tattaaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre).Prince Charles is a certified negotiator and arbitrator, with training in journalism and psychology. He is also a Henry Luce Fellow and Ford Foundation grantee, and holds certifications in Religion and Global Politics, Gender, Negotiation and Conflict Management and Analysis, Interfaith, Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution.Prince Charles is an alumnus of the University of Jos and, the prestigious Humanitarian Academy at Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a doctoral in Psychology (Policy & Human Development) from the Jesuit run Georgetown University Washington DC.

Dr Zahid Shahab Ahmed is a Senior Research Fellow at Deakin University in Australia. He received his PhD from the University of New England (UNE) in Australia. He has an MA in Peace Education from the UN-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica, and an MA in Sociology from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in Pakistan. He has taught peace and conflict studies at universities in Australia and Pakistan. Since 2003, he has been working with local and international development agencies in South Asia, especially in Pakistan, on various peacebuilding and development projects. He specialises in preventing violent extremism through education and has led numerous projects in Central, South and Southeast Asia and West Africa in collaboration with Hedayah, UNESCO and USAID. He has published and presented papers on a wide range of issues, such as Islam, human rights, peace & conflict, regionalism, and regional security.

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