Arielle Vogel Valk
Arielle Vogel Valk is an international student from Israel, currently pursuing a BSc in International Political Economy at City, University of London. Prior to her studies, she served for 4 years as a Lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Her most recent position was Deputy Assistant to the IDF Deputy Chief of General Staff (Major General Eyal Zamir), where she was exposed to some of Israel’s most pressing national security challenges, strategic plans, and policy decisions. Following her military service, Arielle worked for the Israeli Ministry of Defense at the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. In her capacity as Assistant Defense and Military Attaché, she worked to advance the defense cooperation between Israel and the V4 countries (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic). Having had both domestic and international professional experience in the Israeli Defense Sector, Arielle acquired a broad understanding of Israel’s geopolitical and security affairs, which she is currently developing in her academic studies. Arielle’s research interests lie in Russia-Iran relations and their implications for Israel.
Sheikh Aasim Alwaleed Al-Thani
Sheikh Aasim Alwaleed Al-Thani is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Gulf International Forum (GIF), a Young Fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) and a commissioned officer in the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF). He holds several honours and has received special recognition from national and foreign heads of state. Sheikh Aasim is a student at the University of Oxford studying for an MSt in Diplomatic Studies Programme (DSP). He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) and Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College (ABMMC) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and a Postgraduate Diploma in Military Science, respectively. He is a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society and his research interests include Gulf geopolitics, strategic studies and small states’ security.
Arielle Vogel Valk
Arielle Vogel Valk is an international student from Israel, currently pursuing a BSc in International Political Economy at City, University of London. Prior to her studies, she served for 4 years as a Lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Her most recent position was Deputy Assistant to the IDF Deputy Chief of General Staff (Major General Eyal Zamir), where she was exposed to some of Israel’s most pressing national security challenges, strategic plans, and policy decisions. Following her military service, Arielle worked for the Israeli Ministry of Defense at the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. In her capacity as Assistant Defense and Military Attaché, she worked to advance the defense cooperation between Israel and the V4 countries (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic). Having had both domestic and international professional experience in the Israeli Defense Sector, Arielle acquired a broad understanding of Israel’s geopolitical and security affairs, which she is currently developing in her academic studies. Arielle’s research interests lie in Russia-Iran relations and their implications for Israel.
Sheikh Aasim Alwaleed Al-Thani
Sheikh Aasim Alwaleed Al-Thani is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Gulf International Forum (GIF), a Young Fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) and a commissioned officer in the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF). He holds several honours and has received special recognition from national and foreign heads of state. Sheikh Aasim is a student at the University of Oxford studying for an MSt in Diplomatic Studies Programme (DSP). He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) and Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College (ABMMC) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and a Postgraduate Diploma in Military Science, respectively. He is a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society and his research interests include Gulf geopolitics, strategic studies and small states’ security.
Francesca Trifiro
Francesca is an Embedded Security Intelligence Analyst for Dragonfly Intelligence. With expertise in the MENA region, she utilises her regional knowledge to analyse political and security developments in the EMEA region, advising private companies. Francesca holds a Master’s degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS University of London, and has developed an advanced Arabic language expertise. Since her graduation in 2021, she gained professional experience in the private sector working for leading consulting companies like Dragonfly and IHS Markit.
Uri Inspector
A British-Israeli former journalist and future lawyer, Uri Inspector recently graduated from Harvard University with an MA in Middle Eastern Studies focused on history, political economy and Arabic. His Master’s thesis explored the development and vicissitudes of the Israeli labour market and economy with regard to the integration and exclusion of the Arab Palestinian labor force from the 1880s to the present. A Hebrew and Arabic speaker, Uri has worked with several NGOs in Israel, Palestine and Europe encompassing refugee aid and human rights education. Formerly a CNBC journalist who assisted on coverage of European and Middle Eastern politics and economics, Uri is now training as an international lawyer.
Francesca Trifiro
Francesca is an Embedded Security Intelligence Analyst for Dragonfly Intelligence. With expertise in the MENA region, she utilises her regional knowledge to analyse political and security developments in the EMEA region, advising private companies. Francesca holds a Master’s degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS University of London, and has developed an advanced Arabic language expertise. Since her graduation in 2021, she gained professional experience in the private sector working for leading consulting companies like Dragonfly and IHS Markit.
Uri Inspector
A British-Israeli former journalist and future lawyer, Uri Inspector recently graduated from Harvard University with an MA in Middle Eastern Studies focused on history, political economy and Arabic. His Master’s thesis explored the development and vicissitudes of the Israeli labour market and economy with regard to the integration and exclusion of the Arab Palestinian labor force from the 1880s to the present. A Hebrew and Arabic speaker, Uri has worked with several NGOs in Israel, Palestine and Europe encompassing refugee aid and human rights education. Formerly a CNBC journalist who assisted on coverage of European and Middle Eastern politics and economics, Uri is now training as an international lawyer.
Phoebe Hall
Phoebe is going into her third year as an undergraduate student reading history at Trinity College, Cambridge. Before starting university, she completed the 2020 British Army Officer Internship with the Royal Artillery, after commissioning from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. She has since continued to work as a reservist officer alongside my degree, splitting her time between Cambridge and her home in North Yorkshire. Her brief military experience has led to a research interest in regional security, diplomacy, and defence policy, particularly in the role of ‘soft power’ in shaping defence relations between states. As part of her degree, she is also currently researching for a dissertation on the impact of demographic change on the diplomatic processes between Britain and France after World War I, and how population anxiety shaped the creation of a new world order. She looks forward to working with the YLI group to delve further into the role of soft power diplomacy in the defence relations of the MENA region.
Alex Giannos
Alex was born and raised in Greece. He is a postgraduate student studying towards an M.Litt. in Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asian Security Studies at the University of St. Andrews. His dissertation explored the digital media information campaign conducted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE against Qatar during the 2017–2021 Qatar Diplomatic Crisis. He holds a BA in French and Arabic (University of Exeter), with a year abroad spent in Amman and study periods in Rabat and Beirut. He hopes to spend the next 12 months gaining experience in researching and analysing politics and current affairs of the Middle East prior to pursuing doctoral studies. For his PhD, he aims to focus on the use of political communication as a weapon of domestic and foreign policy in the Gulf. He is interested in analysing Saudi Arabia’s use of legacy and new media to vilify Iran and Qatar prior to recent rapprochements with the state’s use of media to re-normalise good relations with Iran and Qatar post-rapprochements. Through his work, he hopes to shine a light on contemporary propaganda and censorship techniques in the Gulf.
Phoebe Hall
Phoebe is going into her third year as an undergraduate student reading history at Trinity College, Cambridge. Before starting university, she completed the 2020 British Army Officer Internship with the Royal Artillery, after commissioning from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. She has since continued to work as a reservist officer alongside my degree, splitting her time between Cambridge and her home in North Yorkshire. Her brief military experience has led to a research interest in regional security, diplomacy, and defence policy, particularly in the role of ‘soft power’ in shaping defence relations between states. As part of her degree, she is also currently researching for a dissertation on the impact of demographic change on the diplomatic processes between Britain and France after World War I, and how population anxiety shaped the creation of a new world order. She looks forward to working with the YLI group to delve further into the role of soft power diplomacy in the defence relations of the MENA region.
Alex Giannos
Alex was born and raised in Greece. He is a postgraduate student studying towards an M.Litt. in Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asian Security Studies at the University of St. Andrews. His dissertation explored the digital media information campaign conducted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE against Qatar during the 2017–2021 Qatar Diplomatic Crisis. He holds a BA in French and Arabic (University of Exeter), with a year abroad spent in Amman and study periods in Rabat and Beirut. He hopes to spend the next 12 months gaining experience in researching and analysing politics and current affairs of the Middle East prior to pursuing doctoral studies. For his PhD, he aims to focus on the use of political communication as a weapon of domestic and foreign policy in the Gulf. He is interested in analysing Saudi Arabia’s use of legacy and new media to vilify Iran and Qatar prior to recent rapprochements with the state’s use of media to re-normalise good relations with Iran and Qatar post-rapprochements. Through his work, he hopes to shine a light on contemporary propaganda and censorship techniques in the Gulf.
Reem Berrada
Reem Berrada currently supports and leads client projects at the Advocacy Team. Some of her previous projects include supporting the BOND civil society 7 communiqué to the G7 in 2021. In partnership with UNICEF UK, Reem also planned and led the organisation of a parliamentary reception event to help address the growing food security and malnutrition crisis in the Horn of Africa as well as supported a parliamentary trip to Ethiopia. She also delivered a parliamentary trip to Lebanon on behalf of the Coalition for Global Prosperity and led a resource mobilisation and support campaign for Lebanon-based mental health NGO, Embrace. Reem is currently supporting the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Deforestation which involves event organisation, policy research and parliamentary engagement. She has experience with the London Stock Exchange Group within the International Government Relations team, promoting green finance initiatives to international stakeholders. Reem holds a Master’s in Legal and Political Theory from University College London (UCL).
Mustafa Mohammed Al-Soufi
Mustafa Al-Soufi is the Programme Coordinator for PeaceRep Iraq at the LSE Middle East Centre. He is responsible for providing comprehensive administration for all PeaceRep Iraq activities, including budgets, contracts, fieldwork, publications, communications, and grant reporting. His research interests are focused on issues related to the political economy of violence, conflict, and development, as well as youth, peace, security, and humanitarian aid. Mustafa has extensive experience working with international organisations and UN agencies in different countries, including Germany, Iraq, South Sudan, the United Kingdom, and Yemen. He worked with UNDP Yemen as a Youth Development Specialist and with UNDP in Iraq as a Livelihoods Project Officer. Additionally, he has interned with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Mustafa holds an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS, University of London.
Reem Berrada
Reem Berrada currently supports and leads client projects at the Advocacy Team. Some of her previous projects include supporting the BOND civil society 7 communiqué to the G7 in 2021. In partnership with UNICEF UK, Reem also planned and led the organisation of a parliamentary reception event to help address the growing food security and malnutrition crisis in the Horn of Africa as well as supported a parliamentary trip to Ethiopia. She also delivered a parliamentary trip to Lebanon on behalf of the Coalition for Global Prosperity and led a resource mobilisation and support campaign for Lebanon-based mental health NGO, Embrace. Reem is currently supporting the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Deforestation which involves event organisation, policy research and parliamentary engagement. She has experience with the London Stock Exchange Group within the International Government Relations team, promoting green finance initiatives to international stakeholders. Reem holds a Master’s in Legal and Political Theory from University College London (UCL).
Mustafa Mohammed Al-Soufi
Mustafa Al-Soufi is the Programme Coordinator for PeaceRep Iraq at the LSE Middle East Centre. He is responsible for providing comprehensive administration for all PeaceRep Iraq activities, including budgets, contracts, fieldwork, publications, communications, and grant reporting. His research interests are focused on issues related to the political economy of violence, conflict, and development, as well as youth, peace, security, and humanitarian aid. Mustafa has extensive experience working with international organisations and UN agencies in different countries, including Germany, Iraq, South Sudan, the United Kingdom, and Yemen. He worked with UNDP Yemen as a Youth Development Specialist and with UNDP in Iraq as a Livelihoods Project Officer. Additionally, he has interned with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Mustafa holds an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS, University of London.
Reda Tamtam
Reda Tamtam is an aspiring scholar of democracy, specializing in comparative politics and quantitative methods. Reda is currently pursuing an MSc in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), where he is a recipient of the Carsten Stoehr Scholarship of the Department of Government. Concurrently, he is enrolled in an MPhil in Digital Humanities at Paris Sciences & Lettres, a consortium of prestigious French institutions including the École nationale des chartes (ENC), the École normale supérieure (ENS), among others. Related to his personal trajectory, his research interests include elections, authoritarian regimes, polarisation, party politics, and democratic norms, with a regional focus on European, Middle Eastern, and North African politics. Reda has gained extensive research experience, working as a Research Assistant at various renowned institutions like Sciences Po, Paris School of Economics, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Sorbonne Université, and the College of Europe.
Christy Un
Christy Un is a Development Finance Analyst at Development Reimagined, with her research focus on debt sustainability and infrastructure financing in African economies. As a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University, she examined to what extent digital inclusion is advanced under Chinese firm-led digital cooperation with Saudi Arabia. She is also a founding member of the university’s China-MENA Friendship Student Association. Christy previously worked as a Visiting Research Assistant at the United Nations University Institute in Macau, where she co-authored publications on citizen-centric cyber resilience. She had interned at the UNDP Chief Digital Office and UNHCR in Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan. She holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interest lies at the intersection of development cooperation, digital inclusion, and political economy in the MENA region.
Reda Tamtam
Reda Tamtam is an aspiring scholar of democracy, specializing in comparative politics and quantitative methods. Reda is currently pursuing an MSc in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), where he is a recipient of the Carsten Stoehr Scholarship of the Department of Government. Concurrently, he is enrolled in an MPhil in Digital Humanities at Paris Sciences & Lettres, a consortium of prestigious French institutions including the École nationale des chartes (ENC), the École normale supérieure (ENS), among others. Related to his personal trajectory, his research interests include elections, authoritarian regimes, polarisation, party politics, and democratic norms, with a regional focus on European, Middle Eastern, and North African politics. Reda has gained extensive research experience, working as a Research Assistant at various renowned institutions like Sciences Po, Paris School of Economics, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Sorbonne Université, and the College of Europe.
Christy Un
Christy Un is a Development Finance Analyst at Development Reimagined, with her research focus on debt sustainability and infrastructure financing in African economies. As a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University, she examined to what extent digital inclusion is advanced under Chinese firm-led digital cooperation with Saudi Arabia. She is also a founding member of the university’s China-MENA Friendship Student Association. Christy previously worked as a Visiting Research Assistant at the United Nations University Institute in Macau, where she co-authored publications on citizen-centric cyber resilience. She had interned at the UNDP Chief Digital Office and UNHCR in Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan. She holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interest lies at the intersection of development cooperation, digital inclusion, and political economy in the MENA region.
Alyaa Hassan
Alyaa Hassan is a young professional working as a Consultant at Ecorys, an international research-based management consultancy. She has over 3 years’ experience in the International Development sector working across grant, fund, project management and new business. Her experience includes conducting market analysis, programme assessments, and business development activities such as proposal writing for projects across different thematic areas and for different donors, including The FCDO, The European Commission, The World Bank, USAID and more. Alyaa serves as a member of the Advisory Board (2023 – 25) for GirlDreamer, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering and uplifting young women of colour contributing to the organisation’s strategic planning and decision-making processes, providing recommendations to support its mission. Alyaa holds a BA in International Development with Economics from The University of East Anglia and is pursuing an MSc in Gender, Peace and Security at The London School of Economics and Political Science.
James Breen McDaid
James recently completed the Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asian Security Studies MLitt programme at the University of St Andrews. This followed on from his undergraduate degree at St Andrews, studying Arabic, French, and Spanish. As a postgraduate student he has covered diverse topics in his research, including the Iranian nuclear programme, neo-fundamentalist Islam in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Syrian foreign fighters in Libya, Hizballah’s role in Lebanon, and the changing nature of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. James’s masters dissertation investigated how propaganda on TikTok, in support of the newly emerged and Nablus-based Palestinian militant group “The Lions” seeks to influence the opinions of its audience. For future research, he is particularly interested in exploring the implications of an increasingly decentralised Palestinian armed resistance movement and rising Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, as the Palestinian Authority’s grip on power loosens and Israeli politics continues to shift further to the right-wing.
Alyaa Hassan
Alyaa Hassan is a young professional working as a Consultant at Ecorys, an international research-based management consultancy. She has over 3 years’ experience in the International Development sector working across grant, fund, project management and new business. Her experience includes conducting market analysis, programme assessments, and business development activities such as proposal writing for projects across different thematic areas and for different donors, including The FCDO, The European Commission, The World Bank, USAID and more. Alyaa serves as a member of the Advisory Board (2023 – 25) for GirlDreamer, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering and uplifting young women of colour contributing to the organisation’s strategic planning and decision-making processes, providing recommendations to support its mission. Alyaa holds a BA in International Development with Economics from The University of East Anglia and is pursuing an MSc in Gender, Peace and Security at The London School of Economics and Political Science.
James Breen McDaid
James recently completed the Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asian Security Studies MLitt programme at the University of St Andrews. This followed on from his undergraduate degree at St Andrews, studying Arabic, French, and Spanish. As a postgraduate student he has covered diverse topics in his research, including the Iranian nuclear programme, neo-fundamentalist Islam in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Syrian foreign fighters in Libya, Hizballah’s role in Lebanon, and the changing nature of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. James’s masters dissertation investigated how propaganda on TikTok, in support of the newly emerged and Nablus-based Palestinian militant group “The Lions” seeks to influence the opinions of its audience. For future research, he is particularly interested in exploring the implications of an increasingly decentralised Palestinian armed resistance movement and rising Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, as the Palestinian Authority’s grip on power loosens and Israeli politics continues to shift further to the right-wing.
