Amina ABDELKHAYER (Egypt)

Undergraduate student, Nuclear and Radiation Engineering, Alexandria University

Amina is an undergraduate at Alexandria University where she studies Nuclear and Radiation Engineering and a volunteer at IEEE Nuclear and Plasma sciences society. Her research interests include Nuclear Engineering applications and Artificial Intelligence, Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Materials, Nuclear Safety, Nonproliferation and Disarmament and Nuclear Policy.

Hussain ALHOWAIDI (Saudi Arabia)

Independent Gulf Security Analyst & Consultant; Member, Middle East Next Generation of Arms Control Specialists Network (MENACS)

Previously Hussain was an Intern at the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC ISU) of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. He holds a master’s degree in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Hussain’s research interests include WMD and missile proliferation in the Middle East, regional perception of disinformation and its effects on arms control, nonproliferation, and regional security issues, role of gender in establishing a WMDFZ in the Middle East.

Rizwan ASGHAR (Pakistan)

PhD candidate, Political Science, UC Davis

Rizwan is a PhD candidate in Political Science at University of California, Davis. His research focuses on international security, nuclear proliferation, civil-military relations and conflict dynamics. His dissertation project examines how imperfect civilian control of the military by the government affects the dynamics of bargaining and makes states more likely to be involved in both interstate and intrastate conflicts.

Jasmine AUDA (Jordan)

Deputy Managing Director, Middle East Scientific Institute for Security (MESIS)

Jasmine is the Deputy Managing Director at the Middle East Scientific Institute for Security (MESIS) –an independent Jordanian non-governmental organization based in Amman, associated with the Royal Scientific Society. In this capacity, Jasmine leads the design and development of programs that seek to address various risks to regional security in the Middle East. She is also the Program Manager for the Regional Radiation Detection Training Center, a newly-established MESIS initiative. Jasmine received her undergraduate degree from New York University, and a Master’s Degree from King’s College London.

Eve CUENCA (France)

M.A. Student, Geostrategy, Defence and International Security, Sciences Po Aix; Security Apprentice, Technip Energies (Global Security, Paris)

Previously Eve was a Research Intern at the French Institute for Anatolian Studies (Istanbul, Turkey) and at the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). She holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science & International Relations from Sciences Po Aix, France, and studied one year at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Tehran, Iran. Her master’s degree thesis focused on the Iranian foreign policy towards Pakistan.  Her research interests include Iranian foreign policy, nuclear program and the JCPOA, Iranian-Pakistani relations, security in the Persian Gulf and conflicts in Central Asia.

Nour EID (Lebanon)

M.A. student, International Security, Sciences Po Paris

Nour’s concentrations are on Middle Eastern Studies and Intelligence. Prior to her master’s degree, she completed an internship in the Nuclear Power Engineering Section of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Studies and International Law, from the American University of Beirut (AUB), in Lebanon. Her past work and publications are associated with the development of nuclear capabilities, both from the perspective of energy and the capacity for diversion in the pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Antonios ESKANDER (New Zealand)

Intern at the Disarmament and Security Centre

An alumnus of the Middle East Treaty Organisation summer course, Antonios is currently interning at the Disarmament and Security Centre, where he is working on engaging tertiary students in disarmament issues. Antonios is studying towards an LLB and a BA in political science and international relations at the University of Canterbury. His research interests include the roles civil society, small states and international law play in nuclear nonproliferation. He is fluent in English and French.

Jeremy FAUST (United States)

Presidential Management Fellow, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Jeremy is a 2020 Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Finalist. He holds a master’s degree in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and a master’s degree in International Relations from the Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO). Jeremy received his B.A. in Political Science, Cum Laude from Davidson College in 2017 and has previously worked at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and for Robert J. Abernethy, an LA-based philanthropist.

Benjamin FERNANDO (United Kingdom)

University of Oxford

Benjamin completed a masters’ degree in space physics at Imperial College London and a PhD at the University of Oxford in geophysics. His research focusses on the propagation and simulation of seismic waves in the ocean and atmosphere, with applications to nuclear monitoring. He is also a member of the Science Team for the NASA InSight mission to Mars. His research interests include forensic seismology, nuclear non-proliferation and space policy.

Tom HICKEY (Ireland)

Desk Officer, Middle East Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs

Previously Tom worked at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) as a Project Assistant for the Middle East WMD-free zone project. He holds a master’s degree in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and a master’s degree in International Relations from the Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO). Tom is an international security specialist with a focus on arms control, non-proliferation and strategic technologies.

Tianjiao JIANG (China)

Assistant professor, Development Institute, Fudan University

Dr. Tianjiao Jiang is an assistant professor at Fudan Development Institute. He also works as assistant director at Center for BRICS Studies and Cyberspace International Governance Research Institute, Fudan University. He earned his doctorate in 2018 from Fudan University where he specialized in arms control and regional security. His research focuses on non-proliferation, cybersecurity and strategic stability.

Aparna JOSHI (India)

Undergraduate student, University of Dehli

Previously Aparna has completed her schooling at Sanskriti School and has served on the secretariat of the Model United Nations body of her school. Aparna holds a certificate in Nuclear Security and Terrorism, examining the threat of nuclear war from Harvard and Duke Universities. She also holds a specialization in International Relations and disarmament interests, accumulated from various institutions of repute. She has also completed a specialization in Nuclear Law from the National Research Nuclear University MePhl. Her research interests include arms control in the developing world, strengthening of the nonproliferation frameworks and threat assessment of state and non-state actors in causing aggression.

Haeyoon KIM (Republic of Korea)

English editor, 2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Secretariat

Prior to joining the Secretariat, Haeyoon worked as a political researcher at the Korean Consulate General in New York, and as an interpreter/translator for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. She was awarded the Global Grant scholarship by the Rotary Foundation with a focus area in peace and conflict prevention/resolution in January 2020. Her research interests include peace and security, and nuclear non-proliferation in the Asia-Pacific region with an eye on North Korea. She holds an MPA degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

Gregory KOBZAR (Israel)

GIS Analyst, Israel Natural Resources and Conservation Authority

Gregory’s prior professional experience is mostly related to military and financial areas. He holds an M.A. degree in National Security Studies from Haifa University of Israel and a B.A. degree in Economics and Business. He is starting his PhD at the same University. Gregory’s main research interests include nuclear disarmament, nuclear weapons and national security, Middle Eastern politics, JCPOA, energy security, and international law.

Artem KVARTALNOV (Russia)

M.A. Student, International Relations, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

Previously Artem was an Intern at the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, an Intern at the Center for Policy Studies in Russia (PIR Center), and a Trainee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Artem got his undergraduate degree from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. His research interests include international security, arms control, deterrence, status issues in international politics, US-Russia relations, European security, and post-Soviet politics.

Daniel LEICHTE (Germany)

M.A. Student, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH)

Daniel is currently writing his thesis on outer space security and options for space arms control. He has completed his undergraduate degree at Leiden University in International Studies, specializing in Middle Eastern Studies. Daniel is passionate about civil society’s involvement in nuclear disarmament, space arms control, and the Middle East. He speaks German, English, Spanish as well as some Persian.

Zhaniya MUKATAY (Kazakhstan)

Undergraduate student, Economics, Nazarbayev University (NU)

Previously Zhaniya was an Undergraduate Research Assistant at NU and a Research Assistant in the International CoronaNet Research Project, which is a part of the PERISCOPE consortium, a project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. Zhaniya is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (with a minor in Mathematics) at Nazarbayev University. Her research interests include Energy Economics, Nuclear Power Economics, Development Economics, and Political Economy.

Tibyan MUSTAFA (Sudan)

Nuclear Inspector, Safeguards and Nuclear Security Directorate, Sudanese Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority

Tibyan is also a Teaching assistant at the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Sudan University of Science and Technology. She is a Sudanese Representative at the African Young Generation in Nuclear (AYGN). She is the coordinator of the Africa for Nuclear (A4N) Competition. She is an active member of the Nuclear Pride Coalition. Her research interests include Nuclear Security and Safeguards, Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament, and Nuclear Communications.

Qiyang NIU (China)

Project Officer, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)

Qiyang is a Project Officer with HD Centre’s Asia team where he designed, facilitates, and supports track-1.5/-2 diplomacy projects on tensions reduction and crises prevention in major China-related international conflicts. Previously he worked as a political reporter in Washington DC, interned at EastWest Institute as well as UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS in New York. His research interests include China-US maritime security, the South China Sea disputes, emerging technologies in armed conflicts, and implementation mechanisms in international treaties. Qiyang received his B.A. degree from Nanjing University and M.A. degree in European & Russian Studies from Yale University.

Laveen SAFARY (Kenya)

Managing Consultant; Pan African e-Waste Solutions Ltd,

Laveen worked as an Environmental Consultant and a Project Coordinator for Greenwise Consult Ltd in Kigali; and SHER Ingénieurs Conseils- s.a, Kigali, in the preparation and Implementation of the Rwanda National Water Resources Masterplan (NWRMP). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science at Kenyatta University, with a focus on Integrated Water Resources Management through the use of renewable energy. She has a Master’s degree in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Studies. Her research interests are in the areas of: Climate Change and Renewable energy; Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); and most recently Nuclear Proliferation and Climate Change.

Pranav SATYANATH (India)

Research Intern, Nuclear Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-proliferation Programme, SIPRI

Pranav obtained his MSc degree in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He was also a Student Research Assistant at RSIS. Previously, he worked as a Research Analyst at the Takshashila Institution in India where his research focused on issues related to nuclear strategy, space policy and weapons of the future. His research interests lie at the intersection of technology and policy. They include: arms control, nuclear strategy and the sociology and politics of technology.

Sanem TOPAL (Turkey)

M.A. Student, International Relations, Bilkent University

Previously Sanem was a research volunteer at Nuclear Information Service in London. She interned twice at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is currently a Research Fellow at the nuclear disarmament NGO, RealistRevolt. Sanem holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations with full scholarship from Bilkent University. She has received mentorship from the European Union Nonproliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPD). Her research interests include nuclear weapon modernization, Iranian nuclear program, NATO, transatlantic relations, U.S. foreign policy.

Sufian ULLAH (Pakistan)

Research Fellow, Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad

Sufian Ullah is a PhD candidate at the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He teaches International Relations as Visiting Faculty at the Department of International Relations, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad. He holds an M.Phil degree in Strategic & Nuclear Studies, from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. He is a former Visiting Fellow at the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies, Monterey, California. His areas of interest include nuclear strategy, arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament issues, strategic stability in South Asia, and maritime security in Indian Ocean with particular emphasis on emerging dynamics of sea-based nuclear deterrence in South Asia.

Laura VARELLA (Brazil)

Disarmament Programme Consultant, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)

Previously Laura was a legal officer at ARTICLE 19, an international NGO. Laura is currently a LL.M Candidate in International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. She holds a bachelor of laws from UNESP – University of the State of São Paulo (Brazil). Her research interests include: arms control, disarmament, gender and international law. She is fluent in English and Portuguese and has good knowledge of French and Spanish.

Jamie WITHORNE (United States)

M.A. Student, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Oslo; Affiliate, Oslo Nuclear Project

Previously, Jamie was a Research Assistant at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) where she focused on emerging technology, satellite imagery, and North Korea’s nuclear program. Jamie holds a BA in Political Science from Columbia University. Her research interests include: nuclear nonproliferation, North Korea’s nuclear program, and the impacts of emerging technology and data science on nuclear issues.