ISS Staff and Consultants
Leadership
Amelia Broodryk
Amelia Broodryk joined the ISS in 2007 and is currently director of communication and a member of the ISS' Executive Committee. Before joining the Communication department, she was a senior researcher in ISS' Transnational Threats and International Crime Programme. Amelia has a Master's degree in international studies from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Andrews Atta-Asamoah
Dr Andrews Atta-Asamoah is head of the African Peace and Security Governance programme in Pretoria. He joined the ISS in 2019 as a senior research fellow working in the ISS Addis Ababa office. Before taking up this position, he spent three years as a member of the UN’s Panel of Experts on South Sudan. Andy worked previously as an ISS senior researcher, and at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana. He has a PhD in political studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a Masters in international affairs from the University of Ghana.
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Eric Pelser
Eric Pelser is Head of the ENACT programme on transnational organised crime. Over the past 25 years, Eric has worked in government, the non-governmental and corporate sectors in a number of African countries. He has extensive experience in the public safety and development field, in the areas of programme management, design, evaluation and research. Eric has published on policing, criminal justice and crime prevention and has a Master’s degree in public and development management from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
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Fonteh Akum
Fonteh Akum is the executive director of the ISS. He is the former head of the Lake Chad Basin programme in the Dakar office. He joined the ISS in 2017 as a senior researcher in the Peace and Security Research Programme in Pretoria, after which he moved to ISS Dakar as a senior researcher. Before joining the ISS he worked for the United States Department of Defense, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, and the Africa Program of the United Nations University for Peace. Fonteh’s research covers violence, governance and human security in the Lake Chad Basin. He has a PhD in politics and international studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
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Gareth Newham
Gareth Newham joined the ISS in 2010 as head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, he was the strategy and policy advisor to the Gauteng Provincial Minister of Community Safety. Before that, Gareth worked in the Criminal Justice Programme at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. He has a Master’s degree in public and development management from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and a post graduate diploma in applied research methodology from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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Jakkie Cilliers
Jakkie Cilliers is the founder and former Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). He currently serves as chair of the ISS Board of Trustees and head of the African Futures and Innovation Programme at the Pretoria office of the ISS. His 2017 best-seller, Fate of the Nation, addresses South Africa’s futures from political, economic and social perspectives. His most recent book, Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution released in March 2020, takes a rigorous look at the emerging futures for other African nations and the continent as a whole.
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Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni
Dr Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni is Director of the ISS Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. She leads a team of researchers based in Dakar, Bamako, Abidjan, Abuja and N’Djamena. The Office works on key policy issues in the region such as violent extremism and terrorism, political instability, local conflicts, peace operations and political processes. Prior to joining the ISS in 2012, she worked as a researcher with the Network on Peace Operations at the University of Montreal, Canada, Radio-Canada and the Carter Center in Côte d’Ivoire. Lori-Anne has a PhD in anthropology from the University of Toronto, Canada. She conducts research and analyses conflicts, insecurity and violence from an anthropological perspective to inform current policy discussions and processes at national, regional and global levels.
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Ottilia Anna Maunganidze
Ottilia Anna Maunganidze joined the ISS in 2009 and is currently head of special projects in the office of the Executive Director. Before joining the ISS, Ottilia was a junior legal advisor and human rights education officer. She explores new areas of work for the ISS and helps to inform institutional strategy. Ottilia’s areas of interest are international criminal justice, international human rights law, and migration trends and policy. She has a Master of Laws degree in fundamental rights litigation and international human rights law from the University of South Africa.
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Paul-Simon Handy
Paul-Simon Handy is Director of the ISS Regional Office for East Africa and the Horn, based in Addis Ababa. He first joined the ISS in 2007 and held various positions, including division head, research director and acting deputy executive director. He was on the UN Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic between 2013 and 2018 before rejoining the ISS in 2019 as a senior advisor. Paul-Simon is a visiting lecturer at Rhodes University in South Africa and held teaching positions at the Free University of Berlin before acting as Associate Fellow with the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik in Berlin. He studied political science and international relations at the universities of Yaounde, Berlin and Leipzig where he obtained his PhD in 2005.
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Thavan Rajoo
Thavan Rajoo joined the ISS in 2015. He is the director of finance and a member of the ISS’ Executive Committee. He has 20 years’ experience working with leading international companies such as Rio Tinto and Motorola. He held senior shared services management positions in both companies and was a director at Rio Tinto. Thavan is experienced in facilities management, payroll, procurement, company secretarial and tax. He has a National Diploma in internal auditing and a Bachelor of Commerce in business management.
Tonette Grütter
Tonette Grütter is the director of operations and human resources and a member of the ISS’ Executive Committee. She rejoined the ISS in 2012 after working as the organisation’s human resources manager from 2002 to 2005. Tonette studied Clinical Psychology and Industrial Relations and specialised in human resources, employee relations, and organisational development. She was a founding member and director of Synergy Labour (Pty) Ltd, a labour relations, human resources, and remuneration specialist consultancy company. Before that, she worked as human resources manager at Rovos Rail (Pty) Ltd. Tonette is studying towards an MBA at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
Expertise
Adivhaho Ramaite
Adivhaho Florence Ramaite joined ISS in April 2023 as a Research Officer in the Executive Director’s office in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, Adivhaho was a public policy and stakeholder relations officer at Frontline Africa Advisory. Her areas of interest include public policy, human security, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, governance and diplomacy. Adivhaho has a Master’s degree in political and international relations from Rhodes University, South Africa.
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Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo
Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo is a senior research consultant at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria. She is a migration expert who has worked for five years as a senior migration consultant, researching and implementing responses in high-flow regions, including Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She has a thorough understanding of migration drivers and migrant behaviour at a time of unprecedented movement, particularly in high-risk and fragile environments.
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Alize le Roux
Alize le Roux joined the ISS in May 2021 as a Senior Researcher in the African Futures and Innovation programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, she worked as a principal geo-informatics researcher at the CSIR where she supported various local and national policy and decision-makers with long term planning support. Alize has 14 years of experience in spatial data analysis, disaster risk reduction and urban and regional modelling. She has a Master’s degree in geographical sciences from the University of Utrecht, Netherlands, specialising in multi-hazard risk assessments and spatial decision support systems.
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Andrews Atta-Asamoah
Dr Andrews Atta-Asamoah is head of the African Peace and Security Governance programme in Pretoria. He joined the ISS in 2019 as a senior research fellow working in the ISS Addis Ababa office. Before taking up this position, he spent three years as a member of the UN’s Panel of Experts on South Sudan. Andy worked previously as an ISS senior researcher, and at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana. He has a PhD in political studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a Masters in international affairs from the University of Ghana.
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Anine Kriegler
Anine Kriegler joined the ISS in May 2023 is a Senior Researcher in the Justice and Violence Prevention programme, based in Cape Town. Before that, she worked as a postdoctoral research fellow and lecturer in the Centre of Criminology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Anine’s areas of interest include crime prevalence and drug policy. She has a PhD in criminology from the University of Cape Town.
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Ayanda Mazibuko
Ayanda Mazibuko joined the ISS in January 2021 as a Junior Researcher with the Justice and Violence Prevention programme. Before joining the ISS, she was a socio-economic development researcher at Siyathembana (Pty) Ltd. Ayanda's key areas of interest include the achievement of sustainable human security, with a focus on gender-related issues and advocating for the realisation of queer rights in Africa. Ayanda has a Master's degree specialising in development studies from the University of the Witwatersrand.
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Aïssatou Kanté
Aïssatou Kanté is a Researcher in the Dakar office. She joined the ISS in 2016 as an IDRC junior fellow. Aïssatou’s areas of interest are security and governance issues in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Prior to joining the ISS, she worked as an intern at IREMOS, a safety and crisis management consultancy company in France. Aïssatou has a Master’s degrees in strategic studies from the Paris XIII - Sorbonne Paris Cité University and in risk management from Paris Nanterre University.
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Blessing Chipanda
Blessing Chipanda joined the ISS in January 2023 and is currently a senior research consultant working in the African Futures and Innovation programme. Before joining ISS, he worked as a research assistant and assistant lecturer at the University of Pretoria's economics department. Blessing's interests lie in international trade, development economics, public policy, monetary policy and econometric modelling. He has a PhD in economics from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Borges Nhamirre
Borges Nhamirre joined ISS in May 2021 as a Research Consultant in the Southern Africa programme. Before that, he was a senior researcher and research coordinator at the Centre for Public Integrity in Maputo. He also worked as the Maputo correspondent for Bloomberg News. Borges has a Master's degree in security studies specialising in maritime security from Joaquim Chissano University, Maputo. He is working on his PhD in history at Queens University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Carina Bruwer
Carina Bruwer joined ISS in September 2022 as a Senior Researcher for the ENACT organised crime programme based in Cape Town. She is an admitted attorney and has previously worked for the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Global Maritime Crime Programme. Her research covered international law and criminology, focusing on global responses to organised crimes at sea around the eastern African coast. Carina has a PhD in public international law from the University of Cape Town.
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Catherine Moat
Catherine Moat joined the ISS in September 2019 as the Project Manager for the Complex Threats in Africa Programme in Pretoria. She has extensive project management experience in local, international and academic institutions. More recently, Catherine headed the policing programme at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance. Her experience includes materials development, facilitation and training with civil society and the public sector in Southern Africa on public security, policing, organised crime and governance. Catherine has a Master's degree in social development from the University of Manchester.
Chandré Gould
Chandré Gould joined the ISS in 2006 and is a Senior Research Fellow in the Justice and Violence Prevention programme. Her work focuses on violence prevention and criminal justice, and she convenes South Africa’s Violence Prevention Forum. The forum brings together government officials, academics, NGOs and other stakeholders to inform and support the scale-up of evidence-based violence prevention programmes nationally. Chandré has authored numerous books, monographs and articles on subjects ranging from biological weapons control to human trafficking and violence prevention. She has extensive experience in implementing violence prevention interventions at community level and informing policy and practice at national and provincial level in South Africa. She has a PhD from Rhodes University in South Africa.
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Cheryl Frank
Cheryl Frank joined the ISS in 2009 as director of the Pretoria office. She is currently a project manager in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, Cheryl was executive director at child rights organisation RAPCAN, director of the Criminal Justice Initiative at the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, research and programmes director at APCOF, and researcher at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cape Town. She began her career as a social worker with the National Institute for Crime and the Rehabilitation of Offenders. Cheryl has a Bachelor of Social Science (Social Work) degree from the University of Natal, and a MBA from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
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Célestin Delanga
Célestin Delanga joined the ISS in January 2023 as a Research Officer in the Lake Chad Basin Project in Dakar. Célestin has worked for several humanitarian organisations, mainly in the Far North of Cameroon. He was also a project manager at the African Positive Peace Initiative in Cameroon. Célestin has a PhD in ethics and political philosophy from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon and a Master’s degree in international relations.
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David Willima
David Willima joined the ISS in August 2021 as a Research Officer working on maritime security in the Pretoria office. Prior to joining the ISS, David worked for the Environmental Learning and Research Center at Rhodes University in South Africa as a research assistant on the One Ocean Hub Project. After that he joined Caritas-Zambia as an election monitoring provincial coordinator in the Democracy and Governance Unit. David has an Honours degree in political and international studies from Rhodes University and is studying towards a Master’s degree on migration and (in)security.
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Dawit Yohannes
Dawit Yohannes is Project Manager for Training for Peace based in ISS Addis Ababa. He joined the ISS in July 2018 as a senior researcher. Dawit has worked on peace, security and migration governance and was a researcher and programme manager for GIZ AU Africa Peace and Security Program, the University of Leipzig and the African Peace Missions Project run by the World Peace Foundation at Fletcher School of Tufts University. Dawit has a PhD in global studies from the University of Leipzig and Addis Ababa University’s joint programme.
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Denys Reva
Denys Reva joined the ISS in July 2016 as a consultant in the Transnational Threats and International Crime programme and is currently a Researcher working on maritime security and development for the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding Programme in Pretoria. His areas of interest include maritime security, piracy, the blue economy, peacebuilding and violence prevention. Before joining the ISS, he worked at the University of Pretoria in South Africa as a content tutor in the Department of Political Sciences. Denys has a Master’s degree in security studies from the University of Pretoria.
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Dhesigen Naidoo
Dhesigen Naidoo joined the ISS in September 2021 as a Senior Research Associate in Pretoria. He is a leader, a scientist and an activist for positive social change and has led the Water Research Commission in South Africa for 10 years. Dhesigen is a member of the Presidential Climate Change Commission, President of the global NGO Human Right 2 Water and a founding member of the Water Policy Group. Previously, he held senior positions in the South African government and South African universities. He is a Councillor of the South African National Advisory Council on Innovation and a Fellow of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection.
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Djiby Sow
Djiby Sow joined the ISS in May 2023 as a Senior Research Consultant in the Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel. Prior to that, he worked as a political affairs officer for the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. Djiby also worked as a consultant on political and security issues in the Sahel for the World Bank and African Union. He has also worked in the private sector, for law firms and a political consultancy. Djiby has a BA in political science and an LLM in international law from the Université de Montréal (Canada).
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Edknowledge Mandikwaza
Edknowledge Mandikwaza joined the ISS in August 2024 as a Senior Researcher in the project on Enhancing Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Governance in Africa, covering Southern and East Africa. Before that, he was a programme director of Africa engagement and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria's Centre for Mediation in Africa. Edknowledge has a PhD in public administration and peace studies from the Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Elizabeth Sirengo
Elizabeth Sirengo joined the ISS in 2020 as a Researcher and Coordinator for the African Peace and Security Governance Programme in Addis Ababa. Before joining the ISS, she worked in the Department of Political Affairs at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa on various projects related to peace, conflict, migration and forced displacement. Elizabeth has post graduate degrees in international peace studies from the University for Peace in Costa Rica and in international migration from the University of Kent, Brussels Campus.
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Emmaculate Asige Liaga
Emmaculate Asige Liaga joined the ISS in November 2022 as a Researcher in the Training for Peace (TFP) Project in ISS Addis Ababa. Prior to joining the ISS, she worked for various organisations as a consultant and researcher. Emmaculate is an Associate Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation, a former Woodrow Wilson Centre Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, a Next-Generation Social Sciences fellow, and a former Chevening Scholar. She has a PhD from the University of Pretoria in conjunction with the University of Basel.
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Enoch Randy Aikins
Enoch Randy Aikins joined the ISS in January 2022 as a Researcher in the African Futures and Innovation programme in Pretoria. He had been working for ISS as a research consultant since May 2021. Before that, Enoch was a research and programmes officer at the Institute for Democratic Governance in Accra. He also worked as a research assistant (economic division) with the Institute for Statistical Social and Economic Research at the University of Ghana. Enoch’s interests include African politics and governance, economic development, public sector reform and poverty and inequality. He has an MPhil in economics from the University of Ghana, Legon.
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Eric Pelser
Eric Pelser is Head of the ENACT programme on transnational organised crime. Over the past 25 years, Eric has worked in government, the non-governmental and corporate sectors in a number of African countries. He has extensive experience in the public safety and development field, in the areas of programme management, design, evaluation and research. Eric has published on policing, criminal justice and crime prevention and has a Master’s degree in public and development management from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
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Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné
Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné is Project Manager for the ISS' Sahel work. He joined ISS in 2021 as a senior researcher in the Sahel programme based in Bamako, Mali. Before that, he held several consultancy positions with the African Security Sector Network, the National Democratic Institute in Abidjan and Search for Common Ground. Fahiraman worked with Freedom House on the Ivorian transition justice process and coordinated the conflict management research and civic education programs at the Centre de Recherche et d’Action pour la Paix in Abidjan. Fahiraman has a Master’s degree in socio-anthropology from the University of Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, and is a Phd candidate in political sociology at the same institution.
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Contact Fahiraman Rodrigue
Feyi Ogunade
Feyi Ogunade joined ISS in September 2022 as the Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator for West Africa, based in Abuja, Nigeria. He was previously the executive director of AU Watch, and a senior legal officer at the African Union. Feyi has 30 years of experience that include work as a journalist, international legal expert on African human rights, lecturer and fundraiser. He serves on several company boards and advisory committees for non-profits, and is involved in development initiatives across Africa. Feyi has studied international relations, international human rights law and political science, and has a PhD from the University of York.
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Fonteh Akum
Fonteh Akum is the executive director of the ISS. He is the former head of the Lake Chad Basin programme in the Dakar office. He joined the ISS in 2017 as a senior researcher in the Peace and Security Research Programme in Pretoria, after which he moved to ISS Dakar as a senior researcher. Before joining the ISS he worked for the United States Department of Defense, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, and the Africa Program of the United Nations University for Peace. Fonteh’s research covers violence, governance and human security in the Lake Chad Basin. He has a PhD in politics and international studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
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Gareth Newham
Gareth Newham joined the ISS in 2010 as head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, he was the strategy and policy advisor to the Gauteng Provincial Minister of Community Safety. Before that, Gareth worked in the Criminal Justice Programme at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. He has a Master’s degree in public and development management from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and a post graduate diploma in applied research methodology from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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Guyo Chepe Turi
Guyo Chepe Turi joined the ISS in July 2023 as a Research Officer in the East Africa Peace and Security Governance project in Nairobi. Before that, Guyo worked as a consultant with International IDEA and ISS Nairobi. His areas of interest are conflict analysis, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Guyo is a PhD candidate in conflict and peace studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya where he obtained a Master’s degree in armed conflict and peace studies.
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Halkano Wario
Halkano Abdi Wario joined the ISS in June 2023 as the ENACT programme's Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator for Eastern Africa, based in Nairobi. Before that he was associate director at the Center for Study of Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalization at the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies and a senior lecturer at Egerton University, Kenya. Halkano has a PhD in religion (Islamic studies) from Bayreuth University, Germany and an MPhil in religion from Moi University, Kenya.
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Hassane Kone
Hassane Kone is a Senior Researcher in the ISS Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. He is a retired colonel of the Mauritanian Gendarmerie with 34 years of experience. Hassane served for 20 years in Mauritania’s intelligence services and four years in the judicial police. From 2012 to 2015 he was the liaison officer with the SERVAL Operation command and the MINUSMA Force Commander in Mali. After returning to Mauritania, he was appointed General Inspector of Armed and Security Forces in 2016. After retiring from the national forces, he worked with DRC’s Security Sector Reform Support Program team for just over a year.
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Isel Ras
Isel Ras joined the ISS in 2017 and is currently a Research Consultant in the Southern Africa Programme in Pretoria. She works on issues such as the preventing and countering violent extremism and how it pertains to the Southern African region. She was previously a Research Officer in the Pretoria Complex Threats in Africa Programme (CTAP). She has a Master’s degree in advanced European and international studies from the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE) in Nice, France.
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Jacobus du Toit McLachlan
Jacobus du Toit McLachlan
Jacobus du Toit McLachlan joined the ISS in January 2021 and is a Researcher in the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) Programme based in Pretoria. He started working with the ISS in February 2021 as an extern from the Auwal Socio-economic Research Institute, and after that worked as a consultant for AFI. Du Toit has an Honours degree in international relations from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Jakkie Cilliers
Jakkie Cilliers is the founder and former Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). He currently serves as chair of the ISS Board of Trustees and head of the African Futures and Innovation Programme at the Pretoria office of the ISS. His 2017 best-seller, Fate of the Nation, addresses South Africa’s futures from political, economic and social perspectives. His most recent book, Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution released in March 2020, takes a rigorous look at the emerging futures for other African nations and the continent as a whole.
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Jeannine Ella A Abatan
Jeannine Ella A Abatan joined the ISS in 2015 and is currently a Senior Researcher in the ISS’ Dakar office, where she coordinates a project on gender and violent extremism in Mali and Niger. Her work covers peace and security issues in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. She started at the ISS as an IDRC junior fellow. Before joining the ISS, she worked at the University of Pretoria in South Africa as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences. Ella has a Master’s degree in security studies from the University of Pretoria. She is also a Mandela Washington fellow.
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Jody van der Heyde
Jody van der Heyde is the Global INSPIRE Working Group Coordinator in the Justice and Violence Prevention programme in ISS Pretoria. She joined the ISS in 2021 as an intern in the evidence-based policing project. Jody's research interests include femicide and the intersections between violence against women and children. She has a Master’s degree in criminology from the University of Manchester, where she did her thesis on intimate femicide in South Africa.
Karen Allen
Karen Allen is a Consultant at the ISS in Pretoria. She joined the ISS in June 2019 as Senior Research Advisor: Emerging threats in Africa, in the office of the executive director. For the past 15 years Karen was a senior BBC foreign correspondent in Nairobi and Johannesburg. She has an interest in the relationship between terrorism and global justice, technology and human security. She is a Visiting Fellow at King's College London in the Department of War Studies. Karen has a Master’s degree in international relations and contemporary war from King's College London.
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Kgaugelo Mkumbeni
Kgaugelo Mkumbeni is a Research Officer in the Climate Risk and Human Security project in Pretoria. She joined the ISS in August 2023 as an intern in the same project. Before that, she worked on climate policy issues at the South African Institute of International Affairs. As a former head delegate of the G20 Youth South African delegation, she drafted policy proposals for G20 states on climate change. Kgaugelo has also served as a SADC Youth Parliament member and was South Africa's youth representative for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. She has a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in political and international studies from Rhodes University, South Africa.
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Lizette Lancaster
Lizette Lancaster joined the ISS in 2010 as a consultant in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in Pretoria. She is currently the project manager of the Crime and Justice Information Hub, providing data and analysis on crime and public violence in South Africa. Before joining the ISS, Lizette was the head of research at a survey company, Development Research Africa. Her research experience covers the design, implementation and reporting of large-scale health and security surveys. Lizette has a Master’s degree in development studies.
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Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni
Dr Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni is Director of the ISS Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. She leads a team of researchers based in Dakar, Bamako, Abidjan, Abuja and N’Djamena. The Office works on key policy issues in the region such as violent extremism and terrorism, political instability, local conflicts, peace operations and political processes. Prior to joining the ISS in 2012, she worked as a researcher with the Network on Peace Operations at the University of Montreal, Canada, Radio-Canada and the Carter Center in Côte d’Ivoire. Lori-Anne has a PhD in anthropology from the University of Toronto, Canada. She conducts research and analyses conflicts, insecurity and violence from an anthropological perspective to inform current policy discussions and processes at national, regional and global levels.
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Maram Mahdi
Maram Mahdi is a Researcher in the African Peace and Security Governance Programme, ISS Addis Ababa. She joined the ISS in 2017 as a consultant for the ENACT project on transnational organised crime. Maram's area of interest is international criminal justice and transitional justice. She has a post-graduate certificate in humanitarian responses to conflict and disaster from HarvardX and a Master’s degree in security studies from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Margaret Monyani
Margaret Monyani joined the ISS in July 2022 as a Senior Researcher working on migration in the Special Projects programme based in Pretoria. Prior to joining the ISS, she was a guest researcher at the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Margaret also previously worked as a sessional lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), South Africa. She has a PhD in international relations from WITS, and a Master's in international relations from Moi University, Kenya.
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Martin Ewi
Martin Ewi joined the ISS in 2010 as a senior researcher in the Transnational Threats and International Crime Programme in Pretoria. He is currently the Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator for Southern Africa in the ENACT Programme. Before joining the ISS, he was political affairs officer at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague. Before that, Martin led the African Union Commission’s counter-terrorism programme in Addis Ababa. He has a Master’s degree in international peace studies from the University of Notre Dame, at Southbend, Indiana, USA.
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Marvellous Ngundu
Marvellous Ngundu joined the ISS in November 2024 as a Research Consultant in the African Futures and Innovation programme in Pretoria. Marvellous received the 2024 Megatrends Afrika Research Fellowship at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, and the 2020/2021 China Africa Research Initiative fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, USA. He spent time as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is interested in international, political and development economics, with a focus on Africa-China economic relations. Marvellous has a PhD in economics from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Matodzi Michelle Amisi
Matodzi Michelle Amisi is a Senior Research Consultant in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in ISS Pretoria. She is an experienced researcher, evaluator, trainer, and former public servant. Matodzi is also a research associate at the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results at Wits University. From 2005–2013 she worked in the Commission on Gender Equality and the Departments of Human Settlements and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. Matodzi has a keen interest in M&E and evidence use in violence prevention, focusing on what works to prevent violence against women and children. She has been involved in the Violence Prevention Forum since 2016.
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Maurice Toupane
Paulin Maurice Toupane is a Senior Researcher in the Dakar office. He joined the ISS in 2012 as a junior fellow. His interests include peace and security, political and electoral issues, conflict resolution, governance and democracy. Maurice has a Master's degree in political science and international relations from Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal.
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Meressa Kahsu
Meressa Kahsu Dessu joined the ISS in 2013 as a Senior Researcher and Training Coordinator in the Training for Peace Programme (TfP), in the Addis Ababa office. TfP is run by the ISS’ Peace Operations and Peacebuilding Programme. Before joining the ISS, Meressa was a commander in the Ethiopian Federal Police Services. In this capacity, he also worked on the UN peace operation mission in South Sudan. He has 20 years’ experience in police operations, police training and security research.
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Michael Sitawa
Michael Sitawa joined the ISS in Nairobi in August 2024 as a Researcher in the project on Enhancing Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Governance in Africa, covering Southern and East Africa. Before that, he was a researcher in the Peace and Security Research Department of the International Peace Support Training Centre and a faculty member of the National Defence University in Kenya. He has a PhD in sociology from Kenyatta University, Kenya.
Mike Muzekenyi
Dr Mike Muzekenyi joined the ISS in 2024 as a Research Consultant with the African Futures and Innovation programme in Pretoria. Mike is passionate about improving livelihoods in Africa and transforming the continent’s economic future. His areas of interest include agriculture, services, energy and mining. He has a PhD in development economics from the University of Venda, South Africa.
Moses Chrispus Okello
Moses Chrispus Okello joined the ISS in June 2024 as a Senior Researcher in the Horn of Africa Security Analysis Programme. Before that he held positions in the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Refugee Law Project at Makerere University, Intergovernmental Organization on Development (IGAD) and United Nations. He also worked as a consultant for various governmental and non-governmental entities. Okello's research interests include conflict resolution and mediation, transitional justice, political economy, gender and intersectionality, and human rights. He has a dual degree in political science and forced migration from the American University in Cairo.
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Moussa Soumahoro
Moussa Soumahoro joined the ISS in February 2023 as a Researcher in the Africa Peace and Security Governance programme in Addis Ababa. Before that, he was a research officer at the Institute for Peace and Security Studies in Addis Ababa. He also worked as a programme assistant at Interpeace, and a consultant for the Country Risks and Vulnerabilities Assessment project supporting the ECOWAS Early Warning System. Moussa has a Master's degree in conflict and peace management from the Centre for Research and Action for Peace, University in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
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Ndubuisi Ani
Ndubuisi Christian Ani joined the ISS in January 2021 as a Senior Researcher and Project Coordinator in the ENACT Programme, based in Abuja, Nigeria. Before that he was a senior regional advisor on the GIZ support project at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana. Christian worked for ISS in 2016 as a researcher on the Peace and Security Council Report at ISS Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also had a research role at the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes in South Africa. He has a PhD in international relations from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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Nelson Baiye Mbu
Nelson Baiye Mbu joined the ISS in September 2024 as a Researcher in the Conflict Prevention, Management and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region project based in Nairobi. Before that, he worked as a human rights reporting and investigation officer at the UN Joint Human Rights Office/MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nelson has a Master’s degree in international relations (specialising in international disputes) from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Nicodemus Minde
Nicodemus Minde joined the ISS in February 2024 as a Researcher in the East Africa Peace and Security Governance project in Nairobi. Before joining ISS, Minde worked as an associate researcher at the Centre for Strategic Studies in Zanzibar, Tanzania and as an assistant professor of international relations at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. His research has covered Tanzanian politics, international relations, China-Africa relations and conflict in East Africa. Minde has a PhD in international relations from the United States International University – Africa.
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Nirvaly Mooloo
Nirvaly Mooloo is a Consultant Research Officer working on Central Africa and the Great Lakes. She joined the ISS in 2023 as a research intern in the Executive Director’s office in Pretoria. Before that, Nirvaly was a research intern at Human Rights Watch. Her areas of interest include conflict dynamics, governance and human rights in Central Africa and the Great Lakes. She has an Honors degree in international relations from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Oluwole Ojewale
Oluwole Ojewale is the ENACT Programme’s Regional Organised Crime Observatory (ROCO) coordinator for Central Africa, based in Dakar. Before joining ISS, Oluwole was the head of research and strategy development department at CLEEN Foundation in Abuja. He led extensive research engagements on policing, accountable governance for justice and security, human rights, preventing and countering violent extremism, civil-military relations, human trafficking, and election security threat assessments. Oluwole recently completed his PhD degree at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.
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Ottilia Anna Maunganidze
Ottilia Anna Maunganidze joined the ISS in 2009 and is currently head of special projects in the office of the Executive Director. Before joining the ISS, Ottilia was a junior legal advisor and human rights education officer. She explores new areas of work for the ISS and helps to inform institutional strategy. Ottilia’s areas of interest are international criminal justice, international human rights law, and migration trends and policy. She has a Master of Laws degree in fundamental rights litigation and international human rights law from the University of South Africa.
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Paul-Simon Handy
Paul-Simon Handy is Director of the ISS Regional Office for East Africa and the Horn, based in Addis Ababa. He first joined the ISS in 2007 and held various positions, including division head, research director and acting deputy executive director. He was on the UN Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic between 2013 and 2018 before rejoining the ISS in 2019 as a senior advisor. Paul-Simon is a visiting lecturer at Rhodes University in South Africa and held teaching positions at the Free University of Berlin before acting as Associate Fellow with the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik in Berlin. He studied political science and international relations at the universities of Yaounde, Berlin and Leipzig where he obtained his PhD in 2005.
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Priyal Singh
Priyal Singh joined the ISS in November 2017 and is a Senior Researcher in the Africa in the World Project and Training for Peace Programme in Pretoria. His areas of interest include institutional theory and development, particularly on global governance, security and stability. Before joining the ISS he worked as a researcher at the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in Durban, South Africa. He has a Master’s degree with distinction, in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
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Rahel Hassen
Rahel Hassen joined the ISS in August 2023 as Project Manager and Senior Researcher for East Africa, based in Nairobi. Before joining ISS, she was the regional manager for Africa at Child Helpline International. Rahel has worked with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF and Coalition for the International Criminal Court. She has an LLM from the University of Pretoria – Center for Human Rights and an LLB from Gondar University, Ethiopia.
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Raoul Sumo Tayo
Raoul Sumo Tayo joined the ISS in June 2024 as a Senior Researcher in the ENACT programme, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Prior to this, he worked for the Small Arms Surveys, the Center for Peace, Security and Integration Studies, the University of Maroua and the Centre for Strategic Studies and Innovations. Raoul’s research interests include borders, counterinsurgency, vigilantism and contemporary criminal threats. He studied sociology at the University of Liège, Belgium and history of international relations at the University of Yaoundé 1, where he obtained his PhD in 2017.
Remadji Hoinathy
Remadji Hoinathy joined the ISS in March 2019 and is a Senior Researcher for Central Africa and the Great Lakes Region. He was previously a Senior Researcher based in N'Djamena, Chad. Before joining ISS, he headed the Human Sciences and Anthropology Research Center in Chad. Remadji is also a former fellow of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany. His research focuses on natural resources governance and other socio-political dynamics in Chad. He has a PhD in social anthropology from Martin Luther University, Germany.
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Ringisai Chikohomero
Ringisai Chikohomero joined the ISS in 2018 as a Research Consultant in the Southern Africa project in Pretoria. Before taking up this position, Ringisai was a regional analyst at Political Economy Southern Africa where he conducted research on regional integration and political developments in Southern Africa. Ringisai has also worked as a development advisor with the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV in Zimbabwe. He has a Master of Arts degree in development management from Ruhr University, Bochum.
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Samira Aden Abdi
Samira Aden Abdi joined the ISS in November 2024 as a Research Officer in the ENACT project. Before that, she was a project assistant for ENACT at the ISS. Prior to joining ISS, Samira worked at Helping Hands for Relief and Development as a research assistant. She has a Bachelor’s degree in international relations from the United States International University Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
Sampson Kwarkye
Sampson Kwarkye is Project Manager for Littoral West African states. He joined ISS in 2018 as a senior researcher based in Abuja, Nigeria. Before that, he was senior advisor and deputy team leader to the GIZ Support Programme at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Accra, Ghana. He also worked in research positions at ECOWAS’ Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa, and the New York University Center on International Cooperation. Sam has a Master’s degree in international development from the University of Kent, UK and a Bachelor’s degree in financial information analysis from Clarkson University, New York, USA.
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Selam Tadesse Demissie
Selam Tadesse is a Researcher in the Addis Ababa office. She joined the ISS in March 2018 as an intern in the Peace Operation and Peacebuilding programme. Before working for the ISS, Selam was a consultant and attorney. She has a Master’s degree in peace and security studies from Addis Ababa University.
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Senzekile Bengu
Sinenhlanhla Bengu joined the ISS in October 2021 as a Research Officer with the Justice and Violence Prevention programme in Pretoria. Prior to joining the ISS, Sine was an assistant researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she looked at the impact of conflict, inequality and poor service delivery on the social contract and social cohesion. She is passionate about education and social justice. Sine has a Master’s degree in peacebuilding and development from the University of Limerick, Ireland.
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Sidy Mariko
Sidy Soungalo Mariko joined the ISS in August 2024 as a Researcher in the project on Enhancing Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Governance in Africa, covering West and Central Africa. Before that, he was an associate researcher with Folke Bernadotte Academy in Sweden, lecturer at the University of Legal and Political Science of Bamako and assistant professor at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon. Sidy has a PhD in governance and regional integration from the Pan African University and the University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon.
Tadesse Simie Metekia
Dr Tadesse Simie Metekia is a Senior Researcher in the Rule of Law project based in ISS Addis Ababa. Before that, he was a senior researcher in the ISS ENACT programme. His areas of expertise are transnational and international crimes, transitional justice, conflict and peace studies, criminal law and criminology. Before joining ISS, he taught comparative and international criminal law at Jimma University, Ethiopia. He has also served as a prosecution consultant for the USDOJ and the Netherlands Openbaar Ministerie. Tadesse has a PhD in international crimes and justice from the University of Groningen.
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Tegbaru Yared
Tegbaru Yared is a Researcher in the Horn of Africa Security and Analysis Programme in Addis Ababa. Before joining ISS, he was a director general at the Ethiopian Ministry of Peace and also served as an advisor to the Ministry. Tegbaru also has seven years’ experience as a lecturer at Addis Ababa University’s Center for Federal and Governance Studies. His areas of expertise are ethnicity and nationalism, memory studies, conflict and peace studies, and federalism. Tegbaru has a Master’s degree in federalism and governance studies from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
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Tem Fuh Mbuh
Tem Fuh Mbuh joined the ISS in June 2024 as a Project Manager based in Nairobi. Prior to this, he was the acting division director for security and rights at Open Society Africa. He also worked as Nigeria country officer and program officer on equality, justice and human rights for the Open Society Initiative for West Africa in Dakar, Senegal. Before that, he was a legal officer with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in Banjul, Gambia. Tem has a Master’s degree in human rights and democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and a Bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Buea, Cameroon. He is also a YALI Fellow (University of Virginia) and a Fisher Family Fellow (Stanford University).
Thandi van Heyningen
Thandi van Heyningen joined the ISS in March 2022 as a Senior Researcher in the Justice and Violence Prevention programme in ISS Pretoria. She worked as an ISS research consultant from February 2020. Her work focuses on developing interventions to break and prevent intergenerational cycles of violence. Before joining the ISS, Thandi was a researcher in public mental health at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She is a registered clinical psychologist and has a PhD in public health from UCT, a Master's in clinical psychology from the University of KwaZulu Natal and a Master's in international relations from Stellenbosch University.
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Timothy Walker
Timothy Walker is the Maritime Project Leader and a Senior Researcher at ISS Pretoria. He leads a project that aims to strengthen African maritime security institutions. Since 2011 he has worked to promote maritime security as a policy priority with organisations such as the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Timothy has a Master’s degree in political and international studies from Rhodes University, South Africa.
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Titilope Ajayi
Titilope Ajayi joined the ISS in August 2024 as a Senior Researcher in the project on Enhancing Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Governance in Africa, covering West and Central Africa. Before that, she consulted for DCAF, the African Security Sector Network, GIZ-ECOWAS and other international organisations. She has also served as head of research with the West Africa Civil Society Institute and West Africa Fellow/Analyst, International Crisis Group. Titilope is a research associate in politics and governance with ODI and a member of the African Security Sector Network. She has a PhD in international affairs from the University of Ghana.
Tsion Belay
Tsion Belay joined the ISS in November 2023 as a Researcher with the Training for Peace project in Addis Ababa. Tsion has over 10 years of experience as a conflict and peacebuilding researcher and practitioner, including with the African Union, the Life and Peace Institute and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies. She has a Master’s degree in Human Rights from Addis Ababa University and is finalising her Executive Master in managing peace and security in Africa at the same institution.
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Tumi Mkhize
Tumi Mkhize is a Research Officer in the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) Programme in Pretoria. She joined the ISS in May 2023 as an AFI intern. Before that, Tumi worked as an operations intern at Uber. She has a Bachelor’s degree in economics and econometrics from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa and is finalising her Honours degree in economics.
Vanya Gastrow
Vanya Gastrow joined the ISS in February 2024 as a Senior Researcher in the Justice and Violence Prevention programme. Before joining the ISS, Vanya was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Public Law at the University of Cape Town. Over the past 14 years, she has worked and consulted on research projects relating to migration, policing and access to justice. Vanya has a PhD in migration studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
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Willem Els
Willem Els joined the ISS in 2013 and is a Senior Training Coordinator in the ENACT organised crime programme in the Pretoria office. Before that, he was commander of the Pretoria Explosives Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Willem joined the SAPS in 1984 and served in various units including the Guard Unit, Anti Hijack Unit, Crime Intelligence Service and Explosives Unit, where he ran various bomb disposal training courses for the Explosives Unit, K9 unit, VIP unit and Special Task Force. Willem has completed several bomb disposal and investigation courses in South Africa and abroad.
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William Assanvo
William Assanvo is a Senior Researcher for the ISS, based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He joined the ISS in 2014 as a Senior Researcher in the Dakar office. Before that, he worked with the Mano River Union Secretariat as a peace and security expert. William has held several consultancy positions with Global Integrity, the Centre for Strategies and Security for the Sahel Sahara (Centre4S), and the UK Transparency International Defence and Security Programme. He also worked as a programme/research assistant with the International Security Sector Advisory Team, a multi-donor initiative established within the Geneva-based Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces.
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Willis Okumu
Dr Willis Okumu is a Senior Researcher in the ENACT Programme in Nairobi. He previously worked as the Peacebuilding Coordinator/Researcher at Anglican Development Services Kenya. His research interests include transnational organised crime, human-environment relations, inter-communal peacebuilding and pastoralists livelihoods in East Africa and the Horn. Willis has a PhD in social anthropology and an MA in culture and environment in Africa from the University of Cologne. He also has a BA in political science and sociology from the University of Nairobi.
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Xhanti Mhlambiso
Xhanti Mhlambiso joined the ISS in October 2023 as a Researcher in the Special Projects programme in Pretoria. Before joining ISS, Xhanti worked as a programme manager and policy officer. His primary interests are transitional justice, international politics and peacebuilding. Xhanti has a Master's degree (with distinction) in international peace studies from Trinity College Dublin and a Master of Law from VU Amsterdam.
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Administration
Amélie Tendeng
Amélie Régine Tendeng joined the ISS in 2012 and is currently the programme administrator for the Dakar office. Before joining the ISS, she worked at the Open Society Initiative for West Africa as an administrative assistant.
Banel Sow
Banel Sow joined the ISS in April 2019 as an Administrative Assistant in the Dakar office. Before joining ISS, she worked as a project manager at the Korea International Cooperation Agency. Banel has also worked as a freelance translator and interpreter. She has a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and management and a Certificate in Translation from the African Center for Higher Studies in Management au Sénégal.
Cathi Egan
Cathi Egan joined the ISS in 2008 as the programme accountant in Pretoria. She was formally the group financial officer and is now a Programme Officer. After working in various aspects of finance, she moved to the non-governmental sector in 2002 as financial officer for a church mission. Cathi has a Diploma in Credit Management.
Dolence Matabane
Dolence Matabane joined the ISS in 2009 as a receptionist in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, she worked as a reservation consultant for SANparks. She is currently the Programme Assistant in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme.
Elizabeth Matsaung
Elizabeth Matsaung is Executive Assistant to the Executive Director in Pretoria. She joined the ISS in 2008 as a receptionist. Before working for ISS, Elizabeth worked as a personal assistant at New Court Chambers.
Feven Yirga
Feven Yirga joined the ISS in April 2019 and is a Programme Administrator in the Addis Ababa office. She has more than five years of experience in customer service, and before joining ISS, she worked as the sales manager at Haile Hotels & Resorts. Feven also worked as a sales executive for Radisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa, and as a receptionist in Sheraton Addis. She has a Bachelor's degree in business administration and information systems and a diploma in computer science.
Gelila Getachew
Gelila Getachew Tefera joined the ISS in October 2024 as an Administration Assistant and Receptionist in the Addis Ababa office. Before that, Gelila was a project officer – junior expert at CIVIPOL and office administrator and programme support officer at Oxford Policy Management. With years of experience in administration, logistics and human resources, Gelila brings a diverse skills set to her position at the ISS.
Helen Chanda
Helen Chanda joined the ISS in 2009 and is currently the Programme Officer for the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in Pretoria. Before taking up this position, she worked for various programmes at the ISS including The African.org magazine.
Jane Kamau
Jane Wanjiru Kamau joined the ISS in Nairobi in August 2024 as a programme officer for the project on Enhancing Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Governance in Africa. Before that, she was a regional project coordinator for Young Africa Works in Kenya TVET programme. She has a diploma in communication from Multimedia University of Kenya and is pursuing a Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Nairobi.
Judy Wessels
Judy Wessels joined the ISS in April 2022 as a Programme Officer for the African Futures and Innovation Programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, she worked as a project administrator focusing on eco-inclusive enterprise development and capacity building. Judy has 10 years of administrative and financial work experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of South Africa.
Lerato Molefe
Lerato Molefe is a Programme Administrator in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme in Pretoria. She joined the ISS in 2018 and before that worked as a finance officer at the South African Qualification Authority. Lerato has a National Diploma in government accounting and finance and is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree in government finance at Tshwane University of Technology.
Mame Lissa Diagne
Mame Lissa Diagne joined the ISS in July 2022 as a Programme Administrator in the Dakar office. Before joining ISS, she worked as an accounting supervisor at Medis Senegal and as accounts payable for Senegal/Côte d’Ivoire at Colgate Palmolive. Prior to this, she was in charge of accounts payable and was an accountant of fixed assets at the Sanofi Industrial site (Senegalese subsidiary). Mame has a higher diploma in accounting from Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique de Dakar and a Certification in Fundamental Financial Services from the Chartered Institute for Security & Investments.
Mandy Badenhorst
Mandy Badenhorst joined the ISS in 1995 as a receptionist. She is currently the programme officer for the Southern Africa Programme in Pretoria. After she first joined the ISS, Mandy worked as a programme assistant and then as office manager. She has helped maintain the ISS website and has filled the positions of accounts assistant, human resource assistant and publications assistant.
Mariamawit Wole
Mariamawit Wole is the Programme Administrator for the Horn of Africa Security Analysis programme in Addis Ababa. She joined the ISS in 2009 as a receptionist. Before joining the ISS, she worked at Sheraton Addis as a customer service agent, and at Hilton International as reservation agent and supervisor. Mariamawit has a Diploma in purchasing and supplies management from Addis Ababa University and is currently studying business administration and information systems.
Mercy Rukenya
Mercy Rukenya joined the ISS in 2012 as a financial accountant. She is currently the Human Resources and Office Administration Manager in the Nairobi office. Before joining ISS, she worked at Iberafrica Power EA Ltd as a financial accountant. She has a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nairobi, is a CPA (K) and is a registered member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
Nozipho Rotsho
Nozipho Rotsho joined the ISS in June 2024 as a Receptionist and Administration Assistant. Before joining ISS, she worked as a receptionist and administration assistant at Standard Bank's credit division. Nozipho has volunteered at the St Anne shelter for abused, destitute women and their children in Cape Town. She has certificates in human resources management from the College of Cape Town.
Ntokozo Dlamini
Ntokozo Dlamini joined the ISS in 2019 as Programme Officer in the Complex Threats in Africa Programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS she was a programme officer at the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, and the assistant fund manager for the Canadian International Development Agency. Ntokozo has post-graduate diplomas in public administration, public health and monitoring and evaluation from the Universities of KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Witwatersrand in South Africa. Ntokozo is pursuing a Master’s degree in public health with the University of the Western Cape.
Razina Khan
Razina Khan joined the ISS in May 2024 as the Office Administration and Facilities Manager. Before that, she worked at the company Soho Centre, where she managed and streamlined office operations effectively. Razina has a degree in forensic science and technology from the University of South Africa.
Sahlu Mentesnot
Sahlu Mentesnot joined ISS in 2007. He is an Administrative Assistant in the Addis Ababa office. Sahlu has an MA degree in marketing management from St Mary’s University, Addis Ababa and a BA degree in marketing management from Addis Ababa University College of Commerce. He also has a diploma in computer science from Admas College, Addis Ababa.
Samira Yusuf
Samira Yusuf joined the ISS in 2008 as a receptionist in the Nairobi office. She is currently a Programme Administrator.
Sossina Mekonnen
Sossina Mekonnen is the Programme Administrator for the African Peace and Security Governance programme in Addis Ababa. She worked at the ISS from 2011-2017 as personal assistant to the office director and Programme Administrator for African Centre for Peace and Security Programme (ACPST) Programme in Addis Ababa. She has experience in many national and international organisations including as project assistant to the International Labour Organization. Sossina has a Bachelor’s degree in purchasing/procurement and supplies management from Addis Ababa University.
Souleymane Ndiaye
Souleymane Ndiaye joined the ISS in April 2024 as Regional Office Manager in Dakar. Before that, Souleymane worked as a human resources consultant for Omega Vision. Souleymane has an MA and BA in English, specialising in African literature, and has certificates in management and human resources.
Thandi Letswalo
Thandi Letswalo joined the ISS in October 2022 and is a Programme Assistant for the ENACT organised crime programme based in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, she worked as a receptionist for CMH Volvo Cars in Silver Lakes and Target Auto Body. She began her career as a registration officer for the University of South Africa. Thandi has over 10 years of working experience.
Wendy Nzima
Wendy Nzima joined the ISS in 2019 and is a Programme Administrator for the ENACT organised crime programme based in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS she worked at BLS which is the outsourced partner to the Spanish Embassy in South Africa as visa processing officer. Wendy has a N6 certificate in project management from Richfield College. She is currently studying economics management sciences at the University of South Africa.
Yared Merid
Yared Merid joined the ISS in September 2019 as Regional Office Manager in the Addis Ababa office. Before joining the ISS, Yared was a senior consultant on corporate finance and executive development at the HST Consulting Firm. Before that he was manager of human resources, corporate services and the departmental finance officer with DFID Ethiopia and the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. Yared has a diploma and BA degree in accounting from Addis Ababa University and an MBA from the International Leadership Institute in Addis Ababa.
Communication
Amelia Broodryk
Amelia Broodryk joined the ISS in 2007 and is currently director of communication and a member of the ISS' Executive Committee. Before joining the Communication department, she was a senior researcher in ISS' Transnational Threats and International Crime Programme. Amelia has a Master's degree in international studies from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Antoinette Louw
Antoinette Louw joined the ISS in 1997. Since then, she has had research, training, technical support and management roles in the fields of international and domestic criminal justice, crime prevention and policing. Her management positions include heading the communication department, crime and justice programme and serving on the ISS’ executive committee for many years. Before joining ISS, Antoinette was a researcher and editor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Social and Development Studies. She has a Master’s degree in political studies (cum laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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Carlo Maucione
Carlo Maucione joined the ISS in 2005 as an information technology (IT) consultant. He is now a senior IT specialist responsible for managing IT at the ISS. Before joining the ISS, Carlo worked in the IT department of the Uruguayan Army. He is an Apple certified support specialist as well as a Cisco certified network associate.
Gerhard Joubert
Gerhard Joubert (TJ) joined the ISS in 2020 as an Information Technology Officer in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, TJ worked for Intercape Mainliners. He is a Mikrotik Technical Network Associate as well as a software specialist focusing on Microsoft software.
Richard Perry
Richard Perry joined the ISS in 2010 as the webmaster and knowledge manager. He is currently a digital communications consultant and is responsible for promoting the ISS’ work across all digital platforms, such as web, video, social media and mobile technology. Richard joined the ISS from the media industry where he focused on cutting-edge technology and interactive marketing strategies to enhance the impact of communication.
Rumbidzai Nyoni
Rumbi Nyoni is a Digital Communication Officer in the Pretoria Office. She joined the ISS in 2018 as Digital Communication Officer for the ENACT programme on transnational organised crime. She previously worked as a health and humanitarian reporter in Zimbabwe, specialising in HIV/AIDS, population and development. Rumbi was trained by the United Nations Population Fund as a specialist reporter and has worked closely with numerous humanitarian aid organisations as a communication officer. She has a higher diploma in mass communication and journalism studies.
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Tanya Harris
Tanya Harris joined the ISS in September 2022 as a Communication Officer in Pretoria. During her career, she has held various communication, editorial and design roles across different industries. Most of her experience has been gained in the mainstream media. Tanya has a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in communication with a specialisation in media studies and media policy from the University of South Africa.
Thierry Boudjekeu
Thierry Boudjekeu joined the ISS in May 2023 as a Communications Officer. Before that, he worked in communications for various organisations in Cameroon and Germany. In addition to his professional experience, Thierry has volunteered as a French translator for UN Volunteers and as a Model African Union Facilitator. He has a Master of Arts in Francophone studies from the University of Bayreuth, Germany and a Master of Arts in translation from the University of Buea, Cameroon.
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Finance
Amanuel Desta
Amanuel Desta joined the ISS in January 2023 as a Grant Officer in the Addis Ababa office. Before that, he was a grant and compliance advisor at Norwegian Church Aid in Addis Ababa, and also worked at Plan International Ethiopia. Amanuel has experience in grant management, donor compliance, project management, financial management and financial reporting. He has a Master's degree in business administration from Gamby Business College and a Bachelor's degree in accounting and auditing from Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
Bianca Diedericks
Bianca Diedericks joined the ISS in August 2018 as Group Financial Officer. Her experience includes nine years with PwC in the Private Company Sector where she was the expert with regards to the not for profit audits. Bianca also has experience in training, lecturing, tax and secretarial matters. She is a Chartered Accountant and has a BComHons (Accounting Sciences) and a Certificate in the Theory of Accountancy (CTA).
Esther Ntsiyeni
Esther Ntsiyeni joined the ISS in July 2023 as an Accounts Payable Administrator in the Finance department in Pretoria. Before joining ISS, Esther worked as a creditors and procurement officer at Pump and Abrasion Technologies. She has over 10 years’ experience in financial administration, and a Diploma in business management from Credo College.
Gizachew Achiso
Gizachew Achiso joined the ISS in 2016 as financial controller in the Addis Ababa office. Before that he worked at Innovative Humanitarian Solutions as head of finance, administration and logistics. Gizachew also worked for KMG–Ethiopia in various positions, ultimately becoming finance manager and head of finance and administration. Gizachew has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Alpha University College and a Diploma in accounting from Addis Ababa University College of Commerce.
Moshweu Mampa
Moshweu Mampa (Mosh) joined the ISS in January 2024 as a Grant Officer in the finance department in Pretoria. Before that, she worked at Avbob as a senior investment administrator responsible for managing and maintaining the financial accounts. She has 10 years of work experience in the financial sector. Mosh has a BCom in accounting and is completing a financial management certificate at the University of South Africa.
Ntazana Sinjela
Ntazana Sinjela joined the ISS in 2006 as debtors clerk in the Finance department in Pretoria. He later moved to creditors clerk and is currently a grant officer. Before joining the ISS, Ntazana worked as an accounts clerk for Finance Bank Zambia and Mitsubishi Motors. He has a BCom Degree in corporate law from the University of South Africa and a Diploma in accounting from the Zambia Institute of Management.
Phiroane Maganyela
Phiroane Maganyela joined the ISS in March 2024 as a Grant and Reporting Officer in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS, he worked at JET Education Services and Wits University where he was responsible for financial management and enforcement of compliance. Phiroane has a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from Wits University and a post-graduate certificate in accounting from the South African Institute of Professional Accounting.
Prudence Sepato
Prudence Sepato joined the ISS in January 2021 as the Group Financial Controller in the Finance department in Pretoria. Before joining ISS, Prudence worked as a financial accountant for a group of companies as well as a treasury accountant. She has a BCom Accounting degree from the University of Johannesburg and is currently working on her honors degree in financial accounting at the University of South Africa.
Samba Diallo
Samba Diallo joined the ISS in October 2021 as a Financial Controller in the Dakar office. He has over 15 years of experience in the finance and accounting field. Prior to joining the ISS, Samba worked at the Chemical Industries of Senegal and South African Airways Regional Office in Dakar. He has a Master’s in audit and business controlling from École Supérieure de Commerce (Supdeco) in Dakar and is currently finalising his candidacy to the local Chartered Accountant Board.
Sheila Kooke
Sheila Siteiya Kooke joined the ISS in April 2024 as a Financial Controller in the Nairobi office. Before that, she worked as a financial officer at the Norwegian Refugee Council. Sheila has also worked as a grants accountant at Development Alternatives Inc. and as a finance assistant at the International Union for Conservation. She has a Bachelor's degree in commerce from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya and is a Certified Public Accountant Part II.
Sisipho Mofokeng
Sisipho Mofokeng joined the ISS in March 2023 as a Grant and Procurement Officer in the Pretoria office. She recently completed her SAICA articles at SNG Grant Thornton. Before that she worked in Alexander Forbes' risk division on drafting and implementing procedures and controls, and assisting with internal audits. She has a BCom internal audit degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and an Advanced Diploma in accounting sciences (CA stream) from the University of South Africa.
Thavan Rajoo
Thavan Rajoo joined the ISS in 2015. He is the director of finance and a member of the ISS’ Executive Committee. He has 20 years’ experience working with leading international companies such as Rio Tinto and Motorola. He held senior shared services management positions in both companies and was a director at Rio Tinto. Thavan is experienced in facilities management, payroll, procurement, company secretarial and tax. He has a National Diploma in internal auditing and a Bachelor of Commerce in business management.
Human Resources
Mercy Rukenya
Mercy Rukenya joined the ISS in 2012 as a financial accountant. She is currently the Human Resources and Office Administration Manager in the Nairobi office. Before joining ISS, she worked at Iberafrica Power EA Ltd as a financial accountant. She has a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nairobi, is a CPA (K) and is a registered member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
Rekha Valabh
Rekha Valabh joined the ISS in 2014 and is currently the human resources manager in Pretoria. She is part of the Human Resources team and helps ensure that internal processes, procedures and governance structures are administrated effectively. Rekha has a BA degree in child and family psychology and a BCom degree with a specialisation in human resources.
Souleymane Ndiaye
Souleymane Ndiaye joined the ISS in April 2024 as Regional Office Manager in Dakar. Before that, Souleymane worked as a human resources consultant for Omega Vision. Souleymane has an MA and BA in English, specialising in African literature, and has certificates in management and human resources.
Tonette Grütter
Tonette Grütter is the director of operations and human resources and a member of the ISS’ Executive Committee. She rejoined the ISS in 2012 after working as the organisation’s human resources manager from 2002 to 2005. Tonette studied Clinical Psychology and Industrial Relations and specialised in human resources, employee relations, and organisational development. She was a founding member and director of Synergy Labour (Pty) Ltd, a labour relations, human resources, and remuneration specialist consultancy company. Before that, she worked as human resources manager at Rovos Rail (Pty) Ltd. Tonette is studying towards an MBA at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
Yared Merid
Yared Merid joined the ISS in September 2019 as Regional Office Manager in the Addis Ababa office. Before joining the ISS, Yared was a senior consultant on corporate finance and executive development at the HST Consulting Firm. Before that he was manager of human resources, corporate services and the departmental finance officer with DFID Ethiopia and the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. Yared has a diploma and BA degree in accounting from Addis Ababa University and an MBA from the International Leadership Institute in Addis Ababa.
In Memoriam
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