Current Themes
My current work focuses on three closely linked areas: humanitarian protection and international humanitarian law; civil–military engagement and human security; and mediation, conflict analysis, and peacebuilding in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Humanitarian Protection & International Humanitarian Law
Protection under pressure
Humanitarian protection and international humanitarian law are under sustained strain. Contemporary conflicts are marked by civilian harm, politicisation of aid, contested legal interpretations, and the erosion of norms that once constrained violence. Formal commitments to protection often sit uneasily alongside operational realities, military imperatives, and geopolitical interests.
My work engages directly with these tensions – not from a purely legal standpoint, but from long experience in frontline operations, policy development, and institutional reform.
Bridging law, policy, and practice
I work at the intersection of humanitarian action, international law, and security practice. This includes advising on the application of IHL in military and peacekeeping contexts, supporting humanitarian actors navigating access and protection dilemmas, and convening dialogue on how protection principles are interpreted — and sometimes instrumentalised — in contemporary conflicts.
A particular focus of my work has been understanding why protection fails, even where legal frameworks exist, and identifying practical ways to restore credibility, accountability, and civilian-centred approaches.
What I bring
Deep operational and policy experience across humanitarian, UN, donor, and military systems
An ability to translate between legal norms, political constraints, and operational decision-making
Experience convening and facilitating difficult conversations on norm erosion, legitimacy, and civilian harm
A strong emphasis on re-centring human dignity, not just compliance, in protection practice
Civil–Military Engagement & Human Security
Navigating contested space
Civil-military engagement sits at the heart of many contemporary crises and is often poorly understood. Humanitarian actors fear co-option; military actors struggle with unclear mandates; and policy frameworks rarely match operational realities. The result can be mistrust, ineffective coordination, and increased risk to civilians.
My work focuses on navigating this contested space with clarity, realism, and principled restraint.
From doctrine to practice
I have worked extensively on civil–military engagement in policy, operational, and training contexts, including advising military actors on civilian protection, human security, and IHL, and supporting humanitarian actors engaging with armed forces in active conflict settings.
A core strand of my work examines where doctrine diverges from behaviour, how concepts such as Human Security and CIMIC are interpreted in practice, and where genuine convergence – rather than rhetorical alignment – is possible.
What I bring
First-hand experience working with military, humanitarian, and diplomatic actors
Expertise in translating humanitarian and legal principles into operationally usable guidance
A nuanced understanding of when engagement reduces harm – and when it increases risk
Credibility across systems that rarely speak the same language
Mediation, Conflict Analysis & Peacebuilding
Understanding conflict before intervening
Effective mediation and peacebuilding depend on serious political and conflict analysis. Too often, interventions are shaped by institutional incentives rather than grounded understanding of power, legitimacy, and local dynamics.
My work in mediation and peacebuilding has consistently emphasised context, politics, and relationships – alongside creativity and unconventional entry points where formal processes stall.
From analysis to process
I have supported mediation initiatives, evaluated peacebuilding programmes, and contributed to innovative approaches linking cultural practice, dialogue, and political mediation. This includes work on community-level mediation, national and international peace processes, and donor-funded peace infrastructure in fragile environments.
I am particularly interested in how mediation processes engage – or fail to engage – questions of justice, accountability, and inclusion, especially for women and conflict-affected communities.
What I bring
Long experience conducting conflict and political economy analysis
Practical mediation and evaluation expertise across multiple regions
An ability to connect local dynamics with international decision-making
A critical but constructive approach to peacebuilding orthodoxies