Our Team
Prof Paul Iganski
Senior Researcher
Paul holds a PhD in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. For over two decades he has specialised in research, writing, teaching, and public engagement about hate crime and hate speech. He has particularly applied a victim-centred harms-based approach focusing on the impacts and consequences of hate victimisation and how this might inform policy and practice with hate crime victims and offenders. His books on the problem include Hate Crime and the City (2007), Hate Crime. A Global Perspective (2015 with Jack Levin), and the edited volumes The Hate Debate (2002) and Hate Crimes. The Consequences of Hate Crimes (2009). Paul also holds a post as Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Lancaster University, UK. Outside of work, Paul enjoys exercise and crime fiction.
Areas of interest/expertise: Criminology, criminal justice, hate and violence, mixed-methods empirical research, comparative research, survey design, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the secondary analysis of large data sets.
Senior Researcher
Paul holds a PhD in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. For over two decades he has specialised in research, writing, teaching, and public engagement about hate crime and hate speech. He has particularly applied a victim-centred harms-based approach focusing on the impacts and consequences of hate victimisation and how this might inform policy and practice with hate crime victims and offenders. His books on the problem include Hate Crime and the City (2007), Hate Crime. A Global Perspective (2015 with Jack Levin), and the edited volumes The Hate Debate (2002) and Hate Crimes. The Consequences of Hate Crimes (2009). Paul also holds a post as Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Lancaster University, UK. Outside of work, Paul enjoys exercise and crime fiction.
Areas of interest/expertise: Criminology, criminal justice, hate and violence, mixed-methods empirical research, comparative research, survey design, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the secondary analysis of large data sets.
Dr Andreas Kotelis
Researcher
Andreas holds a PhD in Political Science from Bilkent University in Turkey. From 2013-2016 he was an assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations at the Zirve University in Gaziantep Turkey. He was also the 2017 Scholar-in-Residence at the Clark Center for Global Engagement and a visiting instructor at the International Studies Program at the State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland. His research interests include international conflict and international negotiations, while much of his recent work has focused on refugee integration and service provision in crisis situations. Andreas is also a professional trainer, and, on several occasions he has acted as a facilitator on track-II and multi-track initiatives. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess with his son and daughter.
Areas of interest/expertise: refugee integration, human rights, Conflict resolution, Middle East politics.
Researcher
Andreas holds a PhD in Political Science from Bilkent University in Turkey. From 2013-2016 he was an assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations at the Zirve University in Gaziantep Turkey. He was also the 2017 Scholar-in-Residence at the Clark Center for Global Engagement and a visiting instructor at the International Studies Program at the State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland. His research interests include international conflict and international negotiations, while much of his recent work has focused on refugee integration and service provision in crisis situations. Andreas is also a professional trainer, and, on several occasions he has acted as a facilitator on track-II and multi-track initiatives. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess with his son and daughter.
Areas of interest/expertise: refugee integration, human rights, Conflict resolution, Middle East politics.
Bethany Archer
Junior Researcher
Beth holds a Masters degree in European Union Studies from Newcastle University and a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies with French and Spanish from the University of Aberdeen in the UK. Her professional experience includes a traineeship at the European Commission, working on EU-Turkey Relations covering a variety of topics from migration, freedom of expression, terrorism and security issues. Most recently, she was working with the Maltese Public Employment Service, on EU Affairs. Her university work concentrated primarily on EU enlargement with a focus on the Western Balkan countries as well conducting work on minority groups such as the Roma, and the refugee crisis. Beth’s personal interests include foreign languages, travel, creative writing, environmentalism as well as local and international politics.
Areas of interest/expertise: human rights, migration, employment policy, labour market integration, European Union politics and EU enlargement.
Junior Researcher
Beth holds a Masters degree in European Union Studies from Newcastle University and a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies with French and Spanish from the University of Aberdeen in the UK. Her professional experience includes a traineeship at the European Commission, working on EU-Turkey Relations covering a variety of topics from migration, freedom of expression, terrorism and security issues. Most recently, she was working with the Maltese Public Employment Service, on EU Affairs. Her university work concentrated primarily on EU enlargement with a focus on the Western Balkan countries as well conducting work on minority groups such as the Roma, and the refugee crisis. Beth’s personal interests include foreign languages, travel, creative writing, environmentalism as well as local and international politics.
Areas of interest/expertise: human rights, migration, employment policy, labour market integration, European Union politics and EU enlargement.
Giulia de Vita
Office and Projects Coordinator
Giulia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Policy and Economics from the University of Edinburgh and is currently completing a Masters degree in International Relations at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She is a co-founder of The Buchanan Institute, Scotland’s first student-led think tank, and has recently completed an internship with the European Network Against Racism, working in the department of advocacy on migration and of network development. Throughout her studies, her work focused on human rights, conflict and migration studies, and she wrote her thesis on the rights of unaccompanied refugee children. In her free time, Giulia enjoys travelling, cooking, reading fiction and learning foreign languages.
Areas of interest/expertise: migration, inclusion and integration, human rights, race and gender equality, EU politics.
Office and Projects Coordinator
Giulia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Policy and Economics from the University of Edinburgh and is currently completing a Masters degree in International Relations at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She is a co-founder of The Buchanan Institute, Scotland’s first student-led think tank, and has recently completed an internship with the European Network Against Racism, working in the department of advocacy on migration and of network development. Throughout her studies, her work focused on human rights, conflict and migration studies, and she wrote her thesis on the rights of unaccompanied refugee children. In her free time, Giulia enjoys travelling, cooking, reading fiction and learning foreign languages.
Areas of interest/expertise: migration, inclusion and integration, human rights, race and gender equality, EU politics.
Interns and Research Assistants
Mailan Benhassine
Projects and Research Assistant
Mailan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media, Communication and Political Sciences from the University of Hamburg, Germany, where she specialised in Critical Discourse Analysis, especially of the political and public societal sphere. She wrote a thesis on the contemporary political public discourse relating to refugees and migrants arriving in Europe with a critical reflection of the metaphoric language used in German News Report about the so called “Refugee Crisis”. After graduation, she worked at Plan International, an NGO focused on children’s rights and access to education, especially for girls and young women. She is now enrolled in the NOHA+ Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programme in International Humanitarian Action with a thematic specialisation in Forced Migration and Human Security. As part of this degree, she is studying at the University of Malta for one semester, hoping to work on improving the protection of vulnerable groups in settings of internal displacement and forced migration in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, discovering new things, and occasionally just sitting in the sun with coffee.
Projects and Research Assistant
Mailan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media, Communication and Political Sciences from the University of Hamburg, Germany, where she specialised in Critical Discourse Analysis, especially of the political and public societal sphere. She wrote a thesis on the contemporary political public discourse relating to refugees and migrants arriving in Europe with a critical reflection of the metaphoric language used in German News Report about the so called “Refugee Crisis”. After graduation, she worked at Plan International, an NGO focused on children’s rights and access to education, especially for girls and young women. She is now enrolled in the NOHA+ Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programme in International Humanitarian Action with a thematic specialisation in Forced Migration and Human Security. As part of this degree, she is studying at the University of Malta for one semester, hoping to work on improving the protection of vulnerable groups in settings of internal displacement and forced migration in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, discovering new things, and occasionally just sitting in the sun with coffee.
Claudia Pérez del blanco
Projects and Research Assistant
Claudia holds a Bachelor degree in Law and Social Education with a focus on Human Rights, being a student at the Pompeu Fabra University (Spain) and the University of Oslo (Norway). Her thesis focused on unaccompanied minors crossing European borders and the responsibilities of European States in that context. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in International Humanitarian Action with a specialization in Forced Migration and Human Security (University of Groningen and University of Malta). In 2014 she worked for Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT) in India, on a project related to integration of children affected by HIV. In 2016, she worked as a legal assistant in Greece for refugees and asylum-seekers in collaboration with Advocates Abroad. She has a special interest in integration of migrants in host communities as well as human rights advocacy. During her free time Claudia likes hiking, practicing kickboxing and playing the guitar.
Projects and Research Assistant
Claudia holds a Bachelor degree in Law and Social Education with a focus on Human Rights, being a student at the Pompeu Fabra University (Spain) and the University of Oslo (Norway). Her thesis focused on unaccompanied minors crossing European borders and the responsibilities of European States in that context. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in International Humanitarian Action with a specialization in Forced Migration and Human Security (University of Groningen and University of Malta). In 2014 she worked for Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT) in India, on a project related to integration of children affected by HIV. In 2016, she worked as a legal assistant in Greece for refugees and asylum-seekers in collaboration with Advocates Abroad. She has a special interest in integration of migrants in host communities as well as human rights advocacy. During her free time Claudia likes hiking, practicing kickboxing and playing the guitar.
Derek Jackson
Projects and Research Assistant
Derek holds a MMus from King’s College London in Ethnomusicology and is currently completing an MA in Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, publishing a thesis entitled Voicing A Systemic Margin - online activism and migrant integration in France. He has previously worked in archival research, administration, and web development at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. His main research interests involve the migration and cultural integration of immigrants from the MENA region in Europe, digital ethnography, and music therapy and artistic development in refugee communities. Outside of work, Derek enjoys skiing, horror films, and occasionally writing a little music.
Projects and Research Assistant
Derek holds a MMus from King’s College London in Ethnomusicology and is currently completing an MA in Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, publishing a thesis entitled Voicing A Systemic Margin - online activism and migrant integration in France. He has previously worked in archival research, administration, and web development at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. His main research interests involve the migration and cultural integration of immigrants from the MENA region in Europe, digital ethnography, and music therapy and artistic development in refugee communities. Outside of work, Derek enjoys skiing, horror films, and occasionally writing a little music.
Fatima Ahmed
Projects and Research Assistant
Fatima holds a bachelors degree in Politics from the University of York where her interest and thesis focused on Somali women’s political participation and representation as well and minorities and marginalised groups in the UK. Fatima’s interest in human rights developed from the early age of 13 where she was part of the Heart Connection Tour for Dance4Life, aiming to educate using stories of HIV positive individualsShe worked as a Black and Asian Minority Ethnicity officer for Constantine College aiming to shape the experience of BAME students on campus by tacking racism and discrimination. She held an event titled ‘The BAME Experience: BAME issues awareness’ where she educated students on matters relating to minority discrimination within the workplace and education. She is hoping to study Law and specifically enter into a field in human rights and immigration. In her spare time, Fatima enjoys long walks by the sea and tries to avoid eating too many delicious Pastizzi.
Projects and Research Assistant
Fatima holds a bachelors degree in Politics from the University of York where her interest and thesis focused on Somali women’s political participation and representation as well and minorities and marginalised groups in the UK. Fatima’s interest in human rights developed from the early age of 13 where she was part of the Heart Connection Tour for Dance4Life, aiming to educate using stories of HIV positive individualsShe worked as a Black and Asian Minority Ethnicity officer for Constantine College aiming to shape the experience of BAME students on campus by tacking racism and discrimination. She held an event titled ‘The BAME Experience: BAME issues awareness’ where she educated students on matters relating to minority discrimination within the workplace and education. She is hoping to study Law and specifically enter into a field in human rights and immigration. In her spare time, Fatima enjoys long walks by the sea and tries to avoid eating too many delicious Pastizzi.
Senior Consultants
Dr Carol Bohmer
Carol Bohmer, a lawyer and sociologist, is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Government Department at Dartmouth College, and a Teaching Fellow at King’s College, London. She has worked extensively in the area of law and society, examining the way legal and social institutions interact, in the United States, the UK and elsewhere. Her current research interests are in the field of immigration and asylum. She also does pro bono legal work for asylum seekers. She has been involved in setting up a project to register children as British citizens in London, UK. Her most recent book is Rejecting Refugees: Political Asylum in the Twenty-First Century with Amy Shuman, (Routledge, 2007), a comparative study of the asylum process in the US and the UK.
Carol Bohmer, a lawyer and sociologist, is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Government Department at Dartmouth College, and a Teaching Fellow at King’s College, London. She has worked extensively in the area of law and society, examining the way legal and social institutions interact, in the United States, the UK and elsewhere. Her current research interests are in the field of immigration and asylum. She also does pro bono legal work for asylum seekers. She has been involved in setting up a project to register children as British citizens in London, UK. Her most recent book is Rejecting Refugees: Political Asylum in the Twenty-First Century with Amy Shuman, (Routledge, 2007), a comparative study of the asylum process in the US and the UK.
Professor Patricia Mallia
Patricia Mallia obtained her law degree from the University of Malta in 1999. Her post-graduate studies were carried out at Oxford University where she graduated in Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) in 2000. She then returned to Malta to lecture in Public International Law at the University of Malta where she is now Head of the International Law Department. She obtained her PhD from the IMO, International Maritime Law Institute, focussing on combating contemporary threats to maritime security. Her research interests focus on the analysis of contemporary maritime threats, primarily piracy and migrant smuggling. Her book, ‘Migrant Smuggling by Sea: Combating a Current Threat to Maritime Security through the Creation of a Cooperative Framework’ was published by Martinus Nijhoff in 2010. In her free time, Patricia enjoys tennis, swimming, baking and reading.
Areas of interest: Settlement of International Disputes, Law of the Sea, Maritime Security, Maritime Migrant Smuggling, Human Rights
Patricia Mallia obtained her law degree from the University of Malta in 1999. Her post-graduate studies were carried out at Oxford University where she graduated in Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) in 2000. She then returned to Malta to lecture in Public International Law at the University of Malta where she is now Head of the International Law Department. She obtained her PhD from the IMO, International Maritime Law Institute, focussing on combating contemporary threats to maritime security. Her research interests focus on the analysis of contemporary maritime threats, primarily piracy and migrant smuggling. Her book, ‘Migrant Smuggling by Sea: Combating a Current Threat to Maritime Security through the Creation of a Cooperative Framework’ was published by Martinus Nijhoff in 2010. In her free time, Patricia enjoys tennis, swimming, baking and reading.
Areas of interest: Settlement of International Disputes, Law of the Sea, Maritime Security, Maritime Migrant Smuggling, Human Rights
