Direct line: 020 7288 8362
Andy co-founded Conciliation Resources in 1994 with David Lord and heads the organisation. He led the development of programme work in Fiji, Bougainville/Papua New Guinea, northern Uganda, Somaliland and Sri Lanka, and established the Accord publication series.
Before this he worked for International Alert (1989–94) on peace initiatives in southern Africa, Europe, Liberia, the Philippines, Colombia, Iraqi-Kurdistan and elsewhere. Before that, he was national coordinator of the Central America Human Rights Committee, UK (1986–89).
He has degrees in literature from the University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Trinity College, Dublin (MPhil). Andy represents Conciliation Resources in various national and international policy forums on conflict transformation practice.
He is also a member of Conciliation Resources' board. This arrangement, agreed with the UK Charity Commission, is reviewed annually by the board. Unusual for a British charity, it is intended to recognise the principle of staff ownership of Conciliation Resources and the valuable contribution Andy can make to its governance.
Direct line: 020 7288 8369
Jonathan joined Conciliation Resources in December 1997 and developed the Caucasus programme. In September 2008 he became Director of Programmes overseeing all Conciliation Resources’ regional programmes.
Previously he was deputy director of the Foundation on Inter-Ethnic Relations in The Hague, working with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Before that he worked for International Alert and the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
He has been a board member of the DFID / CAF Partnerships in the Non-Profit Sector Programme for Russia; acted as a consultant to United Nations Volunteers, the Heinrich Boell Foundation, the Berghof Foundation and taught at the London School of Economics. Jonathan has degrees from the universities of Bristol, London and Oxford. Languages other than English: Russian.
Director of Planning and Organisational Performance
Direct line: 020 7288 8370
Cecilia brings to Conciliation Resources over 18 years of experience building and strengthening organisations in the Global South and North.
Before Conciliation Resources, Cecilia worked for Amnesty International (AI) as Organisational Development and Accountability Coordinator for Latin America and Investment Adviser at AI’s Trust. As such she advised on strategic, operational planning and organisational performance.
In 2006, Cecilia founded Subir al Sur (Go Up South) an organisation promoting intercultural education in Argentina. As a result of this work Cecilia was recognised as outstanding social entrepreneur by the YES! and the Global Youth Action Network. Prior to founding Subir al Sur, Cecilia was central to the development of SES Foundation, a leading South American NGO promoting justice. During this time, Cecilia designed and evaluated action-learning programmes today scaled up around the world.
Cecilia has a degree in Sociology (University of Buenos Aires), a diploma in Anthropology (Latin America Faculty of Social Sciences) and a Masters in Violence, Conflict and Development (SOAS, University of London). Her dissertation analysed systems of reconciliation and justice, in particular in Somaliland and East Timor. Languages other than English: Spanish and Portuguese.
Direct line: 020 7288 8378
Lucy joined the Conciliation Resources team in September 2012 after completing an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development at SOAS: the School of Oriental and African Studies. She has worked at the foreign affairs think tank, Chatham House, and as an International Client Coordinator for a private training company specialising in public administration. She holds a BSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics. In her role as Programme Assistant at Conciliation Resources, Lucy provides administrative, web and research support for four Programmes Teams. Languages other than English: French
East and Central Africa Projects Manager
Direct line: 020 7288 8371
Caesar previously worked as project officer for the northern Ugandan diaspora peace initiative Kacoke Madit between 1999 and August 2005. Before this he was programme coordinator for Hand in Hand Refugee and Homeless Support Group in the London Borough of Newham, and published a book, The Quest for Peaceful Coexistence in Uganda.
Caesar has a BA in Accounting and Finance and trained with the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountant (ACCA) in Advanced Project Management. He also has a postgraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution Skills from Lancaster University. Languages other than English: Swahili and Lwo.
East and Central Africa Projects Manager
Direct line: 020 7288 8394
Nicolas Tillon joined Conciliation Resources in December 2010. He holds a Masters degree in Violence, Conflict and Development from the University of London (SOAS).
In the six years prior to joining us, Nicolas worked in several conflict-affected countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. His most recent position was with International Alert in eastern DRC coordinating research and working with community organisations to enhance community dialogue in conflict areas. Languages other than English: French.
East and Central Africa Programme Director
Direct line: 020 7288 8383
Kennedy joined Conciliation Resources in October 2007 after working as a conflict specialist with USAID where he worked in the LRA-affected regions of Uganda, as well as on pastoral conflicts and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Before this he worked as programme coordinator with DANIDA where he was a focal person for interventions in Karamoja, and in 2001–02 helped facilitate peace talks between the Ugandan government and the Uganda National Rescue Front II.
He also has experience of helping strengthen organisational capacities of NGOs and networks in conflict-affected regions and has worked as a policy and research officer for the Uganda Debt Network.
He holds an MA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford and an MSc in Agricultural Economics from Makerere University, Kampala.
Ciaran joined Conciliation Resources as a staff member in March 2011, after nine months working on a contract basis as our Fiji Programme Associate.
Previously, Ciaran was the Programme Manager for one of our local Fiji partners, the Citizens' Constitutional Forum. Up to this point he worked in the private sector, in senior people and programme management positions in the Middle East and Australia.
Ciaran holds a Masters in International Development from RMIT university, Melbourne, Australia.
India, Pakistan and Kashmir Programme Manager
Direct line: 020 7288 8382
Tahir Aziz worked for five years as a Senior Associate with the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, an NGO based in Washington DC where he was closely involved in conflict transformation activities in Kashmir.
Previously he was Director of the Human Rights Commission of the Government of Pakistan–administered Kashmir and a Visiting Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London, under its South Asia Programme.
Tahir holds two Masters degrees – one in Anthropology awarded by the Quaid-e-Azam University, Pakistan (with a thesis based on field research with the Kashmiri community in England) and the second in International Peace and Conflict Studies at the Joan B. Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, USA.
Tahir has written papers on Kashmir for international organizations including IISS London, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), Washington D.C. and Voices, a US-based online journal.
Director of Philippines and Colombia Programmes
Kristian joined Conciliation Resources full-time in June 2009. He is the Director of the Philippines and Colombia Programmes. Previously he worked for seven years as Program Director of the School for a Culture of Peace, Autonomous University of Barcelona, supporting peace processes and conducting track-two diplomacy in Colombia, Philippines, Western Sahara, Basque Country and elsewhere.
Kristian earned a Masters degree in International Peacebuilding from the Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame, in May 2009. He also holds a degree in Agriculture Engineering and a Diploma in Peace Culture. He has long been active in Catalan grassroots environmental and development organisations. Languages other than English: Catalan, Spanish, Swedish, German, French.
The Philippines Programme Associate
Emma Leslie, originally from Australia, has extensive advisory experience and has worked as a consultant, practitioner and trainer on peacebuilding in Africa, Central Asia and Asia Pacific region.
In 1997 she moved to Cambodia and in the same year helped to found the regional network of Action Asia. Since then she has held the post of Secretariat to the Action Asia network and founded an MA Programme – Applied Conflict Transformation Studies. Today she oversees both programmes as the Executive Director of the Asian NGO Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.
Emma holds a Masters degree in International Development and was one of the ‘1000 women’ nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
Emma joined Conciliation Resources as a programme associate in February 2011, to contribute to our work supporting the peace process in Mindanao.
Caucasus Projects Manager
Direct line: 020 7288 8366
Laurence joined Conciliation Resources as Caucasus Projects Manager in November 2008. Before this he worked for more than two years at Amnesty International as a researcher on Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 2006 Laurence was issue editor for our Accord publication on the Nagorny Karabakh peace process.
He has also published articles in scholarly journals relating to themes of ethnicity, democratisation and conflict in the South Caucasus and worked as one of the editors of the first comprehensive Georgian-English dictionary to be published since Georgian independence.
Laurence completed his doctoral studies on the post-Soviet republic of Georgia in 2004. He is fluent in Russian, Georgian, Spanish and French.
Caucasus Programme Director
Direct line: 020 7288 8364
Rachel joined Conciliation Resources full-time in July 2001, after previously working as Caucasus Programme Associate. Prior to this she held the Max Hayward Research Fellowship at St.Antony's College, Oxford and worked as a lecturer in Russian at the University of North Wales, Bangor.
For several years Rachel worked as a volunteer/consultant for local and international organisations in the Caucasus. She has served on Quaker Peace and Social Witness committees concerning work in the former Soviet Union.
She has a degree in Russian and Spanish from the University of Cambridge, and a doctorate (DPhil) from the University of Oxford on the politics of literature and identity in Abkhazia. Languages other than English: Russian, German, Spanish.
Caucasus Programme Manager
Direct line: 020 7288 8367
Rhona joined Conciliation Resources in 2004 after gaining a Masters in International Studies from the University of Reading. She has a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Durham and from 2000–2002 worked in Moscow as a school director for an English Language school chain.
Before this she worked at the Royal Society, administering grants to support collaboration between scientists from the former Soviet Union and the UK, and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where she arranged visits for official guests to the UK. Languages other than English: Russian, French and German.
Caucasus Programme Associate
Direct line: 020 7288 8367
Jenny is a journalist with the BBC World Service and has spent much of her career following developments in the former Soviet Union, especially in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
She studied Russian at Leeds University and spent nearly three years in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in the late 1990s running the BBC's Central Asia bureau. She has returned to the region many times since, most notably in 2005 as one of the few western journalists to report on the violent crackdown on demonstrators in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.
Jenny has worked with Conciliation Resources since 2001 when she produced the first ever joint Abkhaz-Georgian radio series about the legacy of the conflict. Current projects include Dialogue Through Film for young Azeri and Karabakhi filmmakers, and People and Times – a local newspaper for Abkhazia's Georgian community.
Caucasus Projects Manager
Direct line: 020 7288 8363
Mira joined Conciliation Resources in October 2008 after more than five years working in the South Caucasus. Most recently she was a consultant for the humanitarian organisation Geneva Call and engaged with policymakers in Abkhazia, Nagorny Karabakh and South Ossetia in drawing up policies on anti-personnel mines.
Before this she worked in the Tbilisi-based South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, where she ran the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Democracy programme, and managed projects on conflict transformation, civic participation and minority rights.
Mira holds a Master’s degree in English language and literature, Slavic studies and Philosophy from the University of Cologne, Germany. Languages other than English: German, Russian, Georgian (conversational).
Strategy and Coordination Adviser, EPNK
Direct line: 020 7288 8396
Maria van Ruiten joined Conciliation Resources in May 2012 as Strategy and Coordination Advisor for the European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK).
She has previously worked as task manager for the European Commission at the EU Delegations in Russia, Georgia and Afghanistan, where for the past ten years she has been responsible for managing projects post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding and security sector reform.
She holds degrees in Russian Studies and Law from the University of Leiden in The Netherlands. Languages other than English: Dutch and Russian (fluent), French and German (good), Dari and Georgian (very basic).
West Africa Programme Director
Direct line: 020 7288 8380
Janet Adama joined Conciliation Resources in September 2010 after working for IBIS in Ghana as Director for West Africa Human Rights and Democratisation Project since July 2006.
Prior to this Janet was director of the Christian Council of Ghana and worked as a high school tutor in the Social Sciences in Tamale, Northern Ghana. Janet Adama has over 15 years work experience on governance, peace and security issues in West Africa.
She holds a MSc in Agricultural Education and Training from Reading University, a BA in Geography and a Diploma in Education from Cape Coast University Ghana. She also holds a postgraduate Qualifying Diploma in Management and Administration from IPMA, UK.
In 2010 she received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice.
Communications Manager (maternity cover)
Direct line: 020 7288 8376
Sasha joined Conciliation Resources in July 2012 having worked in communications roles in the not-for-profit sector since 2004.
Sasha has worked both in the UK and abroad, which includes her time spent working as a journalist in Honduras, reporting on social justice issues across Central America. Sasha has also worked for charities including Crimestoppers and Age UK, volunteered for not-for-profit agencies abroad, and has hundreds of published articles in publications as diverse as Honduras This Week and Lonely Planet. Sasha has also been the editor and editorial director for international print and online publications based in the UK.
Sasha has a BA (Hons) degree in Geography from the University of Nottingham.
Direct line: 020 7288 8377
Felix joined Conciliation Resources in August 2010, initially as a volunteer with the Policy and Comparative Learning team (now Policy, Practice and Communications). Having worked on short-term development projects in Senegal and Mongolia during his undergraduate degree, Felix completed his Masters in Human Rights Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in September 2009.
Since then, he has gained experience at Index on Censorship in London, and returned in June 2010 from a four-month consultancy in Central African Republic, where he worked on a human rights protection programme with Mercy Corps UK. Other than English, he speaks fluent French.
Head of Policy and Learning
Direct line: 020 7288 8395
Teresa joined Conciliation Resources in November 2010 as manager of the People's Peacemaking Perspectives project, an EC-funded initiative carried out in partnership with Saferworld. She now helps shape our work as Head of Policy and Learning. Prior to this, she worked as a consultant to NGOs working in the field of peacebuilding, advising on monitoring and evaluation and conducting project reviews.
Teresa worked for a number of years in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, including four years as adviser to the UK Government's Russia-CIS Conflict Prevention Pool.
Teresa has a PhD in History and a Masters in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and a BA in European Studies (French and Russian) from Bath University. Languages: English and French (fluent), Russian (good), German (basic).
Director of Policy, Practice and Communications
Direct line: 020 7288 8373
David joined Conciliation Resources in February 2011, after working for four years as a conflict adviser in the UK’s Department for International Development. Prior to that he spent three years as the Quaker Peace and Social Witness Representative in Uganda, managing a team working on the LRA conflict.
He had previously worked at the Centre for International Cooperation at the University of Bradford, and for a variety of NGOs and the Swiss Development Agency in Central Asia and the north Caucasus.
David holds a Masters in Conflict Resolution and a BA in Russian & Politics. Languages other than English: Russian and French.
Direct line: 020 7288 8375
Alexander joined Conciliation Resources in August 2009 as Accord Series Editor. Before this he was a research fellow in the international programme at the Institute for Public Policy Research.
He worked as specialist adviser to the House of Lords European Union (EU) Select Committee in its inquiry into the EU Strategy for Africa, before which he was head of the Peace and Security Programme at the United Nations Association-UK. He has also been an associate fellow in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Alexander completed a PhD in July 2011.
Read the most recent Accord issues:
Media and Communications Officer
Direct line: 020 7288 8397
Clare joined Conciliation Resources in June 2011 after nearly six years working with the communications team at UNICEF UK.
She previously gained campaigns and research experience with the Green Party in New Zealand, was Projects and Office Manager at a community media company in Yorkshire, and has also worked in the Information and Publicity team at Amnesty International UK.
Clare holds a MA in Conflict, Development and Security from Leeds University and a BA in Politics and International Relations from Lancaster University.
Direct line: 020 7288 8386
Sanne joined Conciliation Resources as Policy Analyst in September 2012. She leads our policy engagement with EU-based actors and European governments and aspects of our thematic work, including public participation and women, peace and security. Prior to joining Conciliation Resources, Sanne worked for peacebuilding and conflict prevention organisations in Brussels, including the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), where she led work on gender, peace and conflict. Sanne holds an MA in International Conflict Studies from King’s College London and a BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts & Sciences from University College Utrecht. Languages other than English: Dutch (native), French (good), German (basic).
Direct line: 020 7288 8374
Zahbia joined Conciliation Resources as Peacebuilding Editor and Analyst in May 2012. Before this she was a Teaching Fellow in Violence, Conflict and Development at SOAS University, and Kings College London. She has also been a Research Associate at INCORE at the University of Ulster, and the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin.
She completed a PhD in Comparative Peace Processes in 2010, looking at Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine and Kashmir, and holds a Masters in International Peace and Security from the Dept of War Studies, Kings College London.
Languages other than English: Urdu (fluent), French (good), Spanish (basic)
Direct line: 020 7288 8393
Giulia joined Conciliation Resources in July 2011 as Fundraiser, after working as Programmes Officer with One World Action, an international development organisation protecting women’s rights worldwide.
Previously she had worked as Programme Officer with Women Living Under Muslim Laws, an international solidarity network for women whose lives are subject to laws derived from Islam. Giulia’s voluntary experience includes roles with the United Nations Associations, Save the Children, War on Want and Emergency UK.
Prior to attending an MA in Human Rights, Giulia participated in a community development project in India, where she organised vocational trainings for women and girls. Languages other than English: Spanish and Italian.
Direct line: 020 7288 8390
Sarah joined Conciliation Resources in February 2009 after working as an assistant accountant for The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. Previously she travelled extensively after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies and Italian from the University of Western Australia.
As part of Conciliation Resources' operations team, Sarah oversees partner financial reporting and contracts, leads on internal budget-holder management reporting and donor reporting. She has completed the CAT qualification in accounting. Languages other than English: Italian.
Direct line: 020 7288 8389
Lucy joined Conciliation Resources in September 2012 as Head of Fundraising having previously worked at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) as a Resource Mobilization Officer responsible for overseeing IPPF’s relationships with many of its largest donors.
Previously, Lucy worked as a Programme Manager overseeing a multi-country health programme in 13 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Lucy also has experience of working for a number of donor agencies including the Big Lottery Fund, BBC Children in Need and the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.
Languages other than English: French (fluent) and Spanish (good).
Direct line: 020 7288 8399
Sharon joined Conciliation Resources as IT Officer in 2011. She began her IT career as a database developer at Blue Kite Software. Before this, she worked in hostels supporting vulnerable people for the Kaleidoscope Project and Places for People, and in administrative roles for Places for People. She serves in a variety of voluntary roles for her Quaker meeting and for bisexual community organisations. Sharon is a certified FileMaker Developer and holds a BA in English and Philosophy.
Direct line: 020 7288 8365
Debbie joined Conciliation Resources in October 2012 after working for four years in the Finance Department at Newfrontiers International. Previously she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Primary Education.
As part of Conciliation Resources' operations team, Debbie is the first point of contact for payments and invoice queries. She is currently working towards her AAT qualification.
Direct line: 020 7288 8368
Adrian joined Conciliation Resources in April 2007 after working in various campaigns roles at Christian Aid and the Howard League for Penal Reform and running a Fair Trade Café. He studied Peace & Development Studies at the University of Bradford.
As part of Conciliation Resources' operations team, Adrian is responsible for facilities management, administration and recruitment/induction of new staff. He also volunteers and serves as a trustee for the Food Chain, a London-based HIV and nutrition charity. Languages other than English: Spanish.
Direct line: 020 7288 8372
Sydney joined Conciliation Resources in June 2012 having previously worked as the executive assistant to the Chairman of The Portland Trust. Prior to this, she held the role of researcher for The Portland Trust, which included projects such as the role of the private sector in peace and reconciliation efforts in conflict regions and how these lessons could be applied to the Israeli-Palestinian case.
Before this she worked at Chemonics International Inc. in Washington, DC as a project associate for the USAID-funded Egypt Water and Wastewater Sector Support Project and the Lebanon Civic Initiative Project.
Sydney holds a MA in Law: Dispute and Conflict Resolution from the School of Oriental and African Studies and a BA in International Affairs with a minor in Arab Studies from American University in Washington, DC.
Direct line: 020 7288 8361
Michael joined Conciliation Resources in November 2011. He was previously Director of Finance and Support Services at the charity Reach Volunteering for more than three years. Prior to that he had been the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's Director of Finance and Administration and US Treasurer for four years. This followed working at Barclays for 20 years in a number of roles across the bank. He has an MBA from the Open University and a keen interest in gardening.
Direct line: 020 7288 8360
Before joining Conciliation Resources in December 1999, Juliet worked for 10 years as a finance administrator at a doctors' group practice. She is trained in business accounting and office management, and also serves on the board of Positively UK, a national charity championing the rights of people living with HIV.
