Portfolio

PROJECTS

  • Project Honeycomb

    The project is growing our understanding of human trafficking across Greater Manchester through establishing data-sharing partnerships, developing AI applications for text analysis, and providing recommendations on interventions to combat human trafficking. Role: project manager and lead researcher.

  • Analysis of the victim’s experience of the An Garda Síochána

    Developing an understanding of victim’s perception of the Irish Police. This includes developing and conducting research methods for a literature review, focus groups, surveys, interviews. Role: project manager.

  • Project HAMOC

    Provided knowledge on human security that was leveraged by the technical team to develop a data analytics application to better understand the human terrain environment in conflict/crisis. Role: lead social science researcher.

  • Project SOLEBAY

    Developed a human trafficking in conflict risk assessment that considers risk from the perspective of the individual and the impact of wider societal factors to understand the threat and harm. Role: lead researcher and domain expert.

  • Crime and Mental Health

    Collected, processed, and analysed data to develop a report on understanding the complex issue of crime and mental health in a borough of London. Role: lead social science researcher.

  • iTRACK

    iTRACK (Integrated system for real-time TRACKing and collective intelligence in civilian humanitarian missions): Carried out a privacy and ethics impact assessment on a smart system for supporting humanitarian organisations in conflict and crisis situations. Role: lead researcher for privacy and ethics.

  • Project TRACE

    Project TRACE (Trafficking As a Criminal Enterprise): Through qualitative research, including review of court files and interviews with perpetrators, developed an understanding of human trafficking as a business. In addition undertook work on one of the first reports on the role of human trafficking in facilitating and combating human trafficking. Role: researcher.

  • Survivor engagement

    Supporting the Home Office in developing a new strategy on Modern Slavery by undertaking research with survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking. Role: Project manager and lead researcher.

  • Project CCEM

    A UK Home Office-funded project that aims to strengthen social norms around the non-use of modern slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. To achieve this, amongst other things, the project will develop an application to enable investors to understand the modern slavery risks regarding target geographical areas and/or companies. Role: project manager and lead researcher.

  • Project RESTART

    Project RESTART supports survivors of human trafficking in having their voices heard and provides evidence for policymakers seeking to develop policies on supporting survivors of human trafficking. Role: Providing subject matter expertise on human trafficking in the development of Natural Language Processing models for extracting insights on survivor needs from text.

  • ECPAT

    Managed and conducted research on a project for ECPAT to identify effective policy influence and advocacy practices, specifically addressing child exploitation and its intersection with technology.

  • Return and reintegration

    Led and conducted research for an IOM funded project aimed at enhancing the capacity of UK organisations to support survivors of human tracking and modern slavery in voluntary return and reintegration efforts.

  • UNICEF

    Delivered training on leveraging advanced data analysis techniques to interpret and understand human security issues regarding children escaping the Ukraine war.ption goes here

  • Legal compliance assessment

    Provide consultancy service on state compliance with criminal and human rights law, focusing on implementing international and EU legal frameworks. Key projects included reviewing Poland's adherence to the Istanbul Convention and evaluating its compliance with EU law on gender equality.

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Teaching (selection)

Space Law at the University of Amsterdam

Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery at the School for International Training

Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Amsterdam

Thesis module at the University of Amsterdam

Human Trafficking on an LLM program at the University of Warsaw

Guest Lecture at Lecture Deakin University: Digital defence and human security

Guest Lecture at Aberystwyth University: Human Trafficking in Armed Conflict: A Manifestation of Human Insecurity

Guest Lecture at the University of Warsaw: Human Security and Human Trafficking in Conflict

Guest Lecture at Manchester University: Organised Crime in Conflict

 Training

As an expert trainer specialising in topics such as human trafficking, human security and data, I have delivered 17 sessions to diverse audiences, including government officials, police, border forces, civil society, senior military personnel, humanitarian organizations, and youth programs. Examples include:

  • Strengthening Child Protection Systems: Conducted training for border force authorities on integrating child protection systems to support children escaping conflict.

  • Data-Driven Approaches to Combat Human Trafficking: Delivered workshops for NGOs, government bodies, and helplines on leveraging data to identify and address trafficking.

  • Human Security and Related Issues: Delivered training at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom on topics such as human trafficking, Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).

  • Safeguarding Policies: Provided guidance on safeguarding policies for the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR).

  • Human Trafficking for Policy and NGO Leaders: Led sessions at the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies to enhance understanding and policy development.

  • Combating Child Trafficking in Poland: Trained Polish police and border guards on identifying and responding to child trafficking cases.

  • Identifying Trafficking at Airports: Delivered training to Manchester Airport staff to help recognize and address human trafficking.

  • Community Awareness of Trafficking: Engaged with Manchester’s Women’s Institute to increase awareness of trafficking issues in local communities.

Support to vulnerable persons

I have experience in supporting vulnerable individuals, including victims of exploitation, prisoners, and their families. My work has included:

  • Assisting Victims of Labour Exploitation: Provided critical information and resources to Polish victims of labour exploitation in the Netherlands to help them navigate their situations.

  • Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking: Worked closely with male and female survivors at safehouses in Manchester, offering emotional support and facilitating their recovery and reintegration.

  • Guidance on Drug Treatment Wings: Delivered emotional support and practical advice to prisoners and their families on drug treatment wings at His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in Manchester, aiding their journey toward rehabilitation.

  • Helpline Support for Families: Provided support and practical advice through a helpline dedicated to partners of prisoners, addressing their concerns and connecting them with resources.

Speaking engagements (selection)

‘Use of AI to identify children at risk of exploitation at the 40th Operational Meeting of the Interpol Specialists Group on Crimes Against Children (SGCAC), Lyon

‘Harnessing AI to Combat Online Sexual Exploitation of Children: Opportunities and Innovations’ at AI Safety Summit, London

‘Demystifying the foundations of AI in Justice and Public Safety’ at TECHUK, London

‘Use of AI in the public sector to combat child exploitation’ at PIER24’s ‘Tackling online harms: Transforming the whole system approach’, London

‘ESG and human trafficking’ at ACAMS, Amsterdam

‘Data, human trafficking and the Ukraine war’ at the Child Helpline International training workshop for Hungarian NGOs, Budapest

‘Women in Space Policy’ at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, London

‘Improving policy on human trafficking’ at the NATO Digital Dialogue on Human Security conference, Online

‘Recruitment of migrant workers and labour law – do we risk facilitating forced labour and trafficking for labour exploitation without knowing it?’ at the Competence building, assistance provision and prevention of trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation conference organised by Council of Baltic Sea States, Online

‘Who are the victims and how are they recruited online? New Perspectives’ at the Trafficking in the Digital Era Conference organised by Council of Baltic Sea States, Online

‘Technology & Innovation in conflicts’ at the Humanitarian Networks & Partnerships Week, Geneva 

‘The role of technologies in the sex industry and in relation to human trafficking’ at the Desire Project Validation workshop, Tilburg

Chaired the ‘7th Annual International Symposium on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling’, Brussels

‘Non-prosecution or non-application of penalties to the victim of human trafficking’, 14th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology, Prague

‘Agility in crisis management information systems requires an iterative and flexible approach to assessing ethical, legal and social issues.’ 14th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, Albi