Experts on countries of origin by surname

Dr. Shaul Gabbay completed a BA at Bar Ilan University and an MA at Tel-Aviv University. In 1991 he received a Presidential Fellowship from the U.S. to continue his studies. In 1995 he completed the PhD program at Columbia University in New York and received an invitation from the University of Chicago for a Post Doctoral program. In 1998 Dr. Gabbay returned to Israel to join the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Professor Gabbay joined the University of Denver as the Director of the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies in 2001- 2010.  He continued his research at DU as a Senior Scholar until 2015 when he was appointed Director of the Global Research Institute.

His areas of expertise include Middle East cultures and societal norms,   Middle East conflicts, and human rights issues existing in Muslim societies.  He is regularly cited and acts as a commentator in national and international media such as the Associated Press, CBS, NBC, FOX and MSNBC.

Marília Papaléo Gagliardi is a standout legal expert in the intersection of international law, climate migration, and digital rights. With an LL.M. in Public International Law and a stellar academic and advocacy portfolio, she has successfully bridged legal theory with real-world impact. Her track record includes strategic litigation for NGOs, drafting influential policy documents, and pioneering legal innovation for vulnerable communities. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and prestigious platforms like Oxford University Press and Asser Press, while also shaping debates at key global conferences. Marília's trilingual fluency, cross-continental legal insight, and commitment to justice and equity make her an invaluable asset to any institution engaged in human rights, climate governance, or digital policy work. Her integrated, visionary approach ensures she not only understands global legal frameworks but actively contributes to shaping them.

Cameron Garcia is a rising leader in international security intelligence, combining academic excellence with practical diplomacy. His intelligence roles in private and governmental sectors demonstrate a deep command of regional threats, sociopolitical dynamics, and global security frameworks. With hands-on diplomatic experience from Latin America to Europe, Cameron excels at crisis analysis and advisory roles. He is an invaluable asset for organizations navigating complex geopolitical environments.

The expert is a seasoned International Analyst and Political Scientist, specializing in humanitarian disarmament, arms control, and criminal structures operating in the Latin America and Caribbean region, with extensive experience in NGOs in Argentina and Colombia. His research and academic endeavors are dedicated to addressing pressing issues in defense, security, and humanitarian efforts in the region.

The expert is a seasoned International Analyst and Political Scientist, specializing in humanitarian disarmament, arms control, and transnational organized crime, with extensive experience in NGOs in Argentina and Colombia. His research and academic endeavors are dedicated to addressing pressing issues in defense, security, and humanitarian efforts.

Isidora J. Ramírez Garmendia is a transnational legal and advocacy leader with an outstanding track record in human rights, sustainability, and grassroots empowerment. Her experience ranges from directing NGOs and legal firms to shaping policy at local and international levels, all while championing Indigenous rights, climate resilience, and equity. With multilingual fluency, cross-continental networks, and a proven ability to drive legal, institutional, and social change, Isidora is exceptionally well-positioned for roles in international justice, humanitarian governance, or global policy development.

Academic with expertise on many countries in the Middle East; has extensive experience providing expert reports, including nationality assessment and document authentication reports.

The expert is lecturer in Kurdish and Gender Studies at the University of Exeter and has extensive experience in providing country expert reports, nationality assessment, and language analysis.

Independent researcher. Country expert reports, nationality assessment, language analysis, Gender-based violence, Ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East, and Document authentication.

Dr. Ginzburg is a practicing medical anthropologist and public health professional, with a focus on mental health and health equity research. She has published research on mental health, stigma, syndemics, chronic illness, obesity, food insecurity, environmental health, and community-based participatory research.

Dr. Antonio Giustozzi is a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). He took his PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is the author of several articles and papers on Afghanistan, as well as of seven books, War, politics and society in Afghanistan, 1978-1992 (Georgetown University Press), Koran, Kalashnikov and laptop: the Neo-Taliban insurgency, 2002-7 (Columbia University Press), Empires of mud: war and warlords in Afghanistan (Columbia University Press), Policing Afghanistan (with M. Ishaqzada, Columbia University Press, 2013), The army of Afghanistan (Hurst, 2016), the Islamic State in Khorasan (Hurst, 2018 and II ed 2022) and Taliban at war (OUP USA, 2019 and II ed. 2022). He also authored a volume on the role of coercion and violence in state-building, The Art of Coercion (Columbia University Press, 2011), one on advisory missions (Missionaries of modernity, Hurst, 2016), one on Jihadism in Pakistan (IB Tauris, 2023) and edited a volume on the Taliban, Decoding the New Taliban (Columbia University Press, 2009), featuring contributions by specialists from different backgrounds. He contributes regularly to the media and to periodical publications. In the past he worked among else as a consultant for the EUSR… Read more

David Glovsky is an Assistant Professor of African History at Boston University (BU). He is a historian of 19th and 20th century West Africa, with a focus on Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. His research and teaching interests include histories of mobility and migration, borderlands, spatial history, Islam, citizenship, gender, and histories of popular culture/sport.

Prof. Glovsky has extensive research experience in greater Senegambia, focused on cross-border mobility and belonging among primarily rural communities. His work is embedded in understanding how people in border regions conceive of their spaces, rather than state views from the outside. He holds a B.A. in History and Human Geography from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in African History from Michigan State University. Prior his time at BU, he taught in the Department of Africana Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Daniel M. Goldstein is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Anthropology at Rutgers University. He is the author or co-author of four ethnographies and numerous articles based on his research in Bolivia and the United States. His areas of interest include the anthropology of politics and law, security, violence, immigration, and urban life. Daniel retired from academia in 2018 to pursue a career as a novelist, but he remains involved in the study of Latin American political and social life.

A bilingual legal professional with over three years of experience providing high-level support to U.S. law firms in the areas of Personal Injury and Immigration Law. Skilled in managing the full lifecycle of cases, from initial client intake through evidence gathering, document preparation, legal research, and settlement coordination. Demonstrates strong expertise in preparing USCIS petitions, handling personal injury claims, and maintaining communication with clients, courts, medical providers, and insurance companies. With a proven ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously in fast-paced environments, this expert is known for exceptional organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a client-centered approach.

Juana Valentina Gonzalez is an accomplished anthropologist and internationalist with a powerful blend of academic rigor and grassroots engagement. She has been instrumental in research and capacity-building projects focused on gender, inequality, and post-conflict resolution in Colombia. Her work with rural and indigenous populations showcases her adaptability, critical thinking, and deeprooted commitment to justice and peace. With trilingual abilities and extensive experience in participatory research, Juana stands out as a passionate advocate and capable leader in the international development and human rights sectors.

María Serna Guerrero is a highly skilled climate and energy regulatory specialist with a proven track record of influencing national and international policy landscapes. She has developed key HSE and upstream regulatory frameworks in Mexico, consulted on methane emissions regulations in Colombia, and advised on high stakes offshore tenders in Guyana. Her dual legal background in environmental law and regulatory improvement equips her to bridge policy with practical implementation. With published work on Latin America's climate commitments and energy governance, and strong cross-border consulting experience, María is a leading voice in shaping sustainable, compliant, and forward-looking energy systems across the Americas.

Journalist and Broadcaster, with direct experience of 'post-war' Iraq

Dr. Sonali Gupta, LL.B., Ph.D. (UCLA), is an anthropologist, legal expert, and educator specializing in migration, asylum, cultural resilience, and narcotics law. As President and Co-Founder of the Himalayan Conservation & Preservation Society (USA) and Founder-Director of the Himalayan Institute of Cultural & Heritage Studies (India), she has devoted over two decades to research, migration policy, and community engagement across the Himalayas and South Asia. Her experience includes six years of legal practice in India, handling asylum, migration, and narcotics cases, which provided in-depth insight into both legal and prison systems. She has also worked as legal staff in the United States, conducted extensive ethnographic research on caste, gender, resilience, and climate-driven migration, and served as adjunct professor at UCLA in anthropology and regional studies.

Dr. Gupta’s work creates bridges between ground-level realities and global advocacy frameworks, advancing social justice and sustainable development for marginalized communities. She leads initiatives on cultural preservation, legal empowerment, and grassroots healing—from founding a migrant memory hub in Delhi and innovative field programs in Himachal Pradesh, to advising… Read more

The expert is a specialist for Nepal and Bhutan – the countries in the Himalayan belt. Since he embarked on his doctoral research project in 2019, he has been assisting the UK, U.S., and European courts, including NGOs and business organisations, with country expert reports on his area of expertise. Apart from the trajectory of his academic career within the areas of his expertise, he has led community projects in Nepal and the UK – and in doing so; he has spent a substantial length of time in Nepal and with Nepali communities in the UK. Moreover, the expert actively engaged and collaborated with Nepali civil societies while working for INGOs in Nepal. He regularly travels to Nepal for research and social enterprise projects – and closely collaborates with native organisations based in Nepal and Bhutan. The Nepal-raised expert has experience of the immigration litigation process and has appeared in court to provide testimony. Besides providing country expert reports both in the form of high depth and breadth, he also provides Nepali language and cultural expertise.

The expert is currently a PhD candidate – and conducting his doctoral research on Nepali politics at Birkbeck, University of London. Prior to Birkbeck, he was associated with the Queen Mary University of… Read more