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Experts on countries of origin by surname

Morad, Kawa

Kawa Morad (MA, PhD) is a lecturer in social anthropology, based in Exeter, with a focus on forced migration and/in the Middle East. He has extensive experience in providing language analysis and country expert reports on internal displacement, gender-based violence, medical/psychiatric care and access, statelessness, LGBTQ+ communities and others in Syria, Iraq, and Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Occupation: Lecturer in social anthropology (U of Exeter)
Countries of expertise: Iraq, Iraq (Kurdistan Regional Government), Syria

Moyet, Xavier

After a PhD defended at EHESS (France) Xavier Moyet worked at IFRA as Scientific Director. Consequently, he worked for Universities of Toronto, Kent and Leeds, notably as a research associate and was involved in several significant projects. He is presently a consultant and collaborates for instance with the National Museum of Unity in Ibadan, or Tunde Odunlade Art Gallery. He is French, with a sound knowledge of Canadian and UK societies.

Occupation: Consultant in Anthropology
Countries of expertise: Benin, Nigeria

Mustafa, Awat

20 years experience in translation and knowledge in migration and displacement, 4 years ECOSOC representative for NGO at the human right council at UN-GENEVE and 10 years experience with humanitarian agencies and the world bank

Occupation: Translator and international development consultant
Countries of expertise: Iraq, Iraq (Kurdistan Regional Government)

Muthumariappan, Mayilvaganan

Mayilvaganan, M., PhD is an Independent Analyst and Director of Center for Human Security and International Affairs (CHSIA). His research interests focus on political, strategic and security issues concerning South and Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific region, Borderlands and the Non-Traditional Security Issues. 

Prior to this, Dr. Mayil was an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, India, where he oversaw research projects on the Indo-Pacific, Borderland studies, Non-Traditional Security Challenges (such as Migration, Refugees, Climate Change, & Public Health, etc.), Human Rights & Humanitarian Issues, and World Politics in general. He was also a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, India, where he taught South Asia in International Relations, Modern Warfare, and International Politics. Other positions he held included Associate Fellow at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), New Delhi, India, with a focus on Sri Lanka, and Research Associate at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), New Delhi, India, with an emphasis on Kashmir. Additionally, he spent sometime as a researcher in Canada and the U.S.. 

He holds a PhD degree from the School of… Read more

Occupation: Director, CHSIA
Countries of expertise: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Muthumariappan, Mayilvaganan

Mayilvaganan, M., PhD is an Independent Analyst and Director of Center for Human Security and International Affairs (CHSIA). His research interests focus on political, strategic and security issues concerning South and Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific region, Borderlands and the Non-Traditional Security Issues. 

Prior to this, Dr. Mayil was an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, India, where he oversaw research projects on the Indo-Pacific, Borderland studies, Non-Traditional Security Challenges (such as Migration, Refugees, Climate Change, & Public Health, etc.), Human Rights & Humanitarian Issues, and World Politics in general. He was also a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, India, where he taught South Asia in International Relations, Modern Warfare, and International Politics. Other positions he held included Associate Fellow at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), New Delhi, India, with a focus on Sri Lanka, and Research Associate at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), New Delhi, India, with an emphasis on Kashmir. Additionally, he spent sometime as a researcher in Canada and the U.S.. 

He holds a PhD degree from the School of… Read more

Occupation: Director, CHSIA
Countries of expertise: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Mykolenko, Anastasiia

Anastasiia Mykolenko is a Ukrainian anthropologist and legal professional specializing in forced displacement, refugee reception, and protection in Eastern Europe. Based in Montréal, she is completing a PhD in Anthropology at the Université de Montréal and holds advanced degrees in European and international law. Her research and consulting work focus on how people navigate war, borders, and bureaucratic systems, with extensive fieldwork along the Polish–Ukrainian border and engagement in Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. She has worked as a Senior Analyst & Fieldwork Coordinator on multi-country projects related to displacement and gender-based violence, and as a Protection Assistant with an international NGO at the Polish–Ukrainian border.

Anastasiia combines country-of-origin knowledge with strong analytical and writing skills, producing clear, evidence-based reports for NGOs, donors, and institutional partners. She has hands-on experience with refugee and asylum issues, including community-based legal support in Montréal, and in-depth expertise on vulnerable and marginalized groups such as Roma/Romani communities, women at risk, LGBTQI+ persons, and human rights defenders. She works in English, French, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish (and… Read more

Occupation: PhD candidate at the University of Montreal

Countries of expertise: Belarus, Canada, Poland, Romania, Ukraine