Comparative political scientist and country-conditions expert on Southeast Asia (especially Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam). Provides independent reports, tailored risk assessments, and oral evidence for asylum/CAT and immigration cases, with specialisms in authoritarian governance, civil–military relations, policing/surveillance, and risks to religious and ethnic minorities.
I am a comparative political scientist specializing in Southeast Asia, with country expertise spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor-Leste. My work focuses on authoritarianism and democratization, subnational governance, political dynasties, civil–military relations, policing and surveillance, corruption and anti-corruption, elections and party politics, and the treatment of journalists, activists, and minority communities.
I have deep expertise on subnational political regimes, Islamic politics and legal regulation, centre–local power relations, and the political economy of the security and energy sectors. Across the region I analyse state protection gaps, enforcement practices, conditions in detention, and the feasibility of internal relocation, issues that frequently arise in asylum/CAT proceedings.
My analyses draw on long-term academic research, consultancy assignments, expert-witness work, and sustained engagement with multilingual primary sources (official documents, court records, policy and human-rights reporting, local and international media) as well as interviews with practitioners, civil society, and scholars across the region. I routinely produce country-conditions assessments that synthesize these materials into clear, decision-relevant findings for legal audiences.
Since 2017, I have been instructed in protection/asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT matters and have produced six formal expert reports/declarations, including four in 2025. I have provided oral evidence in four U.S. immigration court hearings (including Dallas and Fairfax) and contributed expert opinion in a UK protection claim. Recent instructions include RAICES (Philippines, 2025), Wildes & Weinberg (Myanmar, 2025), Van Der Hout LLP (Philippines, 2025), Murray Osorio PLLC (Vietnam, 2025), Legal Aid Justice Center (Indonesia/Papua, 2023), and ATLEU (Indonesia/trafficking-related protection claim, 2017). My reports typically combine country-conditions analysis, tailored risk assessments, and evaluations of internal relocation and state protection, grounded in multilingual sources and practitioner networks.
Chinese–Burmese communities (Myanmar): Country-conditions reporting and risk assessment for a Chinese-Burmese applicant targeted under Myanmar’s 2024 conscription activation.
Bangsamoro/Moro communities (Mindanao, Philippines): Ongoing analysis of conflict dynamics and security-sector reforms (e.g., MILF decommissioning) alongside multiple Philippines asylum instructions.
Rohingya (Myanmar): Public commentary and analysis on mass violence and state persecution of Rohingya communities.
Ethnic minorities in Indonesia (general): Affidavits and reports addressing discrimination against ethnic minorities (alongside religious and other vulnerable groups) in protection claims.
Myanmar (Burma): State Administration Council/Tatmadaw and associated militias (incl. Pyu Saw Htee); National Unity Government (NUG) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs); Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); local administrative/conscription bodies implementing the People’s Military Service Law.
Philippines: Moro movements (MILF, MNLF) and Bangsamoro institutions (e.g., BTA); Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Philippine National Police (PNP) and specialized anti-drug units; local political clans and private armed groups implicated in political violence.
Vietnam: Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV); Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and People’s Public Security; provincial security organs and their role in monitoring dissidents.
Myanmar (Burma): Theravada Buddhist sangha and nationalist networks (e.g., MaBaTha/969); Rohingya and other Muslim communities; Christian minorities (e.g., Chin, Kachin, Karen) and patterns of faith-based persecution.
Philippines: Catholic Church institutions; Iglesia ni Cristo; Evangelical/Pentecostal networks; Bangsamoro Muslim communities and the religion–security nexus in Mindanao.
Vietnam: State-recognized vs. unregistered groups; Vietnam Buddhist Sangha vs. independent Buddhist currents; Hoa Hao and Cao Dai; Evangelical/Protestant house-church networks including ethnic-minority Christians.
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos: Theravada Buddhist institutions and state oversight; Muslim minorities in Thailand’s Deep South; Christian and animist communities in upland areas.
Malaysia & Brunei: Sunni Islam under state religious authorities (e.g., JAKIM/state religious departments); restrictions affecting Shia and Ahmadiyah; Christian and Hindu minorities.
Singapore & Timor-Leste: Management of inter-faith relations (Singapore) and the role of the Catholic Church in state and society (Timor-Leste).