I am a historian of twentieth century Central America who also works on contemporary Central American politics. I gained my PhD in Political Studies from the University of Aberdeen in 2014, with a thesis on Nicaragua’s Contra War. Prior to the PhD I worked for a number of NGOs, including Amnesty International's International Secretariat. I have spent several years living in Central America and my reports draw on extensive, up-to-date research covering press, civil society and human rights reports. I have completed numerous reports on Central American cases in recent years and my work is highly regarded. Clients have commented that I was highly recommended to them, and they describe my work as thorough, detailed, and carefully tailored to the appellant's specific circumstances. My reports have contributed to the reversal of Home Office decisions in a number of cases.
I have particular expertise on Nicaragua, drawing on many years of research and residence in that country. I have published academic work on Nicaragua's Citizen Power Councils, or CPCs, often a topic of importance in asylum cases. I have also previously worked as human rights accompanier in Guatemala and have a good understanding of the broader dynamics of the region.
I've written eight expert witness reports in the last six years. I have worked on cases where the appellant was at risk of persecution because of their political dissent, their religious beliefs, or their prior connections to the government in their country of origin.