International affairs and development have always been a strong interest of mine. I am of Colombian and Syrian heritage, born in Switzerland, and have had to move a lot since a young age. I was frequently exposed to new cultures and had to adapt to new settings which pre-disposed me to be curious and fascinated by new international environments.

I’ve continuously wanted to help others and do so in an impactful and meaningful way. The chance to attend Oxford and pursue a Masters in Global Governance & Diplomacy was an opportunity of a lifetime. I built a well-rounded and deep academic foundation in geopolitical theory, research methods and financial governance, not forgetting how much I learned from my friends and peers. However, I quickly realised there is a lot to gain from the private sector first to solve real and pressing problems thereafter. That is why I chose to start my career working in Finance and Management Consulting before pursuing the job I am truly passionate about with Adam Smith International.

Within ASI I am a Senior Manager focusing on private sector-led approaches to inclusive economic growth. Key areas of focus to date have been: leading a market development programme in Sierra Leone (which stayed operational throughout the Ebola outbreak), successfully initiating market growth and investment activities for Renewable Energy access in Sierra Leone aligned to the UK Energy Campaign. Also, I’ve recently expanded my experience to a geographical and technical area which is close to my heart this being Palestinian and Syrian refugees where my work focuses on integrating them into the formal economy in Lebanon.