Afghanistan: Conflict & Crisis - Special Webinar

Michael Semple has practised and written on humanitarian assistance and conflict resolution in Afghanistan and Pakistan. During the period 1988 to 2008 he worked in the region for international NGOs, the United Nations and the European Union. He was a member of the United Nations political team which helped implement the 2001 Bonn Accords and served as Deputy to the European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan 2004-08. Through his career Michael has sought to be a reflective practitioner.

Since 2008 he has worked as a scholar and adviser on conflict resolution, with particular focus on the Afghan conflict. During 2009-2013 Michael was Senior Research Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard Kennedy School. He has participated in the United States Institute for Peace Afghanistan Pakistan Senior Advisory Group. He has directly advised key policy makers concerning the conflict in Afghanistan, particularly with regards to political engagement with the Taliban. Michael is a recognised analyst of the Afghan Taliban Movement. He is currently researching the evolving rhetoric of the Taliban’s armed struggle and the challenges facing militant jihadi groups evolving towards a political role.

As a global philanthropist, Steve Killelea has laid the foundations to develop an entirely new understanding of peace. As a thought leader, he has reshaped the entire concept to recognise its integrity to the revival of our economic and political systems. Few have provoked global thought amongst both policymakers and members of the public quite to the extent of Steve. An international entrepreneur behind the global think tank, the Institute for Economics and Peace, he combines a highly successful career in technology with a philanthropic focus on peace and sustainable development to shed new light on issues, from terrorism and conflict to economics and prosperity.

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Michael Smith is the National President of the United Nations Association of Australia. He is a Visiting Fellow at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University, and a former Adjunct Professor at the Key Centre for Ethics, Governance, Law and Justice at Griffith University. Michael consults on peace and security issues and maintains a strong commitment to human rights. He has had a long association with the United Nations, including field experience in Cambodia, Kashmir, Libya, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, and Yemen.

From 2008-2011, Michael was the founding Executive Director of the Australian Civil-Military Centre, a multi-agency organisation established by the Australian Government in 2008 to support the development of national civil-military capabilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond more effectively to conflicts and disasters overseas. The Centre worked particularly closely with the United Nations, and contributed to Australia’s successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.

Lea works in Brussels, Belgium as the Deputy Director of Operations, Europe and MENA region at the Institute for Economics and Peace. Lea holds a Masters Degree in International Conflict & Security from the University of Kent Brussels campus. Lea also collaborates on various projects at local universities as a research assistant in the field of international relations. Throughout her professional experiences and education, Lea has gained strong skills in research, negotiating, analysing case-studies, public speaking, and solution building.