Keshab Giri
Researcher and Lecturer in International Relations
The University of Sydney
Keshab Giri is a researcher and lecturer in International Relations at The University of Sydney. Keshab completed his PhD on, ‘Experiences of Female Ex-Combatants in the Maoist Insurgency in Nepal: Endless Battles and Resistance’ (2020). He has more than five years’ experience in intensive research and teaching in three different countries. Keshab's research expertise includes gender and war, security and terrorism, women combatants in armed conflict in South Asia, Women, Peace and Security, feminist International Relations, and intersectionality. He has coordinated and taught more than a dozen courses in Gender, Geopolitics, Politics, Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy, and International Relations and has undertaken a range of high-impact research projects.
Researcher and Lecturer in International Relations
The University of Sydney
Keshab Giri is a researcher and lecturer in International Relations at The University of Sydney. Keshab completed his PhD on, ‘Experiences of Female Ex-Combatants in the Maoist Insurgency in Nepal: Endless Battles and Resistance’ (2020). He has more than five years’ experience in intensive research and teaching in three different countries. Keshab's research expertise includes gender and war, security and terrorism, women combatants in armed conflict in South Asia, Women, Peace and Security, feminist International Relations, and intersectionality. He has coordinated and taught more than a dozen courses in Gender, Geopolitics, Politics, Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy, and International Relations and has undertaken a range of high-impact research projects.
Ruby Kholifah
Indonesia Country Director
Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN)
Ms. Dwi Rubiyanti Kholifah, is Indonesia Country Director for the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN), with a focus on the role of women in peacebuilding and interfaith cooperation. Born and raised in Indonesia, she assists young Muslim scholars conducting research on Muslims responding to modernity and globalization. She is active in writing articles regarding women’s issues, minority rights, and the role of women in peacebuilding in journals and online and offline media. She has authored several books including Contesting Discourse on Sexuality and Sexual Subjectivity Among Single Muslim Women in Pesantren and co-authored The Future of Feminisms: Confronting Fundamentalism, Conflict and Neo-liberalism. Ms. Kholifa earned a master’s degree in Health and Social Science at Mahidol University in Thailand, for which she researched the dynamics of sexual health in the pesantren (pondok) in Indonesia. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Literature from Universitas Jember, Indonesia.
Indonesia Country Director
Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN)
Ms. Dwi Rubiyanti Kholifah, is Indonesia Country Director for the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN), with a focus on the role of women in peacebuilding and interfaith cooperation. Born and raised in Indonesia, she assists young Muslim scholars conducting research on Muslims responding to modernity and globalization. She is active in writing articles regarding women’s issues, minority rights, and the role of women in peacebuilding in journals and online and offline media. She has authored several books including Contesting Discourse on Sexuality and Sexual Subjectivity Among Single Muslim Women in Pesantren and co-authored The Future of Feminisms: Confronting Fundamentalism, Conflict and Neo-liberalism. Ms. Kholifa earned a master’s degree in Health and Social Science at Mahidol University in Thailand, for which she researched the dynamics of sexual health in the pesantren (pondok) in Indonesia. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Literature from Universitas Jember, Indonesia.
Ms Farlina binti Md Said
Senior Analyst
Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
Farlina Said is Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies programme of ISIS Malaysia. She graduated from S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University with a MSc (Strategic Studies) in 2014. As a part of the think tank she is involved in crafting various dialogues and forums on cybersecurity, radicalisation and Malaysia-Korea relations. She has led dialogues and forums inclusive of regional and international conversations such as the Track 1.5 Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Study Group On International Law and Cyberspace. Her research and ideas have reached forums such as East Asia Summit (EAS) Workshops, Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Open Forum, Singapore International Cyber Week and platforms on the sidelines of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group Her written work and comments have appeared in the local, regional and international media such as New Straits Times, the Nation (Thailand), China Daily, CGTN and South China Morning Post. She was a part of SEARCCT’s Experts on Violent Extremism and Community Engagement (EVOKE) Council (2018-2019). She is currently tasked with building the institute’s technology research portfolio. Her research interests are inclusive of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace as well as the geopolitics in technology development.
Senior Analyst
Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
Farlina Said is Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies programme of ISIS Malaysia. She graduated from S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University with a MSc (Strategic Studies) in 2014. As a part of the think tank she is involved in crafting various dialogues and forums on cybersecurity, radicalisation and Malaysia-Korea relations. She has led dialogues and forums inclusive of regional and international conversations such as the Track 1.5 Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Study Group On International Law and Cyberspace. Her research and ideas have reached forums such as East Asia Summit (EAS) Workshops, Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Open Forum, Singapore International Cyber Week and platforms on the sidelines of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group Her written work and comments have appeared in the local, regional and international media such as New Straits Times, the Nation (Thailand), China Daily, CGTN and South China Morning Post. She was a part of SEARCCT’s Experts on Violent Extremism and Community Engagement (EVOKE) Council (2018-2019). She is currently tasked with building the institute’s technology research portfolio. Her research interests are inclusive of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace as well as the geopolitics in technology development.
Miguel Musngi
Senior Officer for Poverty Eradication and Gender Division
ASEAN Secretariat
Dr. Miguel Musngi is a professional development worker with progressive experience in public policy analysis and social research on social and sustainable development issues covering gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, gender mainstreaming, social welfare, and human rights of persons with disabilities and older persons, as well as rural development, poverty alleviation, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. He has also been instrumental in facilitating and steering dialogues and discussions with credibility and trustworthiness, building consensus, and putting vision into action.
Senior Officer for Poverty Eradication and Gender Division
ASEAN Secretariat
Dr. Miguel Musngi is a professional development worker with progressive experience in public policy analysis and social research on social and sustainable development issues covering gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, gender mainstreaming, social welfare, and human rights of persons with disabilities and older persons, as well as rural development, poverty alleviation, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. He has also been instrumental in facilitating and steering dialogues and discussions with credibility and trustworthiness, building consensus, and putting vision into action.
Steve Recca
Humanitarian Assistance Programs Senior Advisor
Pacific Disaster Center
Steve Recca has held several security policy positions with the State Department, Department of Defense, and in academia. He was Director of the University of Colorado Springs Center for Homeland Security where he managed research programs in civil security, defense-related topics, as well as institutional and government agency collaborative relationships. He is on the Editorial Review Board of four peer-reviewed journals and is a frequent guest lecturer on civil security topics for academic institutions across the United States. Steve holds a Master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Humanitarian Assistance Programs Senior Advisor
Pacific Disaster Center
Steve Recca has held several security policy positions with the State Department, Department of Defense, and in academia. He was Director of the University of Colorado Springs Center for Homeland Security where he managed research programs in civil security, defense-related topics, as well as institutional and government agency collaborative relationships. He is on the Editorial Review Board of four peer-reviewed journals and is a frequent guest lecturer on civil security topics for academic institutions across the United States. Steve holds a Master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.