Mehmet Balci, Co-Director and Founder 

 

He has more than 15 years of experience in humanitarian work in the Middle East, South Caucasus and Latin America Regions.

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He has specialized in the protection of children, sexual violence issues and the ban on anti-personnel landmines. He has also worked on the inclusion of humanitarian issues in the peace negotiation agendas in Colombia.  He developed and led programmes promoting international humanitarian norms to protect civilians’ rights.  He also conducted an intense advocacy work towards international community on the protection of civilians in armed conflict situations. 

 

He collaborated with non-governmental organizations as representative to the EU, UN, Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Ann-Kristin “Anki” Sjöberg, Co-Director and Founder, is an experienced humanitarian/human rights professional with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit sector on issues linked to conflict, security and gender. She received her PhD in International Relations focused on Political Science in 2010 on the topic Challengers without Responsibility? Exploring Reasons for Armed Non-State Actor Use and Restraint on the Use of Violence against Civilians from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva Switzerland. 

 

Her work has focused on research and operational work at a senior level mainly in Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. She has also worked on issues related to gender and security sector reform in Nepal, South Sudan, and West Africa, and has a strong background in policy, strategy, planning, evaluations, and contract management. She has been the President of the NGO Gender and Mine Action Programme since June 2011. 

Beytul Gorkem, Head of Operations, has a 10-year experience in the humanitarian field. Over the last five years she worked as Programme Manager and Operations Coordinator before joining the Fight for Humanity. During her career she has led programmes in several countries  from field assessments to evaluations.

 

She holds a PhD degree in chemical sciences from Paris-Est University and worked in pharmaceutical industry before her humanitarian carrier. She speaks English, French and Turkish. 

Nicolas Sion, Head of Development, has more than 12 years of experience in the private and non-profit sector in marketing, communication, fundraising and human rights in Switzerland, France, Spain, England and South America. He holds a Master in Management from the ESCP Europe and a European Master in Science of Management from the London City University.

 

He has specialized in developing strong communication strategies and campaigns to raise funds and visibility both in Europe and in conflict zones. Before his 8 years in the humanitarian field, he worked for 3 years in the consulting industry  where he gained significant experience in  marketing strategies and management in media and telecom companies. He was also a laureate of the Ashoka social entrepreneur contest in 2012 with the initiative shopandhelp.org.

Carolin Nehmé holds an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.  She has worked as thematic legal advisor for the NGO Geneva Call between 2015 and 2018 and as Legal Officer for the Section for International Humanitarian Law at the Directorate of International Law of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 2018.

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As field and protection delegate for the ICRC between 2009 and 2014 in Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar, she was responsible for negotiating access, engaging with and training armed actors, networking with local actors, communities and international organizations in the field and documenting violations of International Humanitarian Law.

Mark Knight is an Expert on Security & Human Rights during transitions and in complex environments.  He has experience of managing intricate and sensitive political processes in support of parties engaged in peace processes. He has also had extensive interaction with states in conflict, post-conflict, and stabilisation environments.

 

He has delivered human rights due-diligence and risk-management policies and processes to the private sector, and advised on International Humanitarian Law. Comprehensive experience with diplomatic missions and international agencies whilst delivering peace building initiatives. He also has extensive experience of DDR, SSR, & Ceasefires, with operational military experience.

Chris Rush has nearly 30 years’ experience of working to protect people from persecution, human rights violations and the adverse impact of conflict.  

 

With a background in the protection of the forcibly displaced, he has for the last decade worked on the analysis of conflicts throughout Asia. He has particular expertise in the monitoring, reporting, verification and fact finding of violations of IHL and IHRL.