Simon Schweitzer

Simon joined IPIS as a GIS and Data Analysis intern in September 2023. Currently enrolled at the University of Mainz (JGU), he is writing his Bachelor Thesis in Geography. Particularly interested in postcolonial relations, land redistribution and conflict minerals, his regional focus is Southern Africa. Throughout travels and excursions in this particular region, he gained on […]
Alexeï Delanghe

Alexeï joined IPIS as a research and communication intern in September 2023. Holding a BA in History and International Relations from Utrecht University, he has recently graduated with an MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from the University of Amsterdam (NIOD). Particularly interested in the intersections between mass violence, resource exploitation and paramilitarism, his regional […]
Marieke Haagh

Marieke joined IPIS in June 2023 as a researcher working on natural resources and conflict analysis. Before joining IPIS, Marieke managed EU-funded projects and developed bids for the international development consultancy Adam Smith International and was based in Rio de Janeiro and Amsterdam. She also worked for PAX Netherlands on peacebuilding projects in north-eastern DR […]
Stefaan Van wal

Stefaan provides data analysis and mapping services for IPIS’ research projects. This includes planning of data collection campaigns, performing statistical analyses, designing engaging maps, and creating visualizations and infographics. He previously worked as a researcher for international space agencies and holds a PhD in aerospace engineering sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder, where his […]
Loïc De Cannière

Loïc De Cannière co-founded Incofin IM, an independent impact investment management company that aims to create a positive social impact for SMEs, farmers and micro-enterprises. Formerly he worked at the dredging company DEME (1995-2000) and as chief of cabinet for Economy for the minister-president of the Flemish government (1992-1995). Since 2019 he is Chairman of […]
Eva Berghmans

Eva Berghmans is an expert in human rights and migration issues. Her professional career includes work at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE ODIHR), the Catholic University of Louvain (KULeuven), the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), and Amnesty International Vlaanderen. At Amnesty, she started as a legal officer, and evolved into […]
Eric de Deckere

Eric de Deckere is Sustainability Manager at Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council. Formerly he was Sustainability Manager at the Port of Antwerp and academic researcher at the Institute of Development Policy (IOB) of the University of Antwerp.
Amin Sofla

Amin joined IPIS in October 2022 as a financial manager. Previously he has worked as a management accountant, auditor, and financial manager in the auto-part and industrial construction industries. Amin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tehran, and a master’s and a Ph.D. from Umea School of Business Economics and Statistics in Sweden. […]
Arnim Langer

Arnim Langer is Professor of International Politics at KU Leuven. He is the Director of the Center for Peace Research and Development (CRPD), UNESCO Chair holder in Building Sustainable Peace and Program Director of Political Science. Prof. Arnim Langer conducts research on the causes and consequences of violent conflict as well as the challenges and […]
Lilian Ogolla

Lilian is a human rights, governance, and development practitioner with more than 7 years of experience working in the East African region. She is also experienced in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, communication for development (C4D), women rights and migration and refugees. Before joining IPIS in September 2022, Lilian worked in Kenya with both local and international […]
Ali Malik

Ali graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (KU Leuven) and is currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in Information Management (KU Leuven). He has a keen interest in finance and technology and has joined IPIS as student financial assistant in August 2022 to work on the integration of accounting and reporting […]
Jan Leysen

Jan started as project manager at IPIS in May 2022. He oversees a portfolio of projects and supports project coordinators throughout the whole project life cycle. As project officer for the DRC, Jan works on capacity building of partners and supports them in the implementation of joint projects. Previously, Jan worked for 11.11.11 as a […]
Markus Fahlbusch

Markus Fahlbusch is a human rights researcher with a current focus on arms trade and business & human rights. He also worked in the field of migration. Markus studied law in Germany, France and Belgium. He holds a PhD in European human rights law and an LL.M. in International and European law. He joined IPIS […]
Lisa Loeper

Lisa joined IPIS’ team as programme manager in February 2022. She is responsible for managing the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) of all programmes and projects of IPIS and is the contact person for all programme-relevant networks and platforms. In her work, she focuses on conflict resolution in the Great Lakes region, encouraging a feminist and gender sensitive approach […]
Laure Gerig

Laure studied international relations at Sciences Po Strasbourg and holds a master’s degree in conflict and development studies form Sciences Po Lille. She has a strong interest in the mineral and human rights implications of the energy transition as well as in sustainable development dynamics in the central Africa region. In 2020, Laure interned and worked […]
Patrick Vanderstukken

Patrick started working at IPIS as a Financial Controller in October 2020 to support the financial processes. Previously Patrick worked for 34 years at KBC Bank & Insurances mainly in different IT functions, technical as well as management related with budget planning, follow up and reporting. He also worked for 4 years at the Belgian […]
Patient Birindiwa

Since January 2020, Patient BIRINDWA has been the focal point in the project “Improving social security and cohesion and human rights in mining areas in eastern DRC”, in consortium with International Alert, OGP and Eurac. From June 2018 to January 2020, Patient worked as an assistant to the focal point of IPIS and was responsible […]
Thomas Muller

Thomas joined the IPIS team in September 2019. As GIS & Data Researcher, he provides a scientific support to projects related to the exploitation of natural resources and conflict mapping. This includes developing research methods to collect and analyse data (geospatial analysis, statistics), conceiving and developing digital tools for data visualisation, making GIS maps, and […]
Liliana Lizarazo Rodriguez

Liliana Lizarazo Rodriguez joined IPIS as an associate researcher in 2019. She is an expert in the areas of Business & Human Rights, law and sustainable development, international economic law and judicial adjudication. Liliana is attorney at law at the West Flanders Bar (Belgium), at the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid (Spain) and in […]
Erik Gobbers

Erik Gobbers holds master degrees in Biology (University of Ghent), Biomedical Sciences (Free University of Brussels) and Political Science (Free University of Brussels). He is a voluntary researcher at the Department of Political Science of the Free University of Brussels, focusing on the socio-political dynamics of urban ethnic associations in the former province of Katanga, […]