Mehari Taddele Maru

Spanning over 25 years, Prof. Dr Mehari Taddele Maru's career reflects a unique blend of academic excellence in teaching and research, professional policy experience, and leadership in intergovernmental negotiations, as well as the management of multilateral governance bodies, think tanks, and universities based in Africa, Europe, and the United States. Having been stationed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya; Florence; and Rome, Italy, he has extensive experience working with major regional and international organizations, including the African Union (AU), regional economic communities (RECs), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN).

Currently, Prof. Maru serves as the Academic Coordinator of the Young African Leadership Programme at the European University Institute (EUI), Part-time Professor at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, Part-time Professor at the Migration Policy Centre, Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University SAIS-Europe, and at LUISS Guido Carli University.

He has contributed to globally reputable journals and made various media appearances, focusing on the new frontiers of transitional law and governance, human development, peace, geopolitics, and migration and mobility.

Recent examples of his research work and publications include his contribution to the UNDP Regional Human Development Report, focused on fostering effective transnational governance and peace as one of three key pillars for enhanced intra-regional trade and increasing sustainability and continental resilience in the water–energy–food nexus. He also contributed to the 2022 World Migration Report, which examines peace and security as drivers of stability, development, and safe migration, and regularly contributes to the Henley Global Mobility Report.

Another recent work of his, published in his capacity as a Fellow at the UN University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) in Bruges, Belgium, focused on Africa's geopolitical agency in the world and recent wars in Africa, examining their implications for the AU's pan-African integrative and interventionist mandate and RECs. His research explains how global great powers and Middle Eastern powers are increasingly engaging in a 'race to the bottom', pursuing influence without regard for long-term consequences. With his colleagues at the Migration Policy Centre of EUI, he worked on research projects such as MEDAM and published some works.

Many of his articles, published in international and African journals, are available at https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7137-9140. His articles and interviews have also been featured in international media outlets, including Foreign Policy, Project Syndicate, Just Security, CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Forbes, ABC, AFP, Al Jazeera Net, Al Jazeera Studies Centre, BBC, Bloomberg TV, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, ABC News Radio, Financial Times, Reuters, Open Democracy, Radio France International, SABC, and TRT.

Makda Maru

Dr Makda Maru is an academic, researcher, and practitioner with over 15 years of experience in peace and security, gender, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction. She is currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Delaware State University, where she teaches courses on the United States’ foreign policy, comparative government, and the politics of developing nations. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Maru guides students through internships and capstone projects, helping them to develop analytical and leadership skills.

As a researcher and trainer at prominent organizations, including the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, and the Regional Center on Small Arms, Dr. Maru has led multidisciplinary research projects focused on post-conflict reconstruction, migration, small arms and light weapons, disarmament and security in Africa, and the monitoring and evaluation of projects. She has also been part of teams that developed blueprint policies and strategies to support impactful initiatives on international return, the re-admission and reintegration of migrants, and border governance mechanisms.

Previously, she lectured on law and served as a national peace advisor in Ethiopia, where she led research and training programmes to enhance conflict-resolution skills.

With a strong commitment to inclusive, evidence-based leadership, Dr. Maru has played a significant role in academia, policy, and practice. She has published research on women’s negotiation styles, the Ethiopia–Eritrea conflict, AU early warning systems, and small arms disarmament. She frequently presents at scholarly conferences and is currently involved in projects related to peace and security, peace agreements and humanitarian policies in Africa.

In addition to her research, Dr. Maru is actively engaged in professional and advisory roles. She serves on the African Studies Advisory Board at Delaware State University, participates in the African Studies Association Women’s Caucus, and contributes to global networks of scholars. She is fluent in Tigrigna and English and has technical proficiency in various research and teaching platforms.

Dr. Maru holds a PhD in International Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, Georgia, an MA in Gender and Peacebuilding from the University for Peace in Costa Rica, and an LLB from Mekelle University, Ethiopia.

Esayas Hailemariam

Esayas Hailemariam is a seasoned legal professional who holds an LLM from the University of California, Berkeley Law (globally ranked among the top law schools), specializing in International Law. While at Berkeley, he served as Vice President of the Student Organization for Advanced Legal Studies and was employed as a student researcher conducting research on international commercial arbitration. During this time, he also deepened his focus on public law, accountability, and human rights.

Currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr Hailemariam works in the private legal sector and serves as Legal Operations Manager at Menna Law Group, a California-based firm specializing in immigration law. In this role, he oversees organizational operations, supports legal strategy, and manages the firm’s workflow across a broad client portfolio.

Mr Hailemariam has worked with several nonprofit public interest organizations based in the United States (US), focused on immigrant rights and international justice. He served as Director of Advocacy at the African Civil Rights Center, where he led initiatives addressing racial equity,

transitional justice, and legal empowerment for African diaspora communities. He also provided remarkable support to asylum seekers and immigrants through supervised pro bono representation at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, working on humanitarian petitions before US Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As the former chair of the North America chapter of the Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals, Mr Hailemariam conducted extensive legal research, spearheaded high-level discussions on regional security and justice, and led advocacy missions that engaged US lawmakers, United Nations officials, diplomats, and city leaders to raise awareness of ongoing atrocity crimes in Ethiopia.

He began his legal career in Ethiopia, where he was selected to participate in a prestigious national judicial reform initiative as a prospective judge shortly after graduating from law school. His early entry into the judiciary came at a critical moment in the country’s efforts to modernize its legal and judicial institutions.

Esayas continues to engage in legal and public advocacy work focused on justice, accountability, and democratic governance, with a strong interest in African affairs and diaspora-led civic engagement.

Mengo Sherastine

Mengo Sherastine leads strategic communication initiatives aimed at amplifying the impact of research, fostering inclusive deliberations on bold, daring and innovative solutions to current and future challenges in Africa.

With over a decade of experience in branding, strategic messaging, and digital communication, Mr Sherastine helps organizations and leaders craft compelling narratives that elevate their public visibility, influence, and credibility. His core strengths lie in designing communication frameworks that align with institutional goals, resonate with diverse audiences, and drive measurable impact. He strives to integrate new, dynamic technologies, such as AI tools, into his communication approaches in applied policy research, deliberations, publications, and public engagements.

Mr Sherastine has served as a chief rapporteur for various high-level inter-governmental deliberations, producing high-quality reports by synthesizing complex discussions into actionable policy recommendations. His ability to capture and communicate key messages in real time has made him a highly skilled rapporteur in policy and multilateral spaces. His approach combines evidence-based messaging with strategies to effectively disseminate information via digital platforms, including managing websites and social media.

He has collaborated with organizations such as the African Union Commission and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well as other think tanks, on communications, research, documentation, and strategic support.