The event brought together XCEPT awardees and scholars from around the world, who participated in panels that explored women’s roles in conflict, displacement, survival strategies, and new research and policy directions.
The workshop sparked insightful discussions on the pivotal role of women as agents of change, showcased innovative feminist research methods integrating AI, personal narratives, and storytelling, and generated a consensus on the urgent need to align academic and policy agendas to address the evolving challenges in gender equality and social inclusion globally.

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Panel 1: Women, agency, and violence in cross-border conflict settings

This panel examined women’s roles, agency, and vulnerabilities in conflict and peacebuilding across cross-border conflict settings.

Chair: Prof. Melissa Parker – London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

Speakers: 

  • Prof. Grace Akello (Gulu University)
  • Miguel Moctezuma (Oxford University / FOUND)
  • Prof. Annie Bunting (York University) & Sandrine Lusamba (SOFEPADI) & Martin Baguma (SOFEPADI)
  • Dr Anna Strachan (Bodhi Global Analysis) 
  • Hilina Berhanu Degefa (XCEPT Women Research Fellow)

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Panel 2: Mobilities, displacement, and insecurity in cross-border conflict settings

Panellists explored gendered patterns, experiences, and governance of mobilities in cross-border conflict settings.

Chair: Prof. Tim Allen – London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Speakers: 

  • Dr Henri Myrttinen (University of Bremen)
  • Dr Benjamin Etzold (BICC)
  • Zeynep Pinar Erdem (University of Bremen)
  • Marie Riquier (SIPRI)
  • AnnaSophia Gallagher (Siren Associates) & Gaëlle Abi Khalil (Siren Associates)
  • Philipp Schulz (University of Bremen)

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Panel 3: survival, livelihoods, and political economies of cross-border conflict

This panel explored survival strategies and livelihood opportunities in the complex political economies of cross-border conflict settings.

Chair: Dr Heleen Touquet (University of Antwerp)

Speakers: 

  • Dr Susanne Alldén (Linnaeus University)
  • Dr Caitlin Procter (Geneva Graduate Institute) & Dr Abdulla Ibrahim (Geneva Graduate Institute)
  • Dr Resty Naiga (Makarere University)
  • Salma Daoudi (University of Oxford)
  • Dr Naomi Pendle (University of Bath)

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Panel 4: Looking ahead: charting a new agenda at the intersections of gender, global security, and cross-border conflict trends

The closing panel explored future directions for research, policy, and practice at the intersection of gender, global security, and cross-border conflict.

Chair: Dr Chloé Lewis (Oxford University / Equimundo)

Speakers:

  • Kolbassia Haoussou (MBE) – Director of Survivor Empowerment, Freedom from Torture, Head of Survivors Speak Out, PSVI Champion
  • Dr Saira Yamin – Ambassador Swanee Hunt Chair of Women, Peace and Security, US Naval War College
  • Dr David Duerismith – Lecturer in Gender & Politics, University of Sheffield 
  • Juliana Trappmann – Peace and Security Portfolio Manager, KfW 
  • Sinéad Barry – Climate Diplomacy and Security Analyst, Adelphi