Our Experts

Our analysts and researchers consistently feature in international media speaking on our areas of expertise focusing on mis- and disinformation, polarisation, hate and extremism. Search through ISD’s experts by clicking through our issue areas and regional focuses.

Sasha Havlicek

Co-Founder and CEO

Sasha Havlicek is Co-Founder and CEO of ISD, having spearheaded ISD’s pioneering research and data analysis, digital education, policy advisory, training, tech and communications programmes.

Moustafa Ayad

Executive Director for Africa, the Middle East and Asia (AMEA)

Moustafa Ayad is Executive Director at ISD for Africa, the Middle East and Asia (AMEA).

Milo Comerford

Head of Policy & Research, Counter-Extremism

Milo Comerford heads ISD's research approaches and policy responses to extremisms. His writing and research features frequently in international media and he has made recent broadcast appearances on BBC News, Sky News and Al Jazeera.

Jiore Craig

Head of Digital Integrity

Jiore Craig, ISD’s Head of Elections and Digital Integrity, has extensive experience in measuring the impact of influence campaigns on public opinion, and how to respond to the threat of disinformation around elections.

Jacob Davey

Head of Research & Policy, Far-right and Hate Movements

Jacob Davey is Head of Research & Policy for Far-right and Hate Movements at ISD.

Jennie King

Head of Civic Action and Education

Jennie King heads our Civic Action and Education department, creating frontline programming and response incorporating ISD's digital research. She also leads ISD's climate disinformation research, recently running our COP26 monitoring 'war room'.

Melanie Smith

Head of Digital Analysis Unit

Melanie Smith leads ISD's Digital Analysis Unit, delivering public research on disinformation, public health misinformation and online conspiracy movements through large-scale social media data collection and open-source investigation techniques.

Tim Squirrell

Head of Communications and Editorial

Tim Squirrell has extensive experience advising governments and others on counter-extremism and counter-terrorism, particularly far-right and neo-Nazi movements, incels and misogynist communities, and esoteric threats such as school shooters.

Francesca Arcostanzo

CASM-ISD Senior Digital Research Methods Lead

Francesca Arcostanzo is the Senior Digital Method Research Lead in the ISD Digital Research Unit, focusing on methods, training and approaches for consistent digital analysis. She leads the ISD-CASM shared strategy for technological development.

Simeon Dukić

Senior Manager, Balkans & Central Asia

Simeon Dukić is a Senior Manager on the Strong Cities Network leading research, network engagement and city level deep-dive programming in the Balkans and Central Asia.