Our Experts

Experts displayed by Region: US

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; 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

Resident Senior Fellow, Digital Integrity

Jiore Craig, a Resident Senior Fellow at ISD, has extensive experience in measuring the impact of influence campaigns on public opinion, and how to respond to the threat disinformation poses to democracy.

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 Climate Research and Policy

Jennie King is Head of Climate Research and Policy, leading efforts to translate ISD’s digital research into frontline programming and response.

Melanie Smith

Head of Research, ISD US

Melanie Smith is the Head of Research for ISD US. Based in Washington DC, she leads a team of analysts focused on detecting, exposing and mitigating the threats associated with online information operations. Melanie was previously the Director of Analysis at the network analytics firm Graphika, re-joining ISD in 2021 to expand the organization’s research portfolio in the US. Her recent work has focused on topics like state-backed influence campaigns, public health misinformation and election-related violence.

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.

Aoife Gallagher

Senior Analyst

Aoife Gallagher is a Senior Analyst on ISD’s Digital Analysis Unit, focusing on the intersection between far-right extremism, disinformation and conspiracy theories.

Jared Holt

Senior Research Analyst, ISD US

Jared Holt is a Senior Research Analyst overseeing ISD’s work on hate and extremist movements in the US. He draws on his experience as an investigative reporter to help explain extremism's influence on politics, safety and democracy.