Our Team

Amir is an academic, currently working as a Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Liverpool Management School. His research delves into the crossroads of service design, vulnerability, and well-being, with an emphasis on marginalised communities. Before joining academia, Amir worked in the UK not-for-profit sector, particularly in enhancing educational and employment opportunities for people from refugee backgrounds

Matt is the Senior Director for Business Development at the International Rescue Committee, leading institutional fundraising for humanitarian crises. He has managed programs with NGOs like IRC, Save the Children, and Oxfam. As IRC’s Country Director in Tanzania, he oversaw large-scale education programs and supported refugees in accessing university, inspiring his connection to Mosaik’s mission.

Paul is Senior Advisor for Youth Development with Mercy Corps. His previous roles include as Global Programme Lead on Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship with Plan International and Global Roving Youth Advisor and Youth Project Manager in Jordan with the Norwegian Refugee Council. Paul has a PhD in International Education, which was focused on participatory action research with youth education teachers in Sudan.

Salim was born in Syria, lived in Sweden, and emigrated to the U.K. He works at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office across the education research portfolio including education in conflict and protracted displacement settings, public sector reform to improve schools performance and learning outcomes. He is interested in the potential of education in fostering a sense of hope and dignity. Salim read public policy at Blavatnik School of Government and St Antony’s College, Oxford University. He also holds a degree in the sociology of migration and ethnic relations, Malmö University, Sweden and read Law at Damascus University, Syria.

Sianne Haldane is a philanthropy and impact consultant, advising companies and high-net-worth individuals on philanthropic and CSR strategies. She chairs STEP’s Global Philanthropy Advisors Group, serves on the UN Global Compact UK’s Advisory Committee, and advises UBP’s Biodiversity Restoration Impact Fund. A keynote speaker at philanthropy events, she is also a Trustee of Save the Rhino and Mosaik Education, supporting refugee access to tertiary education.

Victoria, a consultant, has advised education and finance ministers in countries like Pakistan, Lebanon, Türkiye, and Nigeria. She has worked in education research, serving as interim Managing Director of EdTech Hub and adviser to the What Works Hub. Since 2016, she has been a Trustee of the Eden Academy Trust, a leader in special needs education, becoming Vice Chair in 2022.

Bayan is a medical doctor and public health specialist with eight years of experience working at the intersection of humanitarian response, refugee rights, and education in crisis settings. She has led and coordinated multi-sectoral programs spanning health and public health, livelihood, education and vocational training, social enterprise, and relief, ensuring impactful and sustainable interventions for displaced communities. Her expertise includes conducting large-scale needs assessments, managing healthcare services in refugee settings, and overseeing education and scholarship programs.

Elif is the Social Mission Manager for Ben & Jerry’s Europe, where she leads social impact programmes, including the refugee entrepreneurship program, and refugee hiring initiatives. She led Ben & Jerry’s co-creation projects with refugee entrepreneurs resulting in 2 unique ice cream flavours to support refugee justice. Additionally, she leads the UK Fund of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. Before moving to the private sector, Elif worked with various non-profit organisations, driving positive social change in Turkey, Germany, and the UK. In 2015, she launched Turkey’s first national Refugee Entrepreneurship Programme to support Syrian refugees.

Martin is an experienced leader of large multi-channel businesses in the leisure and retail sectors, including Virgin Active Health Clubs, Camelot Lotteries, Rank Group plc and Safeway Stores plc. He has held Chair, Non-Executive Director, CEO and Managing Director positions on company boards and industry bodies. He is currently Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Staffordshire in the UK. He recently earned a PhD in History from King’s College London, where he researched the international dimensions of the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution and taught Global History.

Mike currently advises the Global Whole Being Fund, helping guide their global strategy, bringing deep insight into the structural barriers and untapped potential within community-led and locally-rooted humanitarian responses. Before joining the Global Whole Being Fund, Mike served as Division Director in the Office of the Vice President for Global Programs at the Open Society Foundations where he developed and deployed grantmaking strategies across Southeast Asia, East Africa and the Middle East. He also worked along the Thai-Myanmar border for nearly 10 years, supervising teams responding to crises and documenting rights abuses in Myanmar.

Nishat has over 24 years of experience in education leadership. She is one of the founding members of Karakorum International University- the first
university in the Gilgit Baltistan province of Pakistan. She has also been chairperson of innovative women social enterprise CIQAM. Nishat has recently joined the Malala Fund as their Chief Executive for Pakistan. She is leading the fund’s work to strengthen girls’ right to secondary education and increase resources for education systems in the country. Nishat was the global head of higher education systems and TNE lead at British Council, covering around 200 regions and countries with a budget of around 20 million pounds. Nishat sits on advisory boards of several national and international sector bodies including in Asia, ASEF(Europe), Africa and Central Asia.