Martine is a mediator and conflict transformation specialist with over 20 years of engaged experience—with communities, governments, regional bodies (i.e. EU, AU and ASEAN), UN agencies, a range of inter/national non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. Her work has engaged her directly in fluid war to post-war reconstruction and development contexts across 70 countries in Africa, Asia & the Pacific, West to East Europe, and North and South America.
Ms. Miller derives her formal education linking practical mediation and conflict transformation knowledge and skills from a Masters in International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, a Masters in Politics Post-war Reconstruction and Development, a dual Bachelors in Political Science and International Development, coupled with specialized Certifications in Asian and African Studies, Mediation/ Negotiation in War Contexts, Religion and Mediation, Conflict Transformation, etc., as well as engagement in Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation and the International Committee for the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC).
She is a guest lecturer at Georgetown, American University, and a lecturer and program advisor to the Peace and Conflict Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Amira Abouhussein is a peacebuilding and development professional with 10 years of experience focused on the MENA region. She has designed and conducted conflict resolution and negotiation training programs, facilitated faith-based peace dialogues, and has engaged members of conflicting religious groups and former extremists in community programs.
Before joining ICRD in April, 2018, Ms. Abouhussein was working with the Crown Center for Middle East studies. She has also served as a facilitator at the Drew Institute of Religion and Conflict Transformation, which included Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious leaders and peace activists from Indonesia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, and Palestine. Amira also provided training for a UN program on capacity building and economic empowerment for refugees. She also brings significant experience in non-profit management and administration through having founded and managed a grassroots NGO in Egypt that focuses on sectarian violence prevention, early warning networks, and conflict resolution
Amira holds a dual-M.A. in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence and International Sustainable Development from Brandeis University.
Loujain Kiki is a Program Officer at the International Center for Religious Diplomacy (ICRD), where she plays a pivotal role in researching and addressing interreligious dynamics, focusing on the underlying causes of conflicts and the development of peacebuilding initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a post-graduate diploma in marketing from Damascus University, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in communication at George Mason University, Virginia. Her graduate studies, concentrated on Peace and Conflict Communication, Storytelling, and Migrants’ Identity Formation, employ both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to tackle global challenges.
Loujain’s tenure at ICRD has been marked by her significant contributions to program design and strategic development in various challenging environments such as Uganda, Mali, the Sahel region, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. She has spearheaded community engagement and local cooperation initiatives that have proven crucial in building peace and understanding. Specifically, Loujain has enhanced ICRD’s efforts in countering violent extremism by focusing on community needs, enhancing social cohesion, and facilitating conflict transformation initiatives in communities. She has led media-focused and cultural exchange programs that promote mutual respect and understanding among diverse groups, enriching ICRD’s mission. Her expertise in qualitative research along with her proficiency in data collection techniques, underscores her crucial role in the formulation and execution of ICRD’s projects.
Fluent in Arabic, proficient in English, and with basic proficiency in French, Loujain effectively communicates and leads workshops and meetings across diverse cultural landscapes. Her previous roles at the Central Bank of Syria and as a freelance researcher in economics in Riyadh have honed her analytical skills, enabling her to navigate complex socio-economic data and trends.
Additionally, Loujain is a Fellow at the Center for Women, Faith & Leadership (CWFL), supporting initiatives aimed at empowering women in global affairs and promoting peacebuilding. Inspired by her upbringing in a diverse community, Loujain is deeply committed to fostering dialogue, which drives her to be an influential catalyst for positive change in the world.
As the Communications Director at ICRD, Maryam assists with developing, coordinating, and executing strategic communications campaigns across the organization to advance ICRD’s programs and mission. By curating multimedia content, cross-platform initiatives, storytelling campaigns, digital marketing, media relations, and ICRD’s events calendar, Maryam has helped diversify ICRD’s output and enhance the organization’s capability to serve as a central hub of conversation and connection on efforts related to peace, faith, and diplomacy.
Maryam holds a BA in Global Studies from Hood College and has worked on communication efforts at Freedom House, Families USA, and the Frank Karel Fellowship. She was a recipient of the Davis Projects for Peace Grant and collaborated with RAICES to bolster financial aid and resource distribution to the migrant community in Texas. Outside of her work at ICRD, Maryam continues to extend professional development support to first-gen students, notably as a Board Member on the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council, drawing on her background as an immigrant and first-generation scholar dedicated to equity and human rights.
Mathias Joergensen serves as the Executive Assistant / Outreach and Public Relations Manager at the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy and is responsible for coordinating a range of day-to-day administrative tasks, including office management, record keeping, logistical, and clerical duties. Furthermore, Mathias is responsible for organizational development, fundraising, and strategy development and implementation. Mathias also supports the ICRD team with research, proposal writing, and program activities.
Mathias is currently pursuing double major at Minerva University which is based in San Francisco, United States, in Political Science and Economics, with Philosophy, Ethics, and Law. Mathias has several years of experience in social media and marketing, working for a diverse set of companies and organization.
Mathias brings a variety of experience, having previosult worked in social media advertising, marketing, and worked for a member of the European Parliament, where he advised on various EU resolutions, enhanced existing news and merchandise strategies, and supported on administrative tasks.
Olga Batkhan has over 10 years of accounting experience in taxation, finance, auditing, and compliance. She graduated from University of Maryland College Park, The Robert H Smith School of Business with Bachelors in Accounting and went on to get a master’s degree in Management and Accounting, along with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.
Having supported multiple public accounting firms, working with various individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Her work experience ranges from day-to-day accounting functions, to preparation of complex tax returns, and audits for non-profit organizations as well as for-profit companies. Prior to joining ICRD, Olga was well familiar with the organization as for numerous years she led the external auditing team, learning about the mission and accounting functions in detail.
Rebecca Cataldi is ICRD’s Senior Program Director. She is a specialist and trainer in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE), and cross-cultural understanding and a certified mediator. Rebecca founded and directs ICRD’s programs in Yemen and has directed programming in Pakistan, Lebanon, Mali, Uganda, and elsewhere. She has also served as a Consultant on Preventing Violent Extremism to the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
In the United States, she works on depolarization initiatives with American religious communities and with Braver Angels, has conducted conflict resolution training and religious mentoring within the US prison system, has led community interfaith programs, and has facilitated intercultural dialogues with an emphasis on enhancing understanding and friendship between Americans and Middle Eastern citizens.
Rebecca is a summa cum-laude graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and holds an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (now Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution), where she is now a member and former Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board and Advisor to the Political Leadership Academy. She is also an advisor to the Bipartisan Leadership Project.
As the Program Development Manager, Ray Kim coordinates and manages the full range of program-related work: the development of proposals, the management of a program during its operational duration, and the production of deliverables and reporting at their conclusion. Adept in various qualitative research methods and analysis, he applies these skills and the knowledge he gains from conducting research leading up to a proposal’s design to ensuring that the program’s design is directly informed by the contexts in which they will be implemented.
While at ICRD, he has provided support in the delivery of trainings on inclusive curriculum development for Saudi teachers, and provided the qualitative research frame for ICRD’s work in providing pro-social educational content for children in Lebanon. He also currently manages ICRD’s domestic programs that aim to empower and partner with American faith communities to address toxic polarization and rebuild social cohesion in our society.
Ray Kim received his Ph.D. from Georgetown University’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies. He is a sociologist of religion specializing in contemporary Islam and Christianity who has years of experience conducting ethnographic fieldwork in Korea tracking developments in the halal market and the spread of Islamophobic discourse throughout the country.
His research interests have also led him to collaborate on projects concerning the religious soft-power influences of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey in Africa, the Balkans, and Central Asia, as well as the flight of non-Muslim minorities from the Levantine region. He has also conducted qualitative research observing and interviewing churches in the US that were exploring questions about “calling” and “vocation” as part of a program that was funded by the Lilly Endowment.
As Senior Associate at ICRD, C. Eduardo Vargas serves as special advisor to the president and government liaison. He joined ICRD after serving in President Barack Obama’s Administration as Deputy Director of the Center for Faith Based & Community Initiatives (CFBCI) at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). At CFBCI, Mr. Vargas led external engagement efforts, public diplomacy, and partnerships to build support for USAID’s humanitarian and development priorities, including, among others: the surge of unaccompanied children related to the 2014 Central American Migration; ensuring the safety, security and freedom from persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East; countering violent extremism; and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Before joining the Obama Administration, Mr. Vargas served as Director to the United Nations DPI/NGO Executive Committee in New York, representing over 1,300 NGOs worldwide at the UN while championing greater civil society representation, access and inclusion in various UN agencies. Prior to that, he directed a variety of global refugee programs, development and humanitarian assistance projects, and advocacy campaigns for Caritas Internationalis, Intersections International, and Aya Worldwide.
Mr. Vargas earned his MA in Diplomacy & International Relations at Seton Hall University. He has published articles and speaks publicly on a variety of globalization, humanitarian, and public policy issues. He has been featured by Al Jazeera, CNN, Foreign Affairs, FOX News, and Telemundo, among other outlets. For his work in diplomacy and peacemaking he has been recognized by the Huffington Post’s 40 Under 40 in Foreign Policy, awarded the USAID Administrator’s Letter of Commendation, and received the Many Are One Alumni Servant Leadership Award from Seton Hall University.
Mohammed serves as a fellow for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region at ICRD, where he has provided a wide range of support for the Center’s community engagement and research programs in Yemen, including conducting program evaluation, communicating with local partners and undertaking translations.
Hailing from Sana’a, he has experienced the impacts of the civil war and conflict in Yemen first-hand, both in a professional capacity and as a civilian. He has authored more than 30 studies and reports about Yemen and reported extensively on Sudan, including Darfur. He is currently writing his memoir for HarperCollins Publishers.
Skip to content
