In-house Staff
Emery Brusset – Director
Emery Brusset is the founder and director of Channel Research. Based in Belgium since 1998, Emery got involved in evaluation in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda in 1995. He has since built up a strong expertise within the field of evaluation and impact assessment aiming to spread the culture and philosophy of evaluation worldwide.
Emery Brusset holds an M.A. in international relations from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in Sociology from Yale. Working for the UN humanitarian programme Mr. Brusset has amassed over ten years of experience in evaluation and consultancy. He currently specialises in the design of evaluation methodologies and peace-building concepts for politically unstable environments.
He has lately been involved in joint donor evaluations of conflict prevention and peace building initiatives in Southern Sudan and DR Congo. More recently Mr Brusset has been working with private sector clients, conducting social impact assessments in tandem with participatory consultations, and providing advice on risk management. Contact Emery.
A French national, Mr Brusset lives in Belgium, and speaks French, English and Spanish.
Tom Kenis – Operations Manager
Tom Kenis runs the day-to-day of Channel Research’s global operations, in addition to managing the occasional project. He is currently expanding the company’s social media presence, as well as providing overall linguistic support where needed. Tom holds an MA in Middle East Studies from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and International Affairs from Université Catholique Louvain-la-Neuve, and has studied Arabic in Cairo and Tunis. His previous working experiences include private sector assignments as well as non-profit work in Belgium, Egypt, Germany, and the Palestinian Territories. An avid blogger and commentator on Middle East and international affairs, Tom moonlights for various online and paper publications. Contact Tom.
Mr. Kenis is a Belgian national, based in Brussels, and speaks English, Dutch, French, German, and Arabic.
Maria Bak – Knowledge Manager (Maternity leave until 1 November 2012)
Maria Bak is a project manager specialized in the development of high quality trainings in evaluation, as well as the evaluation of training programmes. Maria holds a BA in International Development Studies from University of Roskilde, Denmark and an MA in Political Communication and Management from Copenhagen Business School with a focus on cross-sector co-operation and NGO-business partnerships. She has experience in facilitation and has served recently as project manager and team member of the Joint Donor Evaluation of Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Initiatives in DR Congo. Lately she evaluated the Advanced Training Programme on Humanitarian Action (ATHA) for Sida and has just finished an assessment for DG ECHO on Disaster Risk Reduction and pilot training of ECHO staff on the topic. She has excellent organizational skills and a strong focus on knowledge management. Before joining Channel Research in 2008 Maria worked with DanChurchAid where she gained experience working in the NGO environment, specifically humanitarian mine action programmes, development projects and global funding and organizational processes. Contact Maria.
Ms Bak is a Danish national, based in Brussels/Copenhagen and speaks English, French, and has knowledge of Spanish and German.
Ralf Otto – Area Manager Central-Europe
Ralf Otto is a senior consultant, trainer and Area Manager for German speaking countries and the Netherlands. Ralf is a lawyer by training and holds a Masters Degree in International Humanitarian Assistance from the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at the University of Bochum (NOHA Programme). He has studied and worked in France, in the US and in South Africa.
He has over the years gained extensive experience in evaluations of humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding programmes and in the management of private sector development programmes in Africa, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. As a senior consultant and coach he has advised organizations in Europe and in the US in the design and in the setup of monitoring and evaluation systems.
Ralf is an experienced trainer, leading Channel Research’s M&E trainings in Germany and in Asia. He is trained in visual facilitation and teaches Monitoring and Evaluation in Humanitarian Assistance at the University of Bochum, Germany.
Before joining Channel in 2004, Ralf managed evaluation studies and large development projects in Africa and in Eastern Europe. Contact Ralf.
A German national, Mr Otto lives in Brussels, and speaks German, English and French.
Annina Mattsson – Area Manager Nordic Countries
Ms Mattsson is a Finnish national, based in Brussels/Dubai, and speaks Swedish, Finnish, English, French and Spanish.
Augustin Ngendakuriyo – Representative/Project Manager
Augustin Ngendakuriyo is in charge of Channel Research Tanganyika and works as evaluation consultant. He holds a Masters degree in Economic Sciences from the National University of Benin. He began working with Channel in 2002 as an independent consultant in Burundi, Benin and Congo. His areas of expertise are audit and financial management, as well as institutional development. In this capacity Augustin Ngendakuriyo has participated in several evaluations related to community rehabilitation, civil service and justice reform, and public health management. Augustin undertakes evaluations for clients based in Africa but also engages in large projects such as the Joint Donor Evaluation of Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Initiatives in DR Congo. Contact Augustin.
A Burundese National, Mr Ngendakuriyo is based in Bujumbura, Burundi. He speaks French, English, Kirundi, and Swahili.
Justine Elakano Riziki – Project Manger
Mrs. Elakano has obtained a degree in Social Studies in Paris. As co-founder of Solidarité- Paysanne, and founder of the Union des Femmes Paysannes, and other high-profile engagements, she has amassed 15 years of experience in community development, especially in marginalized and/or rural areas. She brings to Channel Research an extensive set of skills in project and programme management, particularly on humanitarian aid issues and gender in DRC, Burundi, Central African Republic, Niger, South-Africa, and Togo. She has worked with Congolese as well as international NGO’s. Before joining Channel Research in 2009 Mrs. Elakano was in charge of a programme with the American Friends Service Committee for North and South Kivu, and organized various seminars and training sessions for social counsellors working with victims of sexual violence in the Great Lakes region. Contact Justine.
A Congolese National, Mrs. Elakano is based in the office of Channel Research Tanganyka in Bujumbura, Burundi. She speaks French, English, Lingala, and Swahili.
Tatien Barumbanze – Operations Manager
Mr. Barumbanze has a degree in Contemporary Literature and has studied at the Psychology and Educational Science faculty of the National University of Burundi. Starting at Channel Research as an intern, Mr. Barumbanze currently serves as Office Manager at Channel Research Tanganyika. In addition to participating in some evaluations as support staff, he ensures the daily follow-up of all administrative tasks at the Bujumbura office. Contact Tatien.
A Burundese National, Mr Barumbanze is based in the office of Channel Research Tanganyka in Bujumbura, Burundi. He speaks French, English, Kirundi, and Swahili.
Andre Kahlmeyer – Area Manager EU
Andre is a specialist in evaluation, development cooperation, good governance and gender issues, the promotion of rule of law, democracy and human rights, and has broad knowledge and experience with the design, implementation and evaluation of development interventions. He also has a special interest and expertise in civil-military cooperation and in developing evaluation approaches to crisis operations, foreign policy issues and conflict prevention.
Andre has an academic background in Middle Eastern/Islamic studies, political science and history and has also studied Peace and Conflict Studies at post-graduate level. He has lived and worked in a range of challenging environments, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. He has worked for the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO (2006-2007) and for GIZ (2007-2011), where his last position was as a Senior Planning Officer in the division for conflict prevention, rehabilitation and security. For several years he has been involved in the design, running and evaluation of development projects and crisis interventions and has been in charge of fact-finding and evaluation missions to a wide range of countries, e.g. Afghanistan, Djibouti and Tajikistan. He has also worked for the EU’s crisis operation EUJUST LEX Iraq as a Rule of Law Expert and the Mission’s first Evaluation Officer (2010-2011). At Channel Research, Andre is responsible for EU related projects as well as for the development of M&E for crisis operations and conflict prevention in fragile states. Contact Andre.
Andre is a German national, based in Brussels. He speaks German and English and has working knowledge of Arabic, French and Norwegian.
Evelien Weller – Corporate Area Manager
Evelien Weller is consultant and Area Manager for private sector projects. She obtained an MA in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam, and an MA in International Peace and Security from King’s College, London. In the past she worked as project officer for various peacebuilding NGOs (International Alert, IKV Pax Christi and SNV), and as policy advisor on Conflict Management for the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. She has extensive experience in project implementation, research and evaluation, and has contributed to a number of multi-donor evaluations. Her areas of expertise include multi-party interventions, natural resource management and the role of the private sector in fragile states. Evelien is specialized in the deployment of multinational teams to carry out social development programmes for multinational companies in unstable environments, including social impact assessment, mitigation planning for mining operations, resettlement and sustainable development initiatives. Contact Evelien.
Evelien Weller is a Dutch National, based in Brussels. She speaks Dutch, English and French.
Bongani Diko – Project Manager / Anglophone Area Manager
Bongani Diko is a project manager and the Anglophone Area Manager for private sector projects. He obtained an Honours Degree in Environmental and Geographical Sciences from the University of Cape Town- South Africa. Bongani has previously worked as a consultant in the mining industry in East, West and South Africa. Bongani has experience in Project Management and Implementation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, including interdisciplinary specialist management, public participation and consultation, government and authority liaison and reporting. Bongani also has experience in information management including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Implementation. Contact Bongani.
Bongani is a South African national, based in Brussels and speaks English, Afrikaans and basic French.
Luisa Ortiz – Assistant Knowledge Manager
Luisa F. Ortiz is an experienced practitioner of International Development. She has worked with the United Nations Development Programme, USAID, and private organizations in Europe and South America. She worked extensively with peace building and post-conflict reconciliation in previously rebel-held areas of Colombia. Her work involved meeting with locals, NGOs, and nascent government institutions to determine the needs of the population and develop durable solutions to their issues. Contact Luisa.
Luisa is a Colombian national, based in Brussels and speaks English, Spanish, and French.
Benjamin Nénot – Project Assistant
Benjamin Nénot is consultant for private sector projects. Benjamin holds an MA in International Affairs from the Institute of Political Sciences of Bordeaux, France and an MA in International Development & Risks Management from University of Bordeaux IV with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and project risk management. Before joining Channel Research, Benjamin worked as a Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) analyst with Amundi Asset management and with Champlain Research (Paris).
A French national, Benjamin speaks French, Spanish, and English, and is currently based in Paris. Contact Benjamin.
Judith Kunert – Project Manager
Judith Kunert holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics as well as an MA in Political Science and Public Law from the University of Tuebingen, Germany. Judith has a background in peace and conflict studies, Transitional Justice, humanitarian aid, DDR and gender. Before joining Channel Research Tanganyika in October 2011, Judith worked for the Afghan NGO Peace Training and Research Organization (PTRO) where she participated in the ‘Human Security Indicators Project’, as well as in the ‘Afghan Peace and Reconciliation Programme’, assessing the impact of the reintegration process of ex-Taliban into their communities. In addition, she worked as a Research Assistant for the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London.
A German national, Judith speaks German, English and French and is currently based in the office of Channel Research Tanganyika in Bujumbura, Burundi. Contact Judith.
Olivia Lazard – Area Manager Belgium Luxembourg France
Olivia specializes in the political economic analysis of conflicts and international interventions in fragile, transitioning and developing countries. More specifically she inquires into the challenges of global food insecurity and informal economic flows, as well as the opportunities offered by new technologies in development projects and interventions. As a result, she is keen on engaging with corporate and private sector companies in order to foster more sustainable development strategies.
She has worked for NGOs, think tanks as well as UN agencies in countries such as Palestine, Syria, Uganda, D.R. Congo and Ecuador. Olivia has designed, implemented and reported on projects in the fields of peacebuilding, development and humanitarian interventions in complex emergencies helping her to develop her skills in conflict mediation at the local, and institutional levels.
Olivia holds an MA in International Security, as well as an MSc in International Political Economy from Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics respectively. Over the course of her academic career she has developed a keen interest in the Middle East, Iran as well as South Asia.
A French national, Olivia speaks English, French, Spanish, Italian, and has a working knowledge of Arabic. Contact Olivia.
Emery Brusset
