BWP is pleased to welcome Robert Bain and Mihaela Sirițanu as our Leads for Financialisation and Human Rights and Strengthening Accountability in the Global Economy, respectively. Working together to implement BWP’s strategic vision, Mihaela will be focusing on debt, democratic governance and international architecture reform more broadly. Robert will be focusing on the impact of austerity and financialisation on human rights.

Robert previously worked on human rights and conflict in South Sudan for the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights, building a civilian-led early warning network for identity-based violence. He has also worked on human rights in the Middle East/North Africa region for Amnesty International, and as a consultant for a coalition of international donors supporting civil society in the Syrian civil war. Robert holds a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Before joining BWP, Mihaela previously worked as a finance and projects officer for International Planned Parenthood where she supported fundraising efforts, strategy development and grant management of a political movement advocating for women’s reproductive rights. She is also co-founder of a pan-European, progressive political movement organising various campaigns to promote democracy and citizen participation in politics. Mihaela holds a Master’s in Public Policy from University of Warwick, as well as a BA in business economics from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.