Firas is a dedicated advocate of human rights, freedom of expression and coordinated humanitarian action. He conducts detailed research on violations against media and cultural freedom in Lebanon, and from 2011-2012 was a full time researcher in Jordan and 48 territories at the distinguished Samir Kassir Foundation. Prior to this, Firas coordinated the Lebanese Parliamentary Monitor at Nahwa- AlMuwatiniya, Lebanon’s first Global Entrepreneurship Week on behalf of RootSpace, and the Arab NGOs’ Networking for Development (ANND). He has also contributed to research programmes at Princeton University, the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Institute for Palestine Studies. In 2012-2013 Firas gained frontline experience with UNHCR in the registration of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and was subsequently co-Team Leader for Beechwood’s work in supporting the Lebanon Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). Firas continues to provide specialist support to our assignments in the Middle East - the combination of his humble nature and impeccable command of Arabic enriches our multilingual workshops and enables our team the ability to communicate complex ideas between very different stakeholder groups.