Invited speakers
Invited speakers on Global Development Day 2023
The event 'Future cities, futre islands: Envisioning human migraiton from the futures'
Ana Mosneaga
Biographical note
Anna Mosnega (Ph.D. in Geography, University of Copenhagen) is a migration and displacement specialist currently working as a Senior Strategic Liaison Assistant with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Sub-Regional Office for the Nordic Countries. She has extensive experience in research and policy-oriented work from both humanitarian and development sectors. Ana has previously served both as an expert and coordinator for policy development, research, and advocacy projects in various international organisations, NGOs, and academia. While working in academia between 2020-2023, her research focused on how different forms of human mobility in the context of disasters and climate change are addressed in national and international policy frameworks and how affected people and communities experience the effects of such policies.
Presentation title
IOM’s work at the intersection between migration, environment and climate change
Tim Bunnell
Biographical note
Tim Bunnell is Professor in the Department of Geography and Director of the Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore. The primary focus of Tim’s research is urbanization in Southeast Asia, examining both the development and transformation of cities in that region and their connections with other parts of the world. His most recent book is Urban Asias: Essays on Futurity Past and Present (Jovis, 2018; co-edited with Daniel P.S. Goh). Tim is currently working with Daniel Goh and a team of other colleagues comparing the planning of Nusantara with other Southeast Asian “capitals of the future”.
Presentation title and abstract
Islands of urban relocation: Migration and future capital development in Southeast Asia
Nusantara, the planned new capital city of Indonesia, is currently under construction in East Kalimantan province. The inauguration of Nusantara will entail shifting Indonesia’s capital some 2,000 km from Jakarta. Tens of thousands of civil servants and their families are expected to move from Jakarta on the island of Java to the currently much more remote and “underdeveloped” area of Borneo where the new capital is located. Tens of thousands of other migrants have already moved into the vicinity in connection with the construction phase of Nusantara. In contrast, long-time residents of this area will be displaced to make way for the development and planned expansion of the new city. Nusantara’s existing and projected migration dynamics may be examined in relation to the experiences of other high-profile urban development projects in Southeast Asia.
Ilan Kelman
Biographical note
Ilan Kelman https://www.ilankelman.org/ and Instagram/Threads/X @ILANKELMAN is Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London, England and a Professor II at the University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. His overall research interest is linking disasters and health, integrating climate change into both. Three main areas are: (i) disaster diplomacy and health diplomacy https://www.disasterdiplomacy.org/ ; (ii) island sustainability involving safe and healthy communities in isolated locations https://www.islandvulnerability.org/ ; and (iii) risk education for health and disasters https://www.riskred.org/
Presentation title and abstract
Climate Change, Islanders, and Migration
We are changing the climate rapidly and substantively, affecting the weather, the oceans, and ecosystems. Islanders in the tropics are said to be affected most, including through higher air and sea temperatures, more intense storms, sea-level rise, and acidifying oceans, with implications for ecosystems, food, water, and livelihoods. Among the suggested consequences is forced migration with the possibility of evacuating entire island countries. When closely examining these intersections among climate change, islanders, and migration, many subtleties, nuances, and provisos emerge, notably for low-lying atolls. Complete devastation and loss of all hope is far from certain, offering pathways forward to work with islanders to determine the choices they prefer and the resources they need to enact those choices.
Adam Grydehøj
Biographical note
Adam Grydehøj (PhD in Ethnology, University of Aberdeen) is professor at South China University of Technology's Research Center for Indian Ocean Island Countries. Adam researches the mutual influence of culture and island space. Adam has engaged in fieldwork in China, Denmark, England, Greenland, Norway, and Scotland, with study sites ranging from remote island outposts to archipelagic megacities. He served as editor-in-chief of Island Studies Journal from 2017-2023 and is currently co-editor-in-chief of Folk, Knowledge, Place. He is co-director of Zhejiang University's Island and Coastal Zone Institute, an executive board member of the International Small Island Studies Association, and affiliated associate professor at University of the Faroe Islands.
Presentation title and abstract
Earthwork: The history and future of human-engineered coasts in a changing world
Artificial islands and human-engineered coasts are nothing new. Around the world, at different stages in history, humans have created islands and peninsulas and altered coastal zones in order to increase the opportunities and manage the risks that come from constructing settlements by the water. Most major coastal, river delta, and island cities have experienced successive waves of expansion out into and fortification against the sea. These have had complex affects on the ways in which urban residents dwell within and interact with terrestrial and aquatic spaces. This presentation provides historical context for current technoutopic visions of artificial islands and climate-proofed urban architecture.
Dosol Nissi Lee
Biographical note
Dosol Nissi Lee is a master student in Advanced Migration Studies at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Nissi's research interests revolve around peace, migration and human security. Nissi is currently conducting thesis and independent research projects on subjects including future cities in Asia, land rights in Africa, and post-adoption services in Europe.
Presentation and abstract
Moving Lands: (Reverberating) Future of Human Migration in Asia
Whither human migration in Asia goes? This paper aims to explore this question by delving into three moving lands in South Korea, Maldives and Bangladesh, departing from landlocked-based approaches to human migration. Beginning with an introduction to the three moving lands projects which serve as representative cases depicting diverse state classifications and the traditional lifestyles of residents, this paper describes politicoeconomic characteristics that render these lands as collaborative products involving the states, private companies and NGOs and IGOs, notably UN agencies. These characteristics are closely intertwined with the (re)actions to latent and/or presenting risks, particularly those associated with climate change and urbanization. Delving deeper, this paper explores the concepts of island, land and territory based on the observations of three moving lands and proposes an additional layer to the migration theory ‘Exit Revolution’ coined by Zolberg. While acknowledging that the emergence of moving lands is not unprecedented in the history of human migration in Asia, this paper concludes by advocating for future research on these moving lands, aiming not only to mitigate distress—such as by raising awareness of hybrid risks—but also to amplify the potentially constructive roles that these spaces could assume in the future.
The event 'How to take care of you(th) - Mental Health and Wellbeing in Difficult Times'
Shona Whitton
Shona Whitton is a Technical Advisor in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support at the IFRC Psychosocial Centre with a focus on MHPSS in emergencies. Shona supports the IMS Project in this function and is, among other things, responsible for conducting target group-oriented trainings.
Prior to joining the IFRC, Shona worked in emergency operations with Australian Red Cross for over 10 years. Most recently as National Lead for Recovery and Psychosocial Support responsible for the coordination and development of Australian Red Cross’ field disaster recovery operations and emergency MHPSS programs. Shona is a Churchill Fellow and holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (Honours), a Masters in Community Development (Emergency Management), a Graduate Diploma of Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Gender Mainstreaming Policy & Analysis, and an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance.
Joshua Lee
Joshua Lee is the MHPSS Technical Advisor working on the EU4Health programme. He comes with humanitarian and MHPSS experience in Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, and Ukraine, working with conflict-affected and displaced populations. Joshua has a background in clinical social work and brings a focus on community-based MHPSS.
Cátia Matos
Cátia Matos has a clinical background providing direct and psychosocial support to humanitarian staff both local and in field missions, as well as training and individual and team supervisions. At the PS Centre, she is a Technical Advisor in the Integrated Model of Supervision project, as well as the focal point for the Americas Regions.
Before working in the PS Centre, Catia worked as a Clinical Psychologist and Regional Staff Counsellor, in Portugal and Sudan, for over 15 years. Catia has a Clinical Psychology Degree in Cognitive-Behavioural and Systemic Approaches, an Executive Master in Applied Positive Psychology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Human Rights.
Global Development Lounge
Thomas Augustinus - Augustinusfonden
Thomas Augustinus has for more than 10 years worked with international development assistance and business development.
He has extensive experience in natural resource management, infrastructure projects (hydropower), as well as in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises with an interest in developing countries.
Erik Bryld
Erik Bryld is senior consultant, partner and managing director at Tana Copenhagen. He has more than a decade of solid experience working with governance, aid effectiveness and conflict mitigation and prevention in Africa and Asia. He has extensive experience as team leader in numerous formulations, reviews and evaluation missions.
Jonas Devantier
Jonas Devantier serves a dual role at Oxfam, contributing his expertise as a Program Advisor and simultaneously representing the employees as a board member.
Mark Latona
Mark Latona supports the PS Centre with fundraising and partnerships in close cooperation with the comms team. He has a background in global development studies, and he has worked with institutional fundraising and partnerships for global health research in the public sector, private sector and academia. Mark has worked with a wide range of topics including infectious diseases, WASH, chronic joint conditions, oncology, and medical devices.
Katinka Bach
Katinka Bach is responsible for strengthening, developing and maintaining DCA's international strategic partnerships with the private sector.
Ingrid Mikkelsen
Ingrid Mikkelsen is a dedicated professional contributing her skills to Oxfam in the role of Engagement Coordinator for Public Engagement, Communication, and Fundraising.