Nanako Tamaru – Executive Director

Nanako is a licensed attorney and peacebuilding practitioner, whose areas of expertise include gender justice and social inclusion, preventing and countering violent extremism, and inclusive approaches to statebuilding.

In addition to leading BNID, Nanako is an independent consultant and Founder of the Peace and Security Collaborative, where she provides research, training, and facilitation services to a range of NGO, government, and multilateral clients. She also serves as an Associate for Peacebuilding Effectiveness at CDA Collaborative Learning and a faculty member at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

Previously, Nanako worked for Inclusive Security where she led research and training programs examining why women’s inclusion matters for peace and how it can be achieved. She has also managed peacebuilding programs in Syria and Somalia and has written on issues related to governance and conflict resolution for Mercy Corps, UN Women, United Nations Development Programme, International IDEA, and Conflict Dynamics International.

Nanako holds a Master’s Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from the Boston University School of Law.

Iris Kuqi – Programs Associate

Iris is an enthusiast of international development with proven professional practice at the intersection of research, strategy, policy and program management in different sectors. As a citizen and professional she is particularly sensitive to sustainability, education, equity and social justice matters and has demonstrated this by cooperating with several national and international non for profits that are active in these areas. She has over 15 years of cross-sectoral experience in over 100 development projects implemented by organizations like UN, USAID, European Commission, KfW Development Bank, in low to middle income countries across the world. Also, as an an agile project manager and coordinator she thrives working in fast paced environments within tight timelines and budgets in order to deliver results.

She is completely at ease in steering, training and coaching a broad range of state and non-state stakeholders at different governance and management levels. She adjusts quickly to different working environments and cultures and loves to connect with people.