The Team

Tel: +49 (0) 30 278 778 20 | Email: mmanke@iom.int

Before joining GMDAC as its new chief in June 2022, Marina headed the Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion Division in the Department of Policy Support and Migration Management, IOM Headquarters in Geneva. She joined IOM in 2004 as a migration data specialist at the Vienna Technical Cooperation Centre for Europe and Central Asia. Since then, evidence-based, future proof and coherent governance of migration has become her prime area of specialization, demonstrated through co-authorship of such flagship publications as “Sharing Data – Where to Start”, “Migration Profiles – Making the Most of the Process”, as well as expert interventions at high-level international and national fora.

She holds a diploma in linguistics and English philology from the Samara State University, an M.A in Political Science from the Central European University, and a Ph.D in International Relations from the University of Cambridge.

Tel: +49 (0) 30 278 778 27 | Email: jblack@iom.int

Julia works on the Missing Migrants Project and is also part of IOM GMDAC’s Strategy and Communications unit. Her work deals with irregular migration, migrant rights, and data collection on hard-to-reach populations. She is the co-editor of IOM’s recent Fatal Journeys reports on migrant deaths and disappearances, and has authored other publications on irregular migration.

Julia holds a MA in International Affairs from the Hertie School and a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.

Tel: +49 30 27877863 | Email: agarciaborja@iom.int

Andrea is a Data Analyst at the Missing Migrants Project. Her work centres around collecting, analysing and disseminating data on (un)safe migration, specifically on migrant deaths and disappearances worldwide. Before joining GMDAC, Andrea worked at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) - focusing on mixed migration flows in the East and Horn of Africa - and several civil society organisations in Mexico. She has worked and studied in Mexico, Belgium, India, Kenya and Germany. Andrea holds a Master in Public Policy from the Hertie School in Berlin and a B.A. in International Affairs from the Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Email: meabdelazim@iom.int

Merna Abdelazim is a Data Analyst at the Missing Migrants Project. Prior to collecting and analysing data on deaths and disappearances worldwide, Merna used to be the Project’s regional monitor for the Middle East and North Africa in RO Cairo. Merna has experience in migrant and refugee protection including assisting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, victims of human trafficking, and victims of smuggling under governmental custody. She has also worked in IOM Egypt’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (AVRR) as the focal point for large-scale and Sudanese movements. Prior to joining IOM, Merna worked on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and climate change induced displacement in North Africa with a regional civil society organization. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with specializations in International Relations and Public International Law from the American University in Cairo, where she is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS).

Email: jmuindi@iom.int | Phone: +254722873727

John Kinuthia is the Information Management Assistant at the Regional Data Hub in RO Nairobi where he supports the Missing Migrants Project. John also coordinates with the Migration Response Centres (MRC) focal points for harmonized data collection across all MRCs in the East and Horn of Africa region and consolidates the data for various regional analysis and dashboards  of the MRC data. He has held different roles in IOM’s Regional Office and the Kenya Country Office (KCO) for the last 10 years. John holds a B.Sc. in information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University and is currently pursuing  a Master’s degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi.

Tel: +27 (0) 678 650 123 | Email: equarshie@iom.int

Emmanuel Quarshie is the Data Expert and Researcher at the Regional Migration Data Hub (RMDHub) and Missing Migrants Project focal point at the IOM Regional Office for the Southern Africa Region in Pretoria, South Africa. His field of interest include the economics of migration, labour migration modelling, migration governance & policy, and climate change. Prior to his current position, Emmanuel worked as data expert, researcher, project administrator, communications and research uptake officer on global migration research projects like the Migrating out of Poverty Research Programme Consortium (MOOP-RPC), Migration and Development West Africa (MADE WA), Migration, Development and Equality (MIDEQ), Aligning Migration Management and the Migration Development Nexus (MIGNEX) at the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana (CMS-UG). Emmanuel is a PhD candidate at the Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon with Certificates in Migration Courses.

Tel: +(506) 835181113 | Email: eviales@iom.int

Edwin Guillermo Viales Mora is Data and Research Assistant and Focal Point for the Missing Migrants Project at IOM’s Regional Office for Central America, North America and the Caribbean, based in San José, Costa Rica. He has a background in international cooperation and is an expert in migration and social integration. For the past ten years he has worked with migrants and refugees.

Email: rabouelhassa@iom.int

Riham is a Data and Research Assistant at the Regional Data Hub for IOM's Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Cairo.  Before joining RDH, Riham worked as a Liaison and Policy Consultant for IOM MENA. Prior to joining IOM, Riham has lived, studied and worked in UAE, KSA and Oman. Riham also has an accumulated work experience in teaching, translation, sales and event management. She aspires to build a career in which she can play a constructive role in informing and shaping policies, practices and institutions through data collection and evidence-based policy serving as a foundation for a dynamic and coherent society. 

Email: zsigman@iom.int

Zoe is new the Data and Communications Intern at the Missing Migrants Project. They are also currently working on their Masters of Public Policy at The Hertie School in Berlin, Germany with a focus on policy analysis and collecting data from vulnerable populations.

Prior to Zoe’s work with IOM, they were a science and social justice writer focused on cannabinoid pharmacology and policy, carceral data collection in the US, and sex work, with publications in Vogue among others. They were also the Administrative Director for Haymarket Pole Collective, a group of sex workers advocating for equity in their workplaces. They have testified to the FDA on how to regulate CBD and cannabis in the US. They currently serve on Portland, Oregon’s Police Accountability Commission and Cannabis Policy Oversight Team: Competency Subcommittee. Zoe holds a B.A. from Cornell College with a double major in Modern U.S. History and Theatre.

Email: bbenjapornku@iom.int

Boon is a Data and Research Assistant and Focal Point for the Missing Migrants Project at IOM's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand. He has  a background in peace and conflict studies, data analysis, and management consultancy. Boon has worked and studied in Thailand, the US, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, and is dedicated to humanitarian, development, and peace.