Gender in international security, UN Women, Peace and Security Agenda, intersectionality, feminist security theory, intangible cultural heritage, Palestine

Laura is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Peace and Security at Coventry University. Her research focuses on gender in international security, intersectionality, UN Women, Peace & Security Agenda and cultural heritage.

Laura is a feminist scholar with a research focus deeply embedded in intersectional analysis. Her work critically examines gender and inclusion in both local and global contexts, with a particular emphasis on equitable approaches to structural injustices.

Her PhD research applied intersectionality and feminist security theory to analyse how international policy frameworks, such as the United Nations Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, are implemented at the national level and whether they effectively enhance women's security and equality. Building on this foundation, her current research aims to conceptualise and define intersectional security. This project seeks to analyse and contribute new theoretical insights on how women experience insecurity within conflict settings, directly informing policies like the UN WPS Agenda.

For the past seven years, Laura has conducted research in the occupied Palestinian territory, as one of the lead researchers British Council funded projects on intangible cultural heritage in Area C of the West Bank, particularly in the rural area of Masafer Yatta (South Hebron Hills).   This is an intergenerational oral history project, working with young Palestinian researchers in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), where the researchers have recorded 100+ hours of oral histories and mapped their villages and hamlets.

Laura's research is methodologically grounded in qualitative approaches, including interviews and focus groups with strong focus on participatory methods. She prioritises local ownership and gender sensitivity throughout her research, ensuring that the voices and experiences of marginalized communities are meaningfully represented.

Laura holds a PhD from Coventry University. 

My background in international relations and conflict studies both in academia and professional life has inspired my research interests in gender and peace and conflict research. I am a gender expert who is passionate of creating a real world impact through my research.